Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-01-30
Il hope not. But don't be long


[ hadn't had a soul to care for me. be-
lieve in me, say a good word for me for
fifteen years Or more-I don't say it
wasn't my falkland the idea of any
one wanting to see me again after had
even turned my back upon 'em-more
pertikler q fare-was most astonishing.
went away. thinking of this; I stopped
at the corner of the next street to think
of it again. I came back, without find
ing anything but half-built houses, scat
fold poles, snow and frost, but thought
of it all the way to the cab and Mary
Daykin. That was her name, l found
out soon afterward, and a VERY pretty
name tits.
I found Mary Daykin and the cab on
one side, and the horse anyhow, just as
| had left the three of them. She had
been looking out for me, too
cob! What a time you've been
away" she said.
"Of all the internal roads and streets
of all the"
"PIease don't swear" said Mary,
" only take me to Mrs. Botherton's
Lauristina House, Circum-"
Il shall swear orful, if you mention
that beastly Terris again. Can't you
sleep?'
ooh dear no."
"Then come out of the cab, and I'll
see if | can move it."
Mary did so.
Shall [ take the horse out of the
shafts ?" she asked.
"You!'
q understand horses. My poor
father was coachman at York before
he died"
"Was he though? Almost in my
line eh ?"
"He drove the bus for the Biffin
Hotel for ten years"
"I drove a bus once"
1 drove into gentleman's carriage,
and peeled the veneer and varnlsh Oft
to the tune of six pounds four, and was
sacked at moments notice, too, but ]
did not tell her that. All that was in
my happy days, afore took to rum.
Chow strange" she said, All! my
poor father was very much respected. .
[ wasn't But did not tell her that
either.
[ made dash at the cab, and a
wrench at the front wheels. [ gave a
sudden plunge with my whole body at
the vehicle, and, crash, crash, the fore
wheels came of the axle-tree, and the
whole thing was smashed up and done
for. Itkept its upright position, though
it looked more like Bath chair than
a four wheeler, and the girls box stuck
on the roof hard and fast, which was
the only thing about the frost that
night that there was anything to be
grateful for.
Cob! my-oh! the poor horse!" said
Mary Daykin.
Not that there was anything the mat
ter with the poor horse, except weak
ness and cold in the stummick; he
wasn't hastonished; he was dead and
deaf to all emotion; he didn't even look
round to see what had happened; he
might have been wondering what had
become of his nose-bag, which had
forgotten was under the seat till that
moment.
whats to be done now?" said
Mary.
"There was the rub down." as the
man says at the theayter. The position
was getting mixed. What was to be.
come of me and especially of Mary
Daykin, | couldn't quite make out.
Cant you think of anything to do p
suggested Mary Daykin piteously.
"Well if you'll allow me to get out Of
hearing, and have a darned good swear
| think / might pull my faculties to-
gether."
ooh, don't talk like that" said Mary
"what good will that do?'
"I've found it answer afore now"
"Not that. Oh, I'm so sorry fol-
your cab too"
"You'd better be sorry for old Bones
though the internal rascal knew this
cab wasn't stronger than a box Of luci-
fers when he sent it out tonight
He"
Il shall get the horse out Of these
shafts at any rate"
And, by George, sir, before l could
stop her, she had done it, and the ami
NAL didn't fall down, as | thought he
would, but looked round for his nose
bag, as much like human critter as
ever you saw in your life. Weput him
on his supper and then | at Mary'S
suggestion again-if ever there was g
thoughtful good-tempered little woman
it was this one-took him out of the
cold into one Of the halffnished houses
opposite, where the basement floor
made quite stable for him.
l then left her in search of the ferris
and [ had a run round the houses with
out finding it or anybody. She hoped
| wouldn't 60 too far and lose myself
and her, and the horse, was the best of
of the three of us, and l turned up il
twenty minnits, and tapped at the glas:
to let her know | was there.
"What time you have been, Mr.
Pledge"
Haven't you been to sleep?"
mo"
"Try and have nap while 1 make
for the high road. Perhaps if | &c
there and shout, somebody will hea
me-.
And off went again, but might a
we'll have tried to find the n pole a
the high road, or any road, 1t thes,
new buildings. | was clean lost. l triet
a shout or two, but it was no use, anC
l came back to Mary Daykin, with NJ
good news to cheer her up.
And away l went for the third time
and, by lingo it aOas spin! l lost my
self instead Of her this time-lost my
way clean, and could not find her fol
hours-goodness knows how many-o,
where [ walked, and how 1 went round
and round this beastly neighborhood 0
bricks and mortar, under-done back
streets, and sloshy-felds and roads
with the snow going on all the time
and no human being about that dirty
night. [ began to think it must be {
dream, when l turned into the RICH