Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-02-02
MIR. JOSIAH SMITHS CABMAN.

IS his experience went ne Always ulu,
though none could say that Josiah
treated him sbabbily. He was always
on the safe side; that is, he in the first
instance gave the man a sixpence or
o shilling over his fare, and anxiously
scanned his face as he paid him, to
see if he would like another sixpence,
which he frequently did.
Josiah felt 1t was very hard, but it
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 consid-
cradle loss owing 70 their poor treat
ment Of Josiah. Many time he walk
ed where he would have taken cab.
ney the inevitable grumble at the end,
scarcely to be modified by the propi-
tiatory sixpence. Rather than face it
he would walk. Now he had ridden,
and here was tae customary conclu-
sion of the ride.
JOSIAH heaved n sigh and felt in his
waistcoat for the sixpence. There at
his heels stood the cabman, with hand
Cutstretched and coin reposing in the
center. Josiah knew it all to well, and
fished out the sixpence.
81 don't think, my good man." he
said, chat your fare il more than one
and sixpence, and 1 have given you
two shillings. But your life is a hard
one and your temper is apt to grow
ruffled."
"fwo shilluns, was 1t, yer guy mel"
said the cabman, breaking in upon Jo-
siah's homily; 81 should like to ave a
few more shIluns 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 1 gave
you that in mistake, and that you have
brought it back2" Josiah asked, his gen
tie eyes the home of wild surprise
That's just about it, guv'nor. When
! WAS kid was teached as houesty's
the best policy. When II gentleman Civ
me sovereign, meanin' to be a shillin'
am to pocket it or not? Not, says
to myself sharp off, not givin' myself to
think over it; and there y'are."
slL's very odd" said Josiah, peering
into his purse. II don't keep my gold
and silver together, and | don't know
how ] 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
n sovereign for bein' honest?"
eyes and I'd like to shake your hand
~ wolp
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 Mt the bottom Of a
small sack that would have at least
held hundred. This he tied round
with II string and deposited in his trous-
ers pocket, approachable only Through
many overcoats; then iaborously pol
hing his hand on his trousers he helC
it out to Josiah, who fervcntly claspeC
Il.
81 use good man cab'," said Josiah
'or | would use them if | always had
honest, obliging like you to deal with
Do you stable about here?'
CLOSE andy, sir" said the honest
.
"Til look in tor orders if you like"
"Do," SAID Josiah; and the cabman
went off to lay out n portion of his hall
overeign in "blt O supper for me an
he missus."
The cabman arrived IN the morning
and Josiah made some business that
should take hum out for u 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 II was not four miles from
his room To King street, It. James, to
Victoria station; still Il 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 ptid his two shilllugs
Id felt the great comfort of dealing
with II man of this kind.
ats just like having your own car
riage, without the expense" he said 10
himself with \ glow of satisfaction
Games 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
enco 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
,.,H, 4. &
domestic virtue. He knew they occa-
sionally got drunk, and he had read of
their beating their wives when business
WAS slack and the aggregate of fires
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 eatin' and drinkin' wot nd
keep boss and Il boss earns money,
when they're in the 'ouse all day a.
estin' their heads orr"
Josiah noted shat the children did
not cost their parents much in shoe
leather, since they went about bare
footed. Nor, were their wardrobes
costly. Still they must eat; and Josiah
often dropped in with packet of buns,
and sometimes on Saturday night the
butchers boy unexpectedly arrived
with noble joint for Sundays dinner.
James wss accordingly inclined to en-,
courage these visits of his patron, more
particularly when they led to beef.
Buns he despised, but six or seven
pounds of beef made his eyes glisten.
"Bill Maggins is in luck again,' Mr..
Barmer abruptly remarked to Josiah,
as he looked in for orders.
sis her Now, that's very NICE" said
Josiah, beaming henevolently through
his spectacles. He was always glad to
hear of good being done to any one,
and the circumstance that he had
never before heard of Bill Muggins
did not greatly hamper his satisfaction.
yes; a bloomin' lucky chap, that