Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-05
What Saved the Conductor.

A handsome and richly attired lady, the wife of prominent merchant, accompanied by an infant son in charge of French nurse, done up in one of those natty French caps and huge apron, hailed a street car going in the direction of the west end, and were soon nicely seated for a ride of eight or ten squares, when the conductor approached to collect the fare The lady had been doing some shopping down town, and had only saved quarter out of her ready money to ride home with, and now handed the same to the conductor, who looked at it and handed it back, informing her it was counterfeit. The lady bit her lip with vexation and told him it was all she had at the time, but if he would kindly give her bis name she would enclose the amount of fare and send 1t as soon she reached home. The conductor, however, shook his head, gave a sickly smile, rang the bell for the car to stop, and waited for the party to allght.
 Full of indignation, the lady wended her way homeward on foot, and could scarcely await the return home of her husband to re- count her wrongs, and insist upon his going at once to see the president of the road for the purpose of having the recresnt conductor discharged.
 Apparently consenting, he gave no further thought to the matter until his return at tea time when upon seating himself at the tea table, his wife remarked that of course he had been to see about getting the conductor discharged?
 "Certainly my dear," said he. 'I called upon the president of the road and stated the case when he immediately sent for the conductor and requested him to draw his pay and consider himself discharged. It was in vain he pleaded the injustice of the decision in vain he pleaded sick wife and child at home; in vain he pleaded the dollar and half he had just received was his all of this worlds goods in vain he pleaded no other company would engage him after being dis charged from this. He must go He had been rude to the wife of the rich merchant.
 s'After thanking the president for his courtesy, and leaving the office, the conductor awaited him on the outside and again entreat- ed him to go back and speak word in favor of his reinstatement"
 By this time the eyes of the wife began to get very misty, until, no longer able to con- tain her emotion, she burst out with
 And did you not grant his request ?"
 The husband looked at her in seeming sur prise, and said ''Why, certainly not did you not insist upon his discharge at noon to day Why, supposed had been doing something to please you very much
 The lady's anger had by this time com pIetely vanished, and woman's sympathy for the distress caused to that little family now so filled her heart that she could not rest until something was done for them
 It was then her husband quietly told her that, knowing the man had only done his duty, and knowing she was feeling 8 good deal chagrined at having to get out of the car he had not been to complain of the man at all, but had resorted to the harmless pre- varication, for the purpose of showing how unjust it would have been to have had the man discharged even could such an unrea- sonable request have been granted
 The wife was so glad she had not been the cause of so much distress, she forgave her husband for playing upon her credulity to such extent, and was particularly light ht-hearted and happy the balance of the evening.