The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-08-16
THE MOTIONS OF A WAGON WHEEL.

muSlQ6 OF the due nudge mountains,
by wagon with a team of six horses,
stalled in narrow part of the road. 1t
was impossible for him to pass until the
wagon was out of the way; and he was
too much of philosopher and too well
acquainted with the kind of people &C
companying the wagon to show any
signs of Impotence. Ordering the
driver of his carriage to stop, he threw
himself back resignedly in his seat,
drew out newspaper and pretended to
read, while, in spirit of fun, he was
watching their awkward devices for ex-
Treating themselves from the difficulty.
Confident at last that he was master of
the case, he alighted from his carriage,
and, going to the leading man of the
company, said to him, with q peculiar,
knowing look:
"You are loaded with tobacco" (This
he only inferred from his general knowl-
edge of the men and their habits.)
The wagner eyed him with some
surprise, and answered, "Yes; do you
want to buy?" Mr.. Baker shook his
head.
"And are you going to Middle
Georgia."
"Yes."
"And you expect there to sell your
tobacco and your wagon and team, and
to walk back home with your pockets
full of money!"
The man still answered eyes," to
which Mr.. Baker waggishly added:
Il am from that part of the country
myself, and l cannot help wondering
whether you expect to impose on the
cute Georgians down there by selling
them such wagon as this"
The wagner was q man of humor,
too, and could take Joke when not car
ried too far; but this reflection upon his
wagon rather nettled him; and so he
asked impatiently, "And what's the mat
ter with it2"
ooh, nothing to get mad about" an
swered MIR. Baker; nothing the matter
with it at all, except the wheels?"
Il am not getting mad said the 9th
er; "but what's in the wheels?"
eff you don't get mad I'll tell you,"
replied Mr.. Baker; "their lcrs move
faster than their bottomsl"
Ah4o Wco 1oUAO4 InOIO bl1du Gll6 LII
nesseean could stand. He evidently
sympathized with the humorous spirit
of his tormentor; but no man must de-
preciate wagoner's wagon or team, I'M
less he is willing to abide the conse-
quences. He let loose upon Mr.. Baker
with every epithet of abuse, and con-
cluded by threatening to fight and whip
him if he did not get out of his way.
Mr.. Baker listened very composedly to
all that was said, knowing exactly how
much value to attach to it, then replied
in the Tennesseean's own style:
81 have nc doubt you could whip me
at first, since you are three to one
against me. But am one of the sort
that never stay whipped. And, more
than that, I've got more sense than all
three of you put together; and I'll whip
all of you before I'm DONE"
This piece of Dragging so delighted
the men that without word they re-
ceived him into their fellowship, aid
were ready to listen to anything he hs I
to say. Among his other accomplish
ments, Mr.. Baker was an experienced
manager of horses, and he soon gave
his wild companions a surprise in their
own line.
Il was going to offer you the loan of
my carriage-horses to help you out of
the mire; but think we can manage
without them,"s said he. Have you any
tow"
Plenty" was the reply.
He obtained few handfuls of it,
stuffed some in the ears of each horse.
so as to create confused buzz, but not
to interrupt the hearing; then, appoint
ing a man to the head of each pair of
the team, he mounted the wheel horse,
saying as he did so:
Every man now to his post, for when
/ drive there is more danger of running
away than of stallingl"
He had previously gone to each horse,
patted him, and spoken kindly to him.
Now, in the saddle, he gave loud call
to their attention, to let them know that
he was in command. At crack of the
whip, followed by "Gee-up, boys!" in
a tone of confidence, which horses can
understand, as well as men, each horse
leveled himself to the pull, and up
went the wagon to the very summit of
the hill, accompanied by the rejoicing
teamsters.
Resting for time on the level, Mr..
Baker resumed the subject of the wheel,
and said to them, :" You may have sup
posed I was testing when I spoke of
the top of your wheel moving faster
than the bottom. But I was in earnest;
it IS true; and, if you don't take my
word for it, will prove it to your eye
sight"
Nov, look here, stranger" said the
owner of the wagon, decidedly angry,
Notwithstanding his great respect for
his new acquaintance, "you have shown
yourself mighty smart man in spite of
your looks; but, if you don't want to
get into trouble, you had better let them
wheels alone"
Mr.. Baker perceived that matters
were becoming tickish; still, he so
the case that the WAGNER at
last condescended to refer the question
to the highest arbitrament of which he
knew anything-a bet. This was de-
clined, for Mr.. Baker was not addicted
to betting, and had aimed only at
himself. But there was no
backing out, and, after warning the man
that he would surely lose, and being
scoffed at by them all for trying to bluff |
off his opponent by a show of conf |
dence, the bet was closed by the stalking |
of the best pair of horses in the team
against the handsome pair in the car
riage.
you had better not insist on it" Mr.. |
Baker demonstrated, as they were pre-