Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-01-30
ROMANCE on FOUR WHEELS.


Well, sir, I've spelt it all over in a
variety of ways, and I've come to the
conclusion that it was a Call. And this
is how it came about-in the Christmas
time, too, which makes 1t proper sort
of story for this time of the year, you
see. To begin with, then, | was the
only cab to be found-the only cab
that had turned up for ever so long, the
porter ct the station told me, with a
good deal of bad language, to which [
was pretty we'll used, and even dealt In
largely on my own account. It's no
good mincing matters about what l was
at that time of my career-fOr the per
lice knew it, and the charge sheets at
the station proved it, and the back of
my license had been specially 'dorsed in
neat round hand in order to catch the
eye of the next official who might be
curious enough to ask to see it. In
fact. sir, and to make q clean breast
Of it, [ was about as bad cabby as
ever trundled in his four-wheeler with
in the radius, and out of i'll was q
wampire-cabman who preyed upon his
customers, and was fond Of rum. L
never took less than my fare. Pm
'shamed to sayI took great. deal more
once of confused gentleman from q
city dinner, who gave me suverlns for
shillings-and the way in which I've
bullied the defenceless sex, when aged
and borne down by parcels, brings the
blush to nv leather cheeks to think Of
now.
Why | went out that partikler Box
ing Night I've never been able to
properly understand | had q good
day Of it, and a fairish lot of slim liant
though | wasn't in any way unfit for
business, as many of 'em were-I was
never industrious, and | lived very
much from hand to mouth, and gener-
ally with a glass in my hand-l was
fond of my holidays in bar-parlors, on
holiday occasions. | had lots OF pals
who wouldn't have gone out a Boxing
Night to drive the queen of England
home from the pantermine; had even
friend at the door of the Swillchester,
who had promised to pass me In when
the company had settled down, and Mr..
MacHoWler had begun his poplar war
whoop: and Bill Chumps had asked me
to his private sing-song down at Stepney.
But for some reason or Other-I say now
it was a Call!-I got my horse and cab
from Bones yard, and trundled off to
business about half-past nine at night.
remembers that | was in a misan-
thropical mood had been fined last
week forty shillings, or g. month-''the
money was paid" the papers said, and
| read it with pride, though | should
have to pay it back in bits and with in
terest to that screw of a Bones.
Well, it rained and showed and froze
all at once in fine style, and the peO-
pie in the streets were looking as nice
and miserable as they could look, when
thought I'd turn the corner OF Mutfler
street, and draw up on the quiet side
of "The Royal Vetern," and have just
arr quarter of Jamakey. | mad
nearly finished, and was wishing the
landlady merry Christmas and hap
Ply New Year, and telling her that Twas
bound to Stepney presently, when IN
bounced a perliceman and a railway
porter, jest as if the place belonged to
EN-.
ct that yer cab outsider asked the
perIiceman.
Yes, it is my cab, l said.
"There's fare Waiting for you at the
station" said the porter. 81 have been
looking for cab these ten minits-
come on"
Where's the fare to go?"
Peckham. She's"
"Tm engaged for ten minutes past
ten to drive an old gent to Bsdlam." ]
said, little too ironical; for [ don't
think they believed me; "and I'm sorry
[ can't take her."
"Oh! that won't do"
And I'm sorry | can't take her,
| said again, when | was firm upon my
box, and away [ druv, despising them
both. | heard the perliceman call out
"Iknow you, Jones Pledge" but ]
was engaged to take up another fare to
Bedlam, what business was it of his
l wasn't on the the rank or plyin! for a
hire, was /?
Presently turned. A boy was tear.
ing along the roadway after me, and
nearly run him down at fust.
Hi! cab-ycu're wanted. old 'ard
wait bit"
who wants me ?"
a large party-at the station
mother and kids from York-going to q
ball-Stepnev-oh! haven't Irun!"
"Stepney-are you sure they sale
Stepney"
"Swear they said Stepney," was the
reply. You amt engaged ?"
No. Jump on the box-they'll give
you sumfink for fetching me, tonight
They've promised me a shillin'."
"That's LIBERAL shall want drink
our O that"
Right you are, gunner" said the
boy.
OFF we went to the station and to the
arrival platform, where the guards were
and one or two perlicemen, and a cir
in black sitting on humping wainscot
box, with iron clamps at every corner
of it. / knew one of the perlice again
L knew the porter; | saw the boy wink
at both of 'em and laugh, and l knew
that was sold-clean done for; and al
my age, too, thirty-twO and arr, and
with my eggsperience. was sure of il
before word came out of their grin.
ming mouths.
He amt engaged, he says" shouted
the boy.
81 said was engaged; but if the fare
warn't more than mile"
"Come, come; that won't do here, =
said the perliceman; ''we can't have
any of that nonsense. Give me your
number, and give this lady ticket, and
take her to Laurestina House, Circum-