Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-08-11
GtntraI SntelIi9enfe.
A CABMAN'S STORY.

"What was tho queerest thing as ever
happened to me since ha' been on the
rank? Well, there has been n many queer
things, and one most terrible one We
Four-wheolers secs deal of life; much
more than them ansom chaps does, not
withstanding the little hole in the roof
through which they looks down upon par
ties when parties isn't aware. They drives
fast and fast folks, and some has an idea
that it is only fast life n is life; but you
knows better, sir, dare say"
was taking long street drive upon the
box.seat of "growlor," with my family in
the interior, bound for distant railway
station, and had put a certain question to
my cabman, in hopes that his sanswer might
make the journey less tedious. He was Il
young fellow, smartly dressed, and drove a
horse so unusually quick-paced that | felt
quite scruple of conscience i'll not nquir-
ing into his merits, But then had asked
II cabman about his horse before, and the
consequence had been m ost disastrous as
bad rs asking High Church Clergyman
about his Chancel, or u Valetudinarian about
his complaints; there had been no end to
the subject at all; and now ] congratulated
myself upon my reticenco, for n cabman's
long-windedness is inverse proportion to
that of his stced, and since, when my in
Iuiry had only been directed to human af-
fairs, my Jehu showed signs of verbOsity
what would he not have been (thought y
upon the subject of'horsehesb2
"What was the queerod thing ns ever
happened to me as hackman? Well, per-
haps this I'M was, or at all events, j re-
member ii best, because it happened to me
only last week o. myl yes, it was o rum
my gor And with that, my friend was 10
tickled with tho recollection, that he rolled
on his seat till thought he would have
rolled off il, while the reins so shook III his
hand that the speedy horse who took it
for sign that he was 'called upon, start
ed OIL at score and missed only by an inch
or two of making himself passenger in n
Citizen bus that Glanced to he before us
with the door open. This formed, Ofcourse,
the introduction TO nm exchange of repair
tees between the cab and my impulsive com
panion, in which the latter had decidedly
the better OF It; and then, TO my great re-
lief (tor had come in for my share of cpl
thets,) we shot into n bystreet more suit
able to the composition and appreciation
OF narrative
ut was down by Cavendish Square that
took herup well-looking woman of nine
and twenty, or thercabOuts, and perfec'
lady. Not only well-dressed, but well-man-
nered and ailable, which is what goes by
more than all the fine feathers az bird can
wear. Kebman, says she, drive me TO
tue nearest chemist: and druy her &c.
cordingly.
"But she did not got what sho wanted at
that shop, for she says: Drive me to an
other chemist And dmv her. should
think we went 10 matter of fifteen chem.
lists, and yet she couldn't get what she was
in search OF, That, ! began TO think, was
a little queer, because chemists mostly has
things one wants spirits, or what does rs
we'll for instance, on wet Sunday when
the publics is closed besides, yerything
as one can possiblynot want, in them green
and blue bottles. So, says ], seeing her
look Almost as blueas they: What is it
you do want, memY
"'WantY said she, in slow, absent sort
Of way, which made me somehOwgeti it into
my head (Nnd it's there stilD that what she
did want, poor soul, was pisan, 'well |
want TO go into the country
"Countryr says ], quite cheerful; 'tyU1
have got into tho kob with the right horse
for that mem. Ho can go strelcher, he
can. Where do you wish to go tor"
81 want, says she, speaking Just like
one in dream, 81 want to 90 to Bath"
"Now Bath was rather long order even
for my nag here and / toldher 50.
VERY good !" says she. "Drive me to
another chemist.
"Then as it didn't seem of any conse-
quence TO herself where she was druy,
took her up Mazda I'll (whcro my stable
ISL and tricd chemist or two in those
parts; but mono Of them had got The thing
sho wanted any more than the others; and
She looked more concerned and yeXcd than
ever. She was such n porfec' lady to look
al, and so ailabe that I felt pity for her;
and though it was not to my advantage, |
said, says |, If you really do want to go
Bath. j had better drive you TO the Great
Western Hallway where you can take the
train
'Ah, snys she with sort of shrink,
AZ though somebody bad struck her, but
isn't thnt Paddington StatiOn?'
"'Well, mem, said ], I'll not deceive
you itcertainly is.'
i''You are q good man," says slo. Il
wish everybody was like you (Which was
very kind of her I'm sure9 but can't 20
to Paddington Station, because my husband
il there waiting for me-.
"Well, for all ] know this might bo o
very good reason; know many n good wo-
man 'ansom kebman's wives-ns avoids
Paddington Station on that account, and
small blanc to them. So since the chem
lists couldn't suit her, / offers hor nm alter.
native ofmy own
ALTERNATIVE. said 7, involuntariIy.
Very likely, sir; only / always calls il
alternative" replied my Jehu, coldly. Ihad
offended him by my foolish parlicuIarity,
and it cost me iourpenny cigar out of my
case to ro-establish his good humor.
"Weil, continued he, putting slowly. and
speaking with greater deibemtion than
ever, If can't take you TO Bath, says l.
can take you 10 somowhores on tho way
SAY Windsor
!" How much would that be, says she
taking out her purse.
owe conldnt do II, speaking for horse
and man, under two pund, mem, and
there's not another horse on our rank rs |
could DO IL ut all. l-l8Hn sl4N
= Two pund is largo sum- says yho.
We'll, says |, SAY Ealing. Twill take
you TO Ealing Station, men, for twelve
and-six, including all these chemists and,
indeed, had got Off and ON my box, for n
matter OF forty times, by this; no don't
think IL was unreasonable would not
hove been hard upon that 'ero fare, ifit was
ever 30, partly because of Tho p'ison as
had in my mind, and partly because she