Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-01-23
the faithful, uncomplaining

"A DN@O AAOS w ~ AAA AOt htlAoNtA ~
lone; that he had some one de
pending on him - some on
much more helpless than him
self
Chance at length threw dowl
the BARRIERS Of reserve tha
seemed ever to surround Simol
Lindsay, and ] knew the man a
few men know their deares
friends; for | was permitted Il
1hearthc story of his life, and t
sec the influence that Kept bin
through SO many years on th'
front platform Of a, street-caf
till, like The framing Of an ole
picture, his natural position
seemed under the platform pro
lection, the lines in one han,
and the brake in the other.
1t was a very cold slcetyfday
and the horses smooth Ishod, az
street car horses usually are
had great difficulty in keeping
their feet. 1t required consid-
cradle nerve and activity fol
Ipeople to cross the crowded
streets, and weak and timid pco-
pie prudently waited for the cs-
cort of an officer, or the strong
arm Of a friend.
The car which Simon Lindsay
was driving was going north,
and the wind and sleet beat in
his face, turning his beard to
icicles and his eyebrows to fros-
ty ridges.
/ was sitting near the front
admiring the promptness with
which he responded to the con-
ductor's bell, and checked his
horses when vehicle or reck-
less pedestrian crossed the
track in front, when suddenly
the car stopped and there was
heard q crash.
Mr.. Thomas Skinner,the pres
ident Of the road, was on the
car at the time, and leaping to
his feet with roar and an oath,
he tore open the door and lay
ing his hand rudely on the old
mans shoulder, demanded to
know what was wrong.
There was no necessity for the
question, as by a little exercise
of his muddy-brown eyes, MIR.
Skinner could have seen light
vehicle smashed to peices near
the track, and two tipsy young
men brushing the slnsh from
their coats, while a frantic horse
went plunging down a side
street. @
The tipsy Young men showed
that they were not hurt 10y their
profanity and their loud threats
to pull the driyer from the plat
form and smash him up quite as
fine as their buggy.
With these tcrse utterances
OF the youths, who had so sud
denly terminated their "good
time" for that day, were blend
ed sulphurous VOWS that the
company shouid be made to pay
the damages they had sustained.
Simon Lindsay tried to cx-
plain-the young men saw him
coming and dashed recklcssly
in front Of the car.
That was a fact | could have
sworn myself, and so ventured
to say; but with scowl at me
for interfering, Mr.. Skinner a.
gain laid his hand on the old
mans collar, shook him, and
calling him drunken liar, ,swore
that should be the last trip lie
should ever take over that line,
Simon Lindsay's old felt hat
dropped from his gray head,
and a look Of horror came into
his patient face, as he heard
! this threat. 'e
Mr.. Thomas Skinner's anger
rose higher and higher every
second, and several Of the lady
passengers cried ''Shame!' and
one little miss who sat near the
door Informed Mr.. Skinner that
he was a s'horrid beast!"
Mr.. Skinner glanced at the
girl and again fastened his hand
lin the old mans collar.
In the meantime q tall bronze
faced man with a heavy beard
and a very determined stride.
stepped ON the platform and
faced Mr.. Skinner; he said in .
tone devoid OF ambiguity:
TWe have had enough Of ;his
from you. If you are incapable