Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-02-08
MR.. JOSIAH SMITHS CABMAN.

siah knew he would complain. As fal
as his experience went he always did
though none could say that Josiah
treated him shabbily. He was always
on the safe side; that Is, he in the frs
instance gave the man a sixpence Oh
q shilling over his fare, and anxiously
scanned his face as he paid him, tc
see if he would like another sixpence
which he frequently did.
Josiah felt 1t was very hard, but il
was harder still to wrangle; and when.
ever he took out his purse to pay the
cabman, he deposited an extra sixpence
to hand him upon the first note of con-
troversy. If the cabmen only knew it,
they would have recognized a consid-
cradle loss owing to their poor treat
ment of Josiah. Many time he walk
ed where he would have taken 8 cab.
But he saw in the perspective of jour
hey the inevitable grumble at the end,
scarcely to be modified by the propi-
tiatory sixpence. Rather than face il
he would walk. Now he had ridden,
and here was the customary conclu-
sion of the ride.
Josiah heaved a sigh and felt in bis
waistcoat for the sixpence. There at
his heels stood the cabman, with hand
1utstretched and coin reposing in the
center. Josiah knew it all to WELL and
fshed out the sixpence.
81 don't think, my good man." he
said, "that your fare is more than one
and sixpence, and have given you
two shillings. But your life is a hard
one and your temper is apt to grow
ruffled."
1.-TWO shilluns, was it, yer guy mel"
SAID the cabman, breaking in upon Jo-
siah's homily; II should like to ave a
few more shIlluns o that color.
Josiah looked down into the horny
hand which the son of toll had now
thrust under his nose, and behold!
there lay sovereign.
You don't mean to say that / gave
you that IN mistake, and that you have
brought it back?" Josiah asked, his gen
tie eyes the home of wild surprise.
That's just about it, guv'nor. When
was a kid was teached as honesty's
the best policy. When a gentleman Civ
me a sovereign, meanin' to be shillin'
am | to pocket it or not? Not, | says
to myself sharp off, not givin' myselfto
think over it; and there y'are."
It's very odd" said Josiah, peering
into his purse. Il don't keep my gold
and silver together, and don't know
how l could have made mistake.
Still you are fine, honest fellow, and
if you will allow me we will share the
sovereign"
"What, are you goin' to give me half
sovereign for bein' honest?''
eyes and I'd like to shake your hand
as well'
This was done, but not Immediately.
The cabman, his scruples suddenly
vanishing, took the half sovereign,
carefully eyed it, tried it between his
teeth, and placed it at the bottom Of q
small sack that would have st least
held q hundred. This he tied round
with string and deposited in his trous-
ers pocket, approachable only Through
many overcoats; then iaborously pol
shing his hand on his trousers he held
1t out to Josiah, who fervently clasped
1t.
81 use a good man cabs" said Josiah
cor l would use them if 1 always had
honest, obliging like you to deal with.
Do you stable about here?"
"Close ANDY, sir" said the honest
cabman. Il passes here every mornin :
I'm look in for orders if you like"
"DO,' said Josiah; and the cabman
went off to lay out portion of his half
overeign in "bit O. supper for me an
she missus."
The cabman arrived in the morning
and Josiah made some business that
should take him out for drive in the
afternoon. This happened through
many days; and though Josiah didn't
find that the cost came less than it had
done when he had engaged promis-
cuous cabmen, he had the satisfaction
of knowing that he was being fairly
dealt with. AS far as he could Judge,
for example it was not four miles from
his room to King street, st. James, TO
Victoria station; still man like honest
James Barmer, who had driven cabs
in the streets of London, man and boy
for forty years, was more likely to be
right. So Josiah paid his two shillings
Id felt the great comfort of dealing
with man of this kind.
'It's just like having your own car
riage, without the expense" he said to
himself with q glow of satisfaction.
James comes round for orders every
morning. If | am going anywhere he
takes me and charges the exact fare; if
| am not, he goes off and charges
nothing"
Josiah had not forgotten that refer
n 70,
night when he was providentially led
to form the acquaintance of James.
He had some reason to believe that the
London cabmen were not mo0els of
domestic virtue. He knew they occa-
slOnally got drunk, and he had read of
their beating their wives when business
was slack and the aggregate of fares
fell short. But here, slice of good
luck having fallen to the lot of James
Barmer, he Immediately thought OF
Mrs. B., and longed to be with her that
she might share it.
Josiah had made the acquainta ce
of Mrs. Barmer, and was aware of the
existence Of an indefinite number of
little Bs-how many there were pre-
cisely he did not know, and did not like
to ask, this being evidently sore sub
ject between James and his better
half
''Some say" James once observed
with scowl, BLESSED is him what's
got his culver full of 'em," say, blow
is him so sitiwated. Those children
costs in estin' and drinkin' wot 'ud
keep boss and boss earns money,
when they're in the 'ouse all day a.
eatin' their heads orr"
Josiah noted that the children did