St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-12-13

What Happened to the Opposition.

What Happened to the Opposition.
An immense furniture truck, with
high Slated sides, heavy wheels, and
canvas top. stood at the entrance to
Harlem Bridge Sunday afternoon. A
preoccupied looking mule and an
ancient horse with a perpetual air OF
discouragementa about him, were hitched
to it with nondescript harness.
On the side of the wagon was board
on which was scrawled with charcoal
'Oke Pint"
s.Step right up, gents and ladies" "
yelled the proprietor cheerfully. settling
his battered white plug hat comforta-
bly over his right eye, and waving his
arms Hospitality. ''Step right up an
.patronize ther opposition line fer ther
Pint. This ant no monopoly line.
We're plain, but luxurious. Young
feller with ther gal! carry yer over fer
five cents head. Cost yer ten cents
by the regler rattle traps"
The .syoung feller with ther gall sur
rendered to the brilliant inducements
offered and mounted the wagon via a
soap box placed on the ground. Three
tough young men followed; rotund
German, with his stout wife, seven
healthy children and two huge baskets.
were hoisted aboard; more tough young
men followed, and the cheerful pro-
prietor proceeded to hustle them about
and lam them down rs if he were de-
posting furniture.
..Step right up" he yelled. This
here lightning 'spress's bound to be on
time
80, sayr put in passenger. "are
you ever going to start? We're full
already"
"Yes. there's thirty-one aboard al
ready" grunted fat man.
Mr.. Crowley surveyed the strikers
calmly and contemptuonsly. and re-
marked: ..What do yer want fer a
nickel? Want reserved seats2 This
a. mt no swell taller-ho, this n Mt. May
be yer thought yer were charterin' a
'partment in er Palace car"
"Never seen sich a lot o. kickers.
muttered the proprietor as he admins
tered a kick to his slumbering team.
..Yer can bet. this is the last time this
'ere train starts with only thirty-one pas
sengers. If yer want to ride in a limited
'spress. with half load, yer have to
pay for it.
The mule took toe hold, strained,
and pulled the wagon and the old horse
| along.
Half way to the Point one of the hind
| wheels broke short of at the axle, let
| ting the corner of the cart down with
a crash that demolished the rear end
| and dumped half the passengers in the
dust. The tough young men picked
| themselves up and moved to institute q
riot. Mr.. Crowley sat impassively up
on the box and surveyed the wreck.
| The mule resumed his ruminating atti-
tude, and the old horse seized upon the
opportunity to go to sleep.
A shade of sadness stole over the pro-
prietor's wooden face and he uncon-
sciously sighed. This knocks the op-
pysition."
"What are you going to do about
this?" inquired the fat man dolefully,
| sitting up in the road and endeavoring
to take the kinks out of his derby.
"Durned if know how / kin fix
her." answered MIR. Crowley, referring
to his wagon.
"Hang your wagonr' chorused the
tough young men. "How are we going
to get to Oak Point?''
| MIR. Crowley shifted his hat uneasily,
looked puzzled and hazarded: walk
in's good, gents"
"We paid you for ride" said the
'young feller," whose coat was now
slit up the back. ''Give us our money
back or transfer u.s."
Mr.. Crowley jammed his hat onto the
back of his head and replied with some
energy: "Give back nuthin'; yer gettin'
of cheap. Most any other feller' d make
yer pay for the damage Yer hadn't
no call ter crowd on SO. Any foord
know wagon couldn't stand thirty.
one passengers. Yer can transfer yer
selves aboard the monopoly stages"
lit don'd gost Something's more?'
hesitated the German. glancing with
q calculating eye over his numerou:
flock.
.Well, you has cheek! It'll onl,
cost yer ten cents. Yer don't expect
the opposition ter payit, do yer?''
The tough young men concluded to
walk. The tat German encompassed
economy by picnicing on the grass un
der q tree. The ..feller" reluctantly
hailed one of the monopoly stages
handed his "gal'' in and paid twenty
cents.
The last words the fat passenger
heard as he started in a rage to wall
back were: "Durned eff this ere dom
knock ther opposition. N Y. Com
mercidt Advertiser.