The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-06-23
WANTING TO BE DRIVER.

How . Momentous Question Was Settled
Among the Little Members Of the Carey
Family.
1t was raining hard; and it was just
going to rain all day. No chasing the
turkeys, no climbing after green ap-
pies, no tumbling in the hay to-day
that was certain.
But the five little Careys must have
fun somehow; so when grandma heard
laundering noise over her head, and
peeped in the old garnet room, there
they were, getting ready to play stage
coach.
Every one of the five looked bright
and happy and merry; they were haul
ing together old trunks, pulling about
broken-legged chairs, Juggling at every
thing that could be moved, and many
things that couldn't.
Grandma closed the door softly, not
having been seen by the travelers-elect,
and slipped away, smiling.
"While l am up here" said the old
lady to herself, 'Tll just step across to
the other loft and turn my hops"
This didn't take long; and, as grand
ma came past the garrst room she
opened the door and peeped in again.
my! What's the matterp" she
cried. There was the stage all ready
to be sat upon, pounded, thumped and
hollered at; but the voyagers, where
were theyP Scattered like the poppy
leaves when q storm has passed; and
every little darkened brow and puck.
cred nose and pouting lip showed
traces of the storm.
"And what's the matterp" grandma
had to ask again before she found out
that when it was time for the coach to
start, 10! every body wanted to be driv.
er-Rob, and Frank and Tom, Of
course; and even long-haired Jessie,
and grandma's pet, wee Madge.
Did grandma laugh at themp ]
think she must have laughed little,
even grandma; but not much; for she
sat right down on the driver seat, and
put on her "once upon time" look.
"The greatest Virginian that ever
was born, " she began (for this farm.
house with the garrett room was in
sight of the Blue Ridge, "was the one
that was the readiest to get down of
the drivers seat. After he had whipped
the red coats, Washington might have
kept his place at the head of his de.
voted army, and been the driver az
long as he lived. Did he do thisp"
Frank, who had recently read all the
backs of his History Of the United
States, here snapped the fingers Of
both hands above his head, in token Of
his eagerness to answer.
mo stree; there's splendid picture
in my book of General Washington Civ.
ing up his sword to the Congress a,
Annapolis. The fellows are dressed
up too funny for any thing, with thei1
hair tied back like Jessie's; only al
their heads are white"
"But Washington was put in the
drivers seat again." continued grand
ma, "when the people voted him Pres
ident of the United States, and they
had great work to get him to keep thu
reins for eight years; he did not thinl
it best for the country that one mar
should continue to rule; so back ht
went to Mount Vernon, to take care o.
his servants and his land, and do hi.
duty as gentleman farmer. Ant
now (here grandma looked very sad,
here are my little Virginians quarrel
ing over being stage coach driver.
Washington's little fellow citizen'
looked tremendously sheepish, but thu
mention of voting had suggested ,
happy thought to Tom.
'Let's vote for the driver" cried he
adding, with virtuous severity: 20
course no fellow must vote for him
/ SELF"
The choice fell on baby Madge, ant
: having settled the affairs of the infan
republic by the example of their great
est countryman, grandma went bac,
chuckling to her knitting.-ElizabetI
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