Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-09-21
THE ORAmm WELL.


Mine Gott! No schpot vas dere.
THE CRAMM WELL.
1t is doubtful if Mr.. Ben Bate
would defend strikers, or If he
were interested in the pros and cons
of such questions; but, all the same
he blessed his stars that strike oc
cured on the Grand Right and Left
railway on a certain day; that
the employees felt an impera
tive need of an increase of wages
that the managers didn't see it; anC
so, whether or no the end justified
the means, it none the less conspireG
to promote his happiness. 1t was
the afternoon train out of Hamburg
advertised to reach Nova Zembla al
6:45. Mr.. Bates, being somewhat
of stranger, in the State, and draw
to Nova Zembla by rumors of Oh
wells and fortunes bubbling out Of
the earth, was naturally ignorant
that the strikers had given warning
that they should leave their trains
at four p. M, until he heard a gen
tleman leaving at a way station
say to his. friend:
You had better not attempt to g
home tonight, but stop with us
the engineers strike at four o'clock
you know.
Strike! echoed the typical old la
dy with the traditional bandboxe'
and bundles. I'd like to know wht
they're going to strike. Two car
play at that game | reckon. Wha
are they going to strike for?
For higher wages, marin. If yol
calculated to go beyond Lite Bas
sett yon'll have to walk the bal
lance, volunteered a passenger.
Me walk! hain't l paid my far
through? Walk indeed! I'll haV,
the law of 'em first.
'But this train won't go through
tonight.
None of your quizzing, younl
saucebox! Haven't | been over thi
ere road every year since my hal
took to falling Quito bny a new wig
datin' from the time Eben put tn
Gabrielle front to the old house
andi've never knowed them not t.
git to Nova Zembla when they''
oughter-
But just then the train stoppe,
and so did the old lady. 1t wa
four o'clock exactly.
suppose there's an inn at hand
asked Mr.. Bates of native by
stander, whom he found loafng Oh
the platform.
Devil bit! Little Bassett's ru
TO oil, stranger.
We're not expected to put up i
an oil well?
You might fare worse. There's tn
Travellers Haven, but the ,landlor,
he had it carted off to bore for oi
in the old cellar; its on wheels YET
a piece up the lane there. Mayb
they'd take you in. dunno.
Mr.. Bates strolled up the prett
lane and into the Tray eler's Haven
which had perhaps caught the spiri
of gadding from its guests-and il
terrupted a slovenly woman in th
act of scolding. {
Didn't tell you, miss, I'd cut
the ears off your head if you crack
ed another dish? Eh? How ar
you to pay for it? Who do yo
suppose would put up with your gt
ings on if I was to turn you adrift
No one in Little Bassett'd CIV
| you house room for a week.
l am so sorry, was the soft al
swer. Tll be more careful again.
And high time too-you that
snatched from the aims house, so |
speak, and did for ever since yo
was four. What would you hav
been but for me? And a pretty n
turn you make, a breakin' all th
dishes helter skelterl Oh! Goo
/ day, sir. Lodgings? With deciC
ed change Of tone Rosy, dear sls
yourself, and get the gentleman
room ready; and you might wrin
the neck of the cropple crown he
while you are about it. l dare sa
he's hungry.
Yes said Rosy lifting pair of al
pealing eyes to the strangers.
No, no, cried Ben heroically, don
kill anything for me. Tea and toa
is supper for a king. 1t paine
him to add another straw to the bu
dens this detected girl was alread
carrying-this girl in the carmen
and position of menial, yet WI
bore herself like one of gentle bloc,
You see, apOlogized Mr.. Cramr
the landlord, when he came in, "
hain't had time to settle, OWN 1
lie well. Tavern keeping don't pa
in Little Bassett, but lie does. Ma
be you think of buying, eh?
Ben was thinking of it he e,
planned, but Little Bassett had n,
Deen his destination.
Maybe you was guided here
providence.
Perhaps so, said Ben.
Pity You hadn't been round
t month ago, afore deacon Davis pa
8 ed with his place. He got dov
hearted, and sold out for a good fl
i her; but it turned out the artiC
e handsomely afterwards, and t