The Shasta courier., 1866-11-10

sometimes worse-and missus ALWAYS shook
her head VERY sadly when she talked about
her.
January and February went BY terribly
coldi and then march came in quite warm
and fine, so that things got so forrad YOU
could buy radishes wonderfully cheap in
April and one night the wife tells me that
If 1t was as fine the next day as it had been,
| was to call and take the lady and her
daughter out.
Next day was splendid. 1t was as fine
Spring day as ever did see, and / sticks
datfy down dilly in on each side of Kanga-
groo's head. and spends twopence in cou.
pie O. lunches O. wilets, and pins 'em in on
the side where the poor girl used to sit, put
clean straws in the boots, and then drives to
the place with the top lid open. SO as to
sweeten the inside because swells had been
smoking there that morning
just run your sponge and leather over
the apron a bit. Buddy l says to our
waterman, afore | left stand
Got wedding on !" he says, seeing how
pertickler | was
" There, look alivel'' 1 says quite snap
ish, for l didn't feel in a humor to Joke :;
and then when I'd got all, as | thought right
l drives up keeping the lid open, as l said
afore
When | draws up, puts the nosebag on
the old horse, for him to amuse himself with
and so as | could leave, for he wouldn't stir
an inch with that bag on, to please all the
pleacemen in London. Then | rings and
waits, and at last gets my orders to 90 and
help the young lady down.
takes my hat, wipes my shoes well, and
there she Is waiting, and smiled so pleasant
ly again, and held out her hand to me as
though Ia been friend instead of rough,
weather battered street cabman And do
you know what l did, as | went in there,
with my eyes all dim at seeing her so chang
ed? Why, felt as if ought to do it and
knelt down and took her beautiful white
hand in mine, and kissed it, and left big
tear on it, for something seemed to say so
plainly that she'd soon be where | hoped
my own poor girl was, whom | always say
we lost; but my wife says, No; not lost,
for she is ours still.'
She was so light now that l carried her
down in one minute and when she was in
the cab and saw the wiets, she took 'em
down and held 'em in her hand, and nodded
aud smiled at me, as though she thanked
me for them.
" Go the same way as you went the first
time. Steven" she said
And | pushed over all the queter bits, and
took her out beyond Hampstead and there,
in the greenest and prettiest spot | could
find. pulls up and sits there, listening to
the soft whispers of her voice. and feeling,
somehow, that it was for the last time.
After bit | goes gently on again, all
more and more towards the country, where
the hedges were turning so beautiful and
green, and all looked so bright and gay.
Blmeby | stops again. for there was a
pretty view, and you could see miles away
Of fcourse | didn't look at them if | could
help it, for the real secret of people enjoying
ridesis being with a driver who seems no
more to 'em than the horse-a man, you see,
who knows his place. But couldn't help
just stealing one or two looks at the inside
where that poor girl lay back in the corner,
looking out at the Springtime, and holding
them too buches of wilets close to her face
was walking backwards and forwards then,
pattlng the horse and Strengthening the har-
ness, when just catches the old lady's eye,
and saw she looked rather frightened, and
she leans over and calls her by name quick.
ly; but the poor girl did not move-only
stared straight out at the blue sky, and smiled
so softly and sweetly.
uiu.i "dHt no telliHS WbdG 10 90, IOr L
was IN my seat and the old horse flying al
most before you could count ten and away
he went, at full pace, till | came up to the
doctors, dragged at the bell. and had him
up IN no time; and then he rode on the
iootboard OF the cab in front of the apron,
with the blind let down, and he whispered to
drive back softly, and did.
The old lady has lodged with us ever since.
for took better place on purpose, and
missus always attends on her She's very
fond of talking with my wife about their
their two girls who have gone before but
though | often take her for drive over the
old spots, she never says word to me about
such things; but soon after the funeral she
told Sarah to tell me as the wilets were
not taken from the poor girls hand. and
sent me a note to buy suit of mourning.
OF course | couldn't wear that every day,
but there a bit o. rusty Grape on my
old shin hat not such a VERY long time
ago, and | never buy wilets now, for as
they lie in the baskets in Spring time,
sprinkled with the drops O. bright water,
they seem to me to have tears upon 'em,
i r. 4