Connecticut western news., 1884-12-17
THE CAR DRIVERS STORY.
HOW HE SPENT HIS CHRISTMAS LAST
 YEAR,

HOW HE SPENT HIS CHRISTMAS LAST
 YEAR.
 'Yes, it's hard life, sir" was the re- mark of 8 driver on Third avenue horse car the other night, as our reporter got aboard and stood on the front platform to smoke.
 The driver was big, burly man, with red, rough, weather-beaten face. His great coat, shabby but warm, was but toned close about his neck, and he wore buckskin gloves. His legs seemed lit tie stiff, and he seldom removed eyes from his horses.
 "Yes, sir" he continued; "it's hard life, but somehow or other I have got used to it and don't mind it as much as l did. I've been many years in the bus mess, and my pay, although small, is enough to live on. The hours are long, but I guess I'm not good for anything else, and he gave the bell-strap 8 pull to inform the conductor that there was a flare" on the front platform.
 ''Haye cigar, did you say? Thank you, sir. I can't smoke it now. Might be seen and laid off. I'll enjoy it when I get through with the last trip"
 ''Yes, I'm married; me and the old woman live all alone. It's not much I see of her, but we have snug little place up town which I'm always glad to get into and always sorry to leave. But home ain't as bright as it used to be.
 ''How, do you ask? We'll, I'll tell you, sir. You see we had a little daugh- ter Mary, God bless her. She was only eight and our only child She was the pride of our home. No matter what time I got in the house in the morning she would get out of bed and give me a kiss.
 ''Night after night, in the heat of summer and the freezing nights of win ter, while stood on the platform tired and weary, for it's long ride from City Hall to Harlem, when you make five round trips day. Night after night I have longed for the last trip when I could tie up and go home and see Mary and have her put her arms around my neck and say, poor tired papa and then give me kiss," and he brought the car to stop to take on passenger.
 'fWhen had 8 swing" continued the driver, "that is an hour or so between trips, I seldom hung about the depot chatting with the men; always went home and spent what little time I had there. l am running steady car now, and have no swings. Some how or other I've always had night car.
 "Well, every night since she was large enough Mary used to meet me at the corner of - street at g o'clock with my supper in a tin pail. I used to slack up the car bit and reach down and get the pail and smile at the same time. Here's your supper, papa, she would say. Its nice and warm. I'll wait up for you tonight
 : ''Poor thing, she always said that she would wait up for me, but she always fell asleep, and would never wake uI till I reached home. used to take my supper up to the Harlem depot and eat it in the conductors and drivers room. I just had about time enough to cal 1t before making another trip.
 "Well. sir. you can't tell how I longed every night for that meeting with Mary, I counted the hours until 9 o'clock. She was always prompt, rain or shine, storm or calm. She was always there on the corner to meet 'papa's car and make his heart glad. The conductor knew we'll enough what time l met her Sometimes he would come on the iron platform and say few pleasant words to the child as she handed me the pail
 "For years that little meeting was tho sole pleasure I had during the long night. Of course my duty kept mt busy, but that little meeting kept me 1T good humor until the long nights worl was over She knew exactly what tim I was due at the corner and many night when I was behind hand I Iashe, the old horses up so as to be there ol time and not make Mary wonder at tn delay. The meetings only lasted fo 8 moment, but it was a sweet momen to me; but they have gone now, gon forever, and never pass the old corne without sigh for the days gone by.
 "Well, last Christmas Day was O the trip up from City Hall. the trip O which I was to meet Mary. When reached the old cornerI could not SC her. and looked at my watch. was few minutes behind time, and wor dered what the matter could be.
 "While I was thinking the matte over like, boy came rushing up tn street with tin pail in his hand. H made dash for the car, jumped on tn platform, and said {: Here's your sup per. Where's MaryY I asked. : don't know, said the boy. Your vii gave me the pail and five cents, told m