The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-24

whether We like 1t or nc"
az am fond OF the old ways" said
Briton, "Rt least till the new ones are
fairly established"
"Thatwas what all the social Tories
said when steam came in. We'd never
have had q railway II those principles
had prevailed"
"Perhaps SO. Ionly wished to know
how the thing answered. Have ysu
found 1t satisfactory" :"
We had nil the ardor Of neophytes,
and answered. Had we not gone in for
the thing thoroughly Gould We show
n greater proof OF oar confidence than
having embarked SO great q stake in the
matter2
"Look here, sir" said Mr.. Blowman,
a. We are couponed through, over and
over again. See this and this. Boat,
rail, breakfast, coffee or tea, with eggs,
all coupon /; meat ditto, separate or
supplemental coupon. Dinner, bed,
we are all coupon, sir. We deal with
our fellow.man In no medium but cou.
pons, and look here, I suppose tho
united contents OF the purses Of the
whole party would not amount TO the
sum Of Ave shillings. What do you
say to that, sir?"
"It cnly seems to mo that you have
burned your boats, as the saying IL, and
that you are determined to give the
system It's fullest trial. Such faith
ought to move mountains"
6There are always skeptics in every
age" said Mr.. BlowmRn, with spirit.
6This is an age OF skepticism."
"Notan ase for putting all your eggs
in one basket"
On this we all set on this stuck.up
Briton, and as Mr.. Blowman said, hap
PLY, "couponed him with will" ]
must, however, think he was tolerably
good humorea under our roasting.
"Perhaps am old.iashioned," he
said, "but, at all events, you cannot
blame me for waiting. ! ought to tell
you that Curebath Is full TO overAowing
now"
1--WE arc independent, sir" said Mr..
Blowman, land are provided for"
Tho day passed over. Gradually our
spirits began to ang little, for we were
growing tired. Papa and mamma both
showed signs OF weariness, and, / must
soy, pettishness mamma wishing that
"sho was back at 81. Grundy's."
Towards ten o'clock. we began to draw
near to Curebath. The starched Briton
was asleep. AT last there We were
and the exiles Of st. Grundy's, rs Mr..
Blowman amusingly called our party,
found themselves set down in Cure.
bath.
It was very bewildering-the strange
town-the lights-the foreign language
the odd people; aud I own, for the
first time, / felt my heart sink little,
and wished myself, rs mamma did,
again in ST. Grnndy's. Mr.. Blowman,
who had been appointed-rather he hnd
appointed himseli-director
and coupon.holder Of theparty-seemed
TO exhibit signs OF dependency, and
was quite helpless and bewildered. A
number OF German porters wero clam
oring noisily round him, ] suppose dc.
manding payment for the luggage. He
was quite cowed, and came 10 us to the
cab door.
"Giye me some money for these fel.
lows" he said. ~ haven't a halfpenny
left, not as much as l could jingle on o
tombstone.
This poor jest he delivered with q
ghassy smile.
"You know 1 have none, Mr.. Bow.
man." 1 answered, somewhat tartly.
"You should have kept some for this
How could II" he answered, as
tartly. What am I to do with them p
Papn, in an agitated way, said:
"0ffer them the coupons-they are
received everywhere, you know"
"Stuff and nonsense" he answered,
roughly. "They wouldn't take 'em |;
know nothing about 'em. What arc we
to do ?"
It was embarrassing, and all his fault.
Still 1t was the only thing to be done.
They might accept them. So he drew
out d6reakfast with meat" coupon,
and rendered it. It was received with
chatter and howl. Mamma sugges.
ted, what oddly enough proved to be
the only sensible course, that we should
bid them accompany us TO the hotel,
where the host would satisfy them.
This was explained to them by signs,
and seemed to be cordially accepted
with many q "ja ia" and Mr.. Blow
man assured them, in the same Ian
guaRe, that OF the Golden Stork they
should be handsomely remunerated.
Strange TO say, this was received with
n chorus Of rude laughter, and a roar Of
"Nein neinl'' II was growing intol.
I'erable. In moment OF rage, and seeing
that Blowman was Of no more use than
m old woman would be. / bade the
coachman drive on quickly, which he
did, with o loud crack Of his whip.
I felt that we were attended behind
by our prosecutors, but II was release.
Inside In the dark interior, Mr.. Blow
man and 1 fairly quarreled. l said he
ought not to have taken upon himself
the direction Of the party, II he felt that
lie could not be equal 10 such q little
difficulty as that. He said that, IL /
hadn't interiered, all would have gone
well. It was not pleasant drive. We
were now passing through dark streets
every one seemed to be in bed. 1wish.
ed again that / was back in my own
snug one at ST. Grnndy's.
We had stopped in q long, dark
street, before gloomy arch, with
closed gates like prison. There was
a gold stork over the door.
HHere we are" said l and Mr.. Blow.
man, uttering On undeniable truism at
the same moment.