The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-02-01
How He Got His Change.

riding uptown IN a broadway OMNIBUS
about midday recently. The lady and
the small boy had evidently paid their
fares when the reporter got in. The re-
porter deposited his fve-cent nickel in
the glass-front apartment house, and
looked round for something to think
about. Presently the driver was stopped
by the uplifted and menacing forefinger
of an emineDtly respectable looking gen.
tleman, verging on elderly OF portly
presence and unyielding dignity of coun-
tenance. who stepped into the bus with
the precision of tying crayat, and in .
moment, finding he had no small change,
handed the driver a two dollar bill. Re-
| ceiving his little envelope of silver, he
| found it to contain three fifties and some
tens and fives He quietly, and with
habitual dignity, dropped fifty-cent
piece in the two-story basement and attic
cash box, slipped the rest of the money
in his pocket, and slowly and calmly
settled back, folding his gloved hands
ON the heavy handle of his umbrella, and
gazing with mild sternness at nothing in
particular. He was the picture OF self
satisfaction and solid, respectable COM
posure. 1t was the calm before the
storm. The lady looked amused, the
reporter waited in hope that the light
ming would strike somehow, and the
small boy stared in amazement.
Soon the small boy broke loose and
exclaimed:
. ..Say, mister, you put fifty in the
box. You can't get no change that way
Whatr'--and the respectable gentle
mans dignity was gone. He sprang ut
the little bell strap and Jerked 1t IKE a
telegraph sounder, until the driver won
dered what lunatic had got into his bus
, ..Driver!'' shouted the flushed and
, angry respectable gentleman; "Driver,
, | want my change 1 put a fifty-cent
E piece in t:lat box by mistake and 1 want
g my change"
3 .WeIl," remarked the driver, 81 guess
..Do YOU hear? Give me my change
h instantly, or I'll report you to the COM
i. "AlI right remarked the driver.
e YOU'D better ride rightup to the stable
n with me- E.
e The respectable gentleman resumed
t his seat, the image Of impotent rage ant
b tried to be again respectable and digni
1t fed, but he made the lady, the reporte
re and the small boy confidents of his per
~ sonal opinion concerning the imperti
al nent driver, the company, the two pas
10 senger-coaches-a es-and-a-freight-car cash
e. box and the earth in general.
IN The respectable gentleman had scarce
,e ly settled back again, with his glove
m hands folded on his umbrella, and gaz
IN ing at nothing in particular, but wit
n a sternness that was no longer milo
when lady hailed the bus and got in
A happy thought occurred to the respec
able fifty-cent passenger. He smile
henionlv and with a Permit M
'r madam took the lady's fiye-cent piet
se and-put it in his pocket. His lips can
IS we'll together and his whole face assume
10, an air Of discrimination. AS the driv
MS looked down through his little box-ofi
'e- window aperture the respectable gent
en- man exclaimed:
rm Driver, am going to take fares u
til get my change.
en- s'Well, but"
mo butts; attend to your horses. II
company owes me forty-five cents, al
we I'm going to have it before 1 leave t
ee' stage"
our How long it took the driver to appr
ciate the situation the reporter did
ill, INQUIRE, but he said no more. Soon
OF gentleman got in, and the company
creditor moved toward the front OF t
,u- stage and took his fare, explaining
case. All the passengers smiled. Prt
emily two ladies entered. EVerybo
18th looked at the respectable gentleman Al
one smiled again, the small boy clapped
IN hands, the creditor looked determine
frowned slightly, took the ladies' t
81 cents and put it in his, pocket. L
ed: driver merely looked down to see HI
many ''fares'' got in; When a you
e man got in, the smile became broao
an. than ever. He sat opposite the for
air five cent creditor. The latter lean
list forward, touched the young man on
knee, and said:
81 will take your fare, sir.
you The tone was SO commanding that
e it newcomer handed over his c.
amazedly, and the receiver slipped it
orm his pocket. The young man, after c.
l. tinuing to stare at the self-appoin
you conductor awhile, exclaimed.
where's my five cents?"
out ''In my pocket, sir
and "Give me my five cents change; g
you ten cents"
sn't ..Sir, it is all right. am taking ia
for the present. accidentally" etc.
ight ''Well, that's all right But WI
rees my five cents change"
Il beg yourpardon," " said the respe
'ro| able gentleman, ignoring the yor
mans request, and evidently too mi
occupied with his mental arithmetic
catch the idea. The other passeng
were by this time roaring with laugh
ung and the young man became angry
the yociferous and threatened to call an
nue.. Ger, and finally the citizens movem
fin, creditor suddenly caught the mean
Hos of the Young mans remonstrance,
ring with profuse, but digniied apolog
very handed him five cents.
mer- When the reporter left the scene OF
ugh farcical comedy, the respectable gel
all. man had got up to forty cents and
rved begun to look mild once more.-N