Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-03-25
A STAGE DRIVER FROZEN.
story Or Tsush Water Thirty Years A

story eta Teush Water Thirty Years Az
They used to have tough winters Il
New York. That delightful editor
Lewis Gaylord Clark, told in his depart
ment Of the old time "Knickerbockel
Magazine" a touching story OF the COLI
nights thirty years gone. He got into {
stage one night at his office, way dowr
town, and WAS for some blocks the sole
occupant OF the draughty, creakine
vehicle. Then II stopped and took in Q
pompous old fellow, swathed in furs and
warm woods. The fare in those days was
six cents, and the newcomer poked q
fivo dollar bill up at tho driver, who
dumbly shouted back that no could not
make the change, his fingers were 40
cold, and 80 the pOmpous man curled mp
in his comfortable clothes and the sdi-
tor sat and thought what q small, mean
soul that man had in him. They rode
on and on; finally, with great deal OF
smoky breath, the drivers thick voice
came through the hole: "Haven't you
got any change at ALI :" and the rich man
looked insulted, and shouted "No,
tell you; there's the BILL" and again he
offered it.
But the driver faced round, saying
"I'm too cold to make change"
And the stage drove on, the rich man
DOING and Mr.. Clark thinking him
over and making up his mind that he
had the ndest-shouldered, narrowest-
chested soul that was ever made, inside
him.
On, on they rode, till the stage was
way up town-up as far as Blocker
street, which was up town then. Here
the rich man got up to leave, and to
Clark's great indignation handed up the
five dollar bill again, but to Clark's
utter amazement and astonishment. alsn
"Hand in six cents to the company
and put the rest in your pocket; it's q
cold night, thatll help warm ye."
He bounced out and Clark felt Mr..
r. E. Morse tugging at his heart strings.
He wanted to run after, shake hands
and ask that mans pardon, but the re-
solve, like most good ones, came to late.
And the editor fell to moralizing,
perhaps to sleep. Anyway, the first
thing he knew he was carried away past
the street, and the omnibus had swung
round into the stable yard. Two or
three gruff men with lanterns surround
ed them and were pulling at the drivers
legs, with eli Bill Wake up old
man |"
Mr.. Clark tumbled out and finding
something was wrong fingered moment
to see, to his horror, the miserable
driver lifted from his seat corpse
frozen to death on the perch the lines
still lying in the still fingers, the CLASSY
eyes open, as if in death the poor driver
meant to look out for his horse.
Then Mr.. Clark remembered the in
cident of the five dollar bill and went
with the dead into the Office. There
tucked inside the mans ragged mitten
was the money, and very willingly the
man in charge acknowledged his right
to it.
But the worst part Of the nights work
remains. Bill had a wife, and some of
the men told how the poor, devoted
creature these cold nights had nice
warm supper and rou: ing fire in wait,
ing for :" her man who drove the last
stage up" And Mr.. Clark volunteered
to precede the sad sight which was to
blind those faithful watching eyes with
bitter tears, and break the news gently
to the poor widow.
Then he describes the far up room in
the miseral le house on Tenth avenue,
where the light of the little window
streamed out far into the night bea-
con to the honest heart coming home to
her; the CHEEKY face at the opening
door that shrunk fearfully back at a
stranger the neat room, with the COM
Portable supper smoking on the stove;
the little table set for two the number
less evidences of the woman's thrift and
love, and then, alas the dreadful story.