The Grange advance., 1874-12-29
pY RIDE WITH BOB WILLIAMS.
BY TOM JOLLY.

BY TOM JOLLY.
will never ride with Bob Williams
again. OF course | mean when Bob
Williams holds the reins. Not that l
have any ything against Bob Williams.
lie is pretty good fellow in his way.
His way is little peculiar, however,
and l don't believe he knows very much
about horses. l think his education in
the matter of controlling the ''fery un-
tanned stced" is slightly detective. and
when he invites me to take the scat be-
side him in an open buggy, on crowd
ed street, while spirited little bay is
impaticntly waiting to run away with
US, will hesitate; l will plead an en-
gagement. Twill decline. Ihave come
to this resolution after what occurred
the other day. will relate it:
I was comfortably ensconsed in
street-car which had just begun to
crawl from its station. had the corn
er seat. Hooked blandly out of the
window. | felt at peace with all the
world, and when lady signaled the
car to stop l did not see her enter, so
lost was l in dreamy and pleasant re-.
Elections. But suddenly l was startled
by hearing my name called in stento.
rian tone close to my ear. 1t frighten.
ed me so that turned hastily around,
thereby driving my elbow into q Ger.
man gentleman's eye, and kicking a
lady's knee opposite me.
-...>J d.
Il really beg your pardon, sir. Al.
low me to offer my sincere apologies. -
The German gentleman placed his hand
over one eye and glarcd at me with the
other.
''Hurry up, Jolly!' shouted Bob.
''Madam, l assure you that this &C.
ton upon my part was unprecedented.
l certainly regret it as much as you
>de.''
The lady said nothing. But I had
rather have her talk to ME a week
than to look at me as she did.
"Come out, Tom; come OUT" said
Bob again.
came out. I came out tho wrong
sy. l came out all over. / picked
"a smooth hard stone with mud on
Il. believe it was the hardest and
the muddicst stone on the street. / sat
down. | didn't want to sit down. But
there are times when man is not a
free moral agent. The people in the
car laughed-especially the German
gentleman. He seemed to enjoy it very
much. got up slowly. l said:
"Bob Williams, what do you mean
by
Come here, old fellow. I'll give
you ride" said Bob, and he dragged
-ne into stable close by. The stable.
men We're harnessing a bright little
bay horse to buggy.
Jump in," said Bob.
'Bot," said I, solmenly, ''are you
morally and absolutely certain that you
can urge this animal and conduct this
vehicle through the thickly populated
boulevards of your native city with
safety to property and security to life
''Hey, what? Say that again. said
''Bob Williams" 1 repeated, 'scan
you drive?''
''Drive!'' said Bob. "Drivee Whv.
man, l can drive six-horse team
through the side of house any day.
Without giving me time to explain
the accomplishment of driving through
the side of house had nothing to do
with his ability to drive through the
streets, he pushed and hustled me into
the buggy. Then he followed; they
gave him the reins and away we went.
"Bob,' said I, ''hold the horse.
You'll run down that awning.''
1t was too late. The right hand hnbs
took out piece of an awning post.
But we didn't stop. We didn't try.
Bob Williams didn't, mean. He said:
%,Oh. let the horse have his way. Hen
cool down in little while-''
''Look out!' I fairly screamed
~'youll oreak that mans leg!"
We did not break his leg. It wasn't
our fault, though. We struck him
square. I think he turned a double
somersault and came down in gutter.
Perhaps he was hurt. I don't know.
we did not hold still to inquire. Bob
said: ..- MI - !
beg your pardon, partner. I didn't
go to do it,
Then the man got up and began to
throw stones. Then we ,went on.
There was tall, slow countryman
right before US. deliberately crossing