The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-23
lie Keeps a Ior Horse O. and md Carriage, ia,

The man across the way, says th,
Danbury Ne,os, has q horse and icarri
ageg We have none, Three, saddel
words we never saw. The man, across
the way drives gaily forth every
pleasant afternoon with his wife beside
him. And we envy him and can't help
1t. There are others OF the neiglbors
who envy him, and could we read each
others hearts we would find that our
thoughts were following the lucky
horseman in his various turns about
town, in his eantering here and trot-
ting there, and in the shine Of his car.
riage and the ,proud bearing Of his
horse. But II IL is q sadnessto SEQ him
drive away, there5is q pleasure in see.
ling him come back. For IL is dark
when he returns, the sunshine Is gone,
and IN itsstead is darkness with frost
in IL. He smiled complacently when
he handed his wife into tile carriage,
but he doesp't smile when he hands
her out. Perhaps tho operation re-
quires 80 much care and attention TINT
Iitwould not be right 10 smile. We
know his nose Is red because we can
see II as he drives by the lamp. We
know, that his,feet are frigid aud that
his legs are asleep, by che way be gets
down 70. the ground. Weare beginning
TO seehow wrong It. Is to envy our fell
bowman. he looks at her as she runs
into the mouse and into the arms OF the
genihlbase-bu and gloonily won
ders why heaven 80 favors her above
him. He stumbles painfully along to
tho stable with the horse, which he
now thoroughly despises, rambling be.
hind him. His hands are so numb he
can hardly undo the fastenings Of the
door; his legs have awakened, and
appear 10 be reproaching him; his eyes
are full Of water. and his soul overflow
ing with discomfort. No harness was
ever before SO difficult 10 remove as is
this. he feels the wrath bubbiing up
To- the highest water mark, and , he
could scream out-he Is so mad. We,
are seeing now how;wicked II Is TO envy
our fellow man. Heihears footsteps on
the sidewalk, and sees the aAash OF
warm Light shoot out into the cold air
as the various neighbors, having re-
turned from their work, 4 nd having no,
horse, disappear hastily within, and
take with them the bright, cheerful
light. s He gets the horse In tho door,
and starts TO look up the lantern, He
bumps various parts ofvhis anatomy
against articles itris too dark 10 learn
the nature Of. He would, cry. out in his
pain and misery were he not awed by.
the astonishing profusion Of the things
he ID falling over. he gives up the
lantern and pulls off the harness to
hang II up! The straps dangle down
and get under his feet, and trip him,
and the impatient animal suddenly
bolts into the stall before 1t Is fully un.
dressed. Then there Is another search
for the lantern, and during IL he raps
his head against q beam, and tho blow
isso violent that IL 'stirs up every one
OF his ideas, including the one which
tells him that the lantern was taken
into the house last night 10 be cleaned.
He stumbles back over the frozen clodsi
and into the house, where the bright
light and warm dir render him more
gloomy and morose. He vouchsafeS'
no information to the appropriate
query from his wife ifit was cold ont,
but tiarkly hints Of impending retribu.
ton 10. whoever doesn't quit fooling
with that lantern; and then stalks back
to the stable. And there for the next
fifteen minutss he employs himself in
Arranging the bedding, mixing the
feed, and pondering onithe advantage
he has over his neighbors in having q
horse, and carriage OF his own, to go
where he pleases, and come when he
IL Is dark. t. NJ iul