Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-10-03
MIR. JOSIAH SMITHS CABMAN.

experience went he always did, though
none could say Josiah treated him shah
billy. He was always on the safe side I;
that Is, he in the first instance gave the
man sixpence or shilling over his fare,
and anxiously scanned his face as he
paid him, TO see II he would like anoth-
or sixpencc; which he frequently did.
Josiah felt 1t was very hard, but 1t
was harder still TO wrangle; and when
ever he took out his purse to pay cab
man, he deposited an extra sixpence In
his waistcoat pocket TO hand him upon
the first note of controversy. IL the
cabman only knew It, they would have
their treatment Of Josiah. Many time
he walked where he would gladly have
taken a cab. But he saw In the per-
spective of Journey the inevitable
grumble at the end, scarcely to be modi-
fed by the propitiatory sixpence. Rather
than face II he would walk. Now he had
ridden, and here was the customary con-
clusion of the ride.
josiah heaved sigh, and felt in his
waistcoat pocket for the sixpence. There
stood the cabman at his heels, with
hand outstretched and coin reposing
on the palm. Josiah knew it all too
well. and fished out the sixpence.
81 don't think, my good man." he
said, "that your fare Is moro than one
and-sixpence, and have given you two
shiilings. But your life IS hard one,
and your temper apt to grow ruflled."
"rwo shilluns was 1t you guv meP"
said the cabman, breaking in upon
Jo-iah's little hDmily; al should like to
ave a few more shilluns o. tint color"
Josiah looked down into the horny
hand which the son OF toll had now
thrust under his nose, and behold there
Law in 1t sovereign.
"You don't mean 10 say that / gave
you that in mistake, and that you have
brought 1t back P" Josiah asked, his
gentle eyes the homes OF wild surprise.
"That's just about 1t, guv'nor. When
l wos kid was teached as hone,ty's
the best policy. When a gentleman
give me sovereign, meanin' to be q
shillin', am to pocket it or notp Not,
| says to myself, sharp off, not givin'
mrself time to think over 1t; aud there
y'are."
It's very odd," said Josiah, pecring
into his purse. 81 don't keep my gold
and silver together, and l don't know
how could have made a mistake.
Still, you are fine honest fellow, and
if you will allow me we will share the
sovereign"
"What! yer goin' to give me half
a sovereign for bein' honestP" the cab
man cried, in rcsentful voice.
"Yes, and I'd like TO shake your hand
rs we'll"
This was done, but not Immediately.
Tie cabman, his scruples suddenly van
ishing, took the half-sovereign, care
fully eyed it, tried it between his teeth,
and placed il at the bottom of a small
sack that would have conveniently held
a hundred. This he tied round with
sning. and deposited in his trousers
pocket, approachable only through
many overcoats; then, laboriously pol
ishing his hand on his trousers, he held
it out to Josiah, who fervently clasped
It.
81 use good many cabs" said
Josiah, cor | would use them II al
ways had honest. obliging men like you
to deal with. Do you stable about
herep"
"Close andy, sir" said the honest
cabma1. al passes here every morn
in. I'll look in for orders if you like. "
3D." said Josiah; and the cabman
went off to lay out a portion of his half
sovereign in ga bit o. supper for me an
the missus."
The cabman arrived in the morning,
and Josiah made some business that
should take him out for a 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 engaged promiscuous
cabmen, he had the satisfaction at least
of knowing that he was being honestly
done by. AS far as he could Judge, for
example, 1t was four miles from his
rooms in King street, st. James, TO
Victoria Station; still, O 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, and
felt the great comfort of dealing with q
man of this kind.
'.It's just like having your own car
ciage without the expense" he said TO
himself, with glow Of satisfaction.
"James comes round for orders every
m rning. II l am going anywhere, he
takes me and charges the exact fare; II
am not, he goes off and charges moth
ing"
Josiah had not forgotten that refer.
ence to Mrs. Barmer made on the night
when he was providentially led to form
the acquaintance of James. He had
some reason TO believe that the London
cabmen were not models of domestic
virtue. He knew they occasionally goi
drunk, and he read of their beating
their wives when business was slack
and the aggregate of fares fell short
But here, a slice of good luck having
fallen to the lot of James Barmer, hi
Immediately thought of Mrs. B., and
longed to be with her that she NIGH
share it.
Josiah had made the acquaintance o.
Mrs. Barmer, and was aware of the ex
istence OF an indefinite number Of littl,
B's-how many there were precisely b,
did not know, and did not like to ask
this being evidently sore subject be-
tween James and his better half.
Some say" James once observed
with q scowi, "'Blessed is him what
got his culver full OF EN- l say, blotOct
Is him so sitiwated. Them children
costs in eatin' and drinkin' wot 'ud keey
a boss; and boss earns money, wheI
they're in the 'ouse all day a-eatin' thei
heads orr"
Josiah noted that the children did no
eoss their parents much In shoe leather
sinoo they went about barefooted. No
were their wardrobes costly. Still the,
must eat; and Josiah often dropped Ii
with packet Of buns, and sometime
on Saturday night the butchers boz
unexpectedly arrived with noble join
for Sundays dinner. James was &C
cordingly inclined 10 encoura thes'
visits Of his patron, more par icularl,
when they led TO beef. Buns he de
spised, bat six or seven pounds OF bee
made his eyes glisten.
"Bill Muggins is In luck again." Mr.
Barmer abruptly remarked one morn
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