The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-05-25
THE CONDUCTOR.


GO to London for the holidays, among
my most pleasing recollections on my
return 10 Mr.. Tawse's academy were the
cries of the omnibus conductor. Will
two forms piled one on the other, q
sympathizing schoolfellow peccled al
one end as driver, it was my delight tc
hang on to the extreme end and act the
"cad," with greater fuency than &C
curacy, aud ignoring strict Typographical
unities. would rattle out long list
of destinations in the most approved
sing-song. L would "run il" imaginar,
old ladies', and defraud equally unsub
stantial stout old gentlemen out of thei1
change. I wonld exchange gay chat
with rivals, and hurl satirical remarks at
visionary policemen.
1t was not, however, my early inclina-
tions that led me into the path of life I
at present follow, but rather q hard
necessity-the inability to earn my living
in any other way. am an unfortunate
person, 1 am sober and industrious,
and possessed of some little ability but
everything has gone wrong with me, and
I can't help thinking that 1 have been
the victim OF some little persecution.
made an enemy in early life, a ID 1 cal
uIuCS Uut tJlSCUS VI lllS SlulSUGT
at every step of my career.
My boyhood's home was comfortabl
and genteel. My mother was widow
with a sufficient income. was an only
son, with but one sister, who was five or
six years older than myself. I was the
spoiled child of the establishment. At
fourteen was merry mischief loving
boy, somewhat of nuisance, dare say,
to my elders, bnt thoroughly happy and
self-satisfed Then al evil influence
appeared upon the scene-a stout pom
derous man, dressed in black, with
fabby pendulous cheeks, and eyes
sunken but bright like pigs. 1 hated
him from the first, and he returned my
aversion with interest. He concealed
his sentiments, however, till he had
fairly established his footing in our
family. When q heard that he was to
marry my sister Caroline, my rage and
indignation knew mo bounds. 1 abused
him frightfully. II disgraced myself, l
dare say but still, although the manner
might be Objectionable, the matter was
true enough. d was beast, and his
name was Baker.
He was in the lrug trade, believe,
and struggling nan at that time. He
had family, too, being a widower. My
sister Caroline's rortion set him up in
business for himsdf, in which he after
ward amassed a considerable fortune.
His eldest boy cans to see us once, and
I thrashed him ole day soundly. He
was a spiteful sneak, and got into nice
trouble through ,im. whilst he never
forgave me that thrashing- -neither he
nor his father.
Everybody, however, cried shame
upon me for my conduct II respect to
Carry's engagement; for people hadn't
found him out as had. Wen he had
nearly broken his neck over acord had
slyly stretched across the geden path,
and l avowed and glorisd in he deed,
it was generally said that / night to
have been sent to prison. Istead of
that, however, my mother clsepted
that he should give me goot horse
whipping. He tied me up wit cords
and thrashed me awfully but have
the satisfaction of thinking that man
aged to get hold of his leg viii my
teeth, and left mark upon him v his
life.
When the wedding day came, altfugh
l was forced to go to church, yet Il sso-
lutely turned my back on the proed-
ings, and made faces expressive of slrn
and contempt at the little boys up inhe
gallery.
After the marriage Baker ruled az
house in everything. My mother wa,
gentle, weak woman, and Caroline "
shipped him. One of his first improS y
ments was to send me to a warehouse
the city of London, where 1 had
sweep out the floors and make myse
generally useful.
was not likely to do much at this
and after putting up with it as long as
could l ran away and went back Z
mothers house. There, as luck woul
have it, my sister Caroline-he alway
made use of our house as a hospital
was being laid up with an infant. Sh
went into Mysteries about me, and 1 wa
hauled off and taken back to Londc