The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-03-06
IN A "MARkET-WAGON.
By q. +. LATHRoP.

Nv was III u spun vi way Ndlu dQNtiliiAlt
that l let out one evening in early autumn,
20 walk from F. To the little town OF
L.. The night was gusty and over
cast, and before | had gone more than two
miles, "A chill and noiseless rain began To
fall through the lugubrious darkness. l
increased my pace 10 a run, "a the road
descended into the wooded hollow that lay
before me, and pressed forward at a jog
trot through the moist lowland, under the
oyerhanging masses of huge naples and
chestnuts, and between solemn lines of
silent pines........
In a little while | came TO "A large inn,
which was close-shut and darkened. At
his moment. a small wagon, creaking in
"A slow, dry manner came up behind me,
and halted by the tall and powerful pump
placed by the roadside. between the house
and It's open stable-yard. 4 pair of sleepy
men with a lantern were pottering about,
and. M the owner OF the wagon asking
them whether many wagons had already
passed, became a little l~ivelier; so that | put
some questions. Finding there was but
little chance of securing a resting-Dlace
here, | determined To follow Out what had
all along formed a possible extension ofmy
plan.
"Can YOU take me to the city. if you
are going that way " | asked of the way
Oner.
We'll. | don't know" he said, giving his
trousers a slight. slow tap with his stubby
and lashless whip. - shan't get there till
daybreak."
Never mind" | said. Pm in no hur-
ry. And would Just rs lief pay you what
should have given for a lodging here, il
you'll take me-
The farmer went to his wagon. and
AgnrEal az tho aaaf In haI arNa.r.t for
himself.
1t don't make any odds to me-" he
said, presently. Though | don't 90
very fast, and | don't know whether you
will find anything very comfortable to sit
on"
so il was arranged. | jumped up. and
established myself on the hard board laid
across at the front, bracing my back against
a barrel OF early apples, and resting my
feet on the traces in front. The horse wa
Dol rested and refreshed, so far a. the
possibility lay open to him at all. and we
started off, at a slow pace; the animal
striking the broad. hard highway with
heavy FOOTBALLS, and the wheels ever crack
ling wearily on tier axles. For a time,
our talk was but brief and immaterial.
But al last we drew up by a little tavern in
which a hospitable light was glowing,
aAAfA AAViA lli am Htltill~ vi "a tt~bl-
tory fiddle. Being by this time well
chilled from the previous rain. and my in
active state during the drive thus far. |
followed the wagoner's lead, through
a dingy room in which some red-faced
young men in black clothes were divert
ing themselves with a fiddle and a double
shuttle executed by n more accomplished
than the rest. into a smaller and brighter
apartment beyond. where we were soon
eb~sequiously attended. and served with
warming liquor.
Here first | had an opportunity fully and
distinctly to survey my companion. He
was a short man, with a red face, a sort of
blunted nose. and dusty, tired eyelids, and
white hair-lt was almost wholly white.
When he mounted the wagon gain, he
was more disposed to conversation than
before.
Yes, its hard he said, quietly. in an
swer to an observation of mine lit is a
hard life. Three times a week, now, |
get up at midnight. and come down to
market. Well. I'm getting old. Used to
do It every morning but I'm too old.
now. for that. Get up. Robin
And he smote the horse with his in
cficctual whip.
Hard on the horse pursued the
WAGNER working in the field can't
spare him-and then going to Market
He gave a low grunt of luxurious fatigue,
~ II to relieve the unSpcaking horse; and
presently whipped him again.
We VENT on talking of the vicissitudes
in his trade.
well said he, | don't know but |
shall have to hire a man, next year, If |
can get the money together. Ii don't
hardly pay, AS IL Is. Just make the ends
lap over. and no more. Ny son was with
me one year, OF the farm, and ii was a
great help. I've felt II more. since"
And he's married. now, | suppose
said |.
NO" the farmer answered, in a dull
tone. she's dead
cannot tell what passed Immediately
after that. II was no case for prompt re-
spouse: and yet ! may have made one.
The farmer had summed up. in his two
syilablcs. the total result of life, so far
"A he was concerned in it. Their was
something In his whole tone which con-
vcycd this; and his estimate of the
calamity was beyond comment or correc-
ton, then. Blu some quality of the speech
less NEIGHBOUR helped rs. The impulse
OF pity. and the suppressed yearning for
fresh aud cycr-rcncwed sympathy. met.
and IN their meeting formed "A bond be-
tween ~ for the time being. at least. The
darkness shielded this broken and sorrow
smittcn soul, still d%cccntly proud and shy
IN the showing of its grief: he sought re-
lief IN speaking to me. And this was
what ! heard that night. moving slowly on
the road. amid the petty clatter of our
wagon. and interrupted from time to time