Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-01-29

With these words and humorous glance
at Lizzie, he rang down gold sovereign on
the table.
My dear Bob exclaimed Mrs. Pull
linger, with flush OF pleasure on her
pale cheek, how came you BY such luck
Found it in the straw at the bottom of
the cab, didn't yer?' asked Lizzie sharply.
No, | didn't, Miss Pert, and p 'ra 'ps it 5
as well L didn't, for | should have been
tempted to keep it, without seeking for the
owner, and that wouldn't be right you
know No, | borrowed it
Who Off asked his wife.
Why, of Mr Wilkinson. 1 went and
asked him for night work, telling him how
pushed | was just now. He hummed and
hawed a bit, and then he said. Can YOU
drive hanson, Pullinger?' I answered
respectfully, should rayther think can,
sir; I've drove everything in my time,
from donkey up'ards.' Well he said,
Ned Tominson's bad with the rheumatics.
It's his bay mare. She's fier. but she's
kicker
20 Bob cried Mrs. Pullinger, L
hoPe she won't kick yon-'
So do L. answered her husband grave
". But she's more likely to kick my
fare than me. Howsumever, If she's
used fairly, lay penny she don't kick
neither. I'm to start to-morrer morning
and Wilkinson, though we call him a nip
per, has actually let me have pound in
advance. You amt a drunkard. Pulin-
ger, and you amt thief, as | knows
on sayz the old man in his queer grunt-
ing way, so I'll let ye have it. [ told
him [ was much obliged to him for his
good opinion, and for the money. So now
Polly, clap on your bonnet and shawl, and
let's go and buy bit of beef ami 'taters,
and raisins and currants, and orange peel
for the pudding
'Hooroar Tor the pudding shouted
Bob Junior. Whereupon, Lizzie, with
matronly severity, boxed her brothers ears
and then being reproved by her mother for
spelling the general hilarity, kissed away
the tears which her chastisement had
called forth.
1 can't fancy you driving hanson,
father, observed Lizzie, rehectiyeiy.
Why not, my dear?'
You don't seem smart enough
Abiding to dress, Lizzie?
Partly, father
Well, there your right. A hanson
cabman ought to look like gentleman
| wish | had not been forced to put
away my top coat. That corn sack is as
good as water proof, but it don't look
fashionable III tell you what, Lizzie,
I'll step round to Ned Tomlinson's and
ask him to lend me his hat and coat
He cant want EN- while he's in bed with
the rheumatics, aud I'll offer him a shil-
ling 4 day for the use of EN-. BIT what
else have you got to say, Lizzie, against
my driving hanson
You seem to me, father, too humble
for hanson, answered the premature
little woman. : should say YOU were
born for q tour-wheelec'
Mr.. PulIinger burst into laugh 1
say, Polly, he shouted to his wife, who
was putting on her bonnet in the bedroom,
what do you think this chit Lizzie's
been saying OF me ? She tells me I'm
only fit TO drive growler-says that of
me, who was a gentleman's coachnan for
years before l married III drive past
the window tomorrow, o'purpose TO let
you see yer despised parent On Ned Tom
linson's trap
\ serious discussion took place among
the family as to the proper hour for the
Christmas dinner rs Mr.. Pullinger
would be engaged all day with his ham
som, the wife proposed that they should
dine in the evening, and call it supper
Mr.. Pullinger replied that if he dined
late he should call it dinner. as a ham
som driver could not be too fashionable
in his habits; but advised an earlier
dinner on the children's account Them
poor little things he observed, can't
wait till eight o'clock. It'll tantalize
them out OF their seven senses to hear
the pudding bubbling away for SO many
hours
Mr. Pullinger's plan was followed, and
the dinner was pronounced a success. 1t
is true the pudding was not so big as the
children would have liked and that Bob
cast greedy glances at the slice put away
for father on the top shelf of the cup
board, arguing in his own mind that it
was an unfairly large deduction from the
general stock still, he was obliged to
allow that he had eaten smnptuous
repast. And shortly after dinner, just
as industrious little Lizzie had tucked up
her sleeves and begun to wash the plates,
she heard the rattle of wheels, and a pc
culiar whistle outside In the street. As
this whistle was the signal agreed upon
between herself and her father, she in
stantly threw up the sash, and summoned
the rest of the family to the window to
see her father drive BY
Don't father look nice in Ned Tomin-
tons hat and coat? she exclaimed He
don't seem like himself
Mr.. Pnllinger, as he passed, waved a
graceful salute to his family, and pointed
to the inside of his vehicle as much as to
say, You see what sort of fare I've
got
The fare consisted of two vulgarly dress
ed young men, with dandifed canes in their
hands and big cigar. in their mouths ; hol-
iday customers evidently, to whom hand
some ride was an unusual luxury
The mare seems quiet observed Mrs.
Pullinger, as the vehicle turned into the
Black friars road
Yes, and fathers so careful answered
Lizzie.
Five minutes afterwards. Lizzie and her
mother were again attracted to the win
dow.-not by any preconcerted signal, but
by the sound of loud voices and footsteps
running in the street below. Neighbors
were standing at their doors, or leaning out
Of windows, gazing eagerly toward the
main road. Mrs. Pullnger ran down
stairs, and asked lad who was lounging
by the street door if he knew what was