Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-07-08
WHO SHALL BE pRIvER7

How . Momentous Question Was Settled
Family.
1t was raining hard; and It was just
going to rain all day. No chasing tho
turkeys. no climbing after green APP
Piles. no tumbling in the hay to-day
that was certain.
But the five little Careys must have
fun somehow; 30 when grandma heard
laundering noise over her head. and
pccped in the old garret 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
brokcn-leggcd chairs, tugging at every
thing that could be moved, and many
things that couldn't.
Grandma closed the door softly. not
having been seen by the travclers-elect,
and slipped away, smiling.
"Whic am up here" said the old
lady to herself, "l'll just step across to
the other loft and turn my hops"
This didn't take long; and. asgrand-
ma came past the garrst room she
opened the door and peeped in again.
"My! What's the mattcr3' she
cried. There was the stage all ready
to be sat upon. pounded, thumped and
hollcrcd at; but the voyagers, where
were they? Scattered like the poppy
leaves when storm has passed; and
every little darkencd 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 Madgc.
Did grandma laugh at themP l
think she must have laughed little.
even grandma; but not much; for she
sat right down on the drivers seat, and
put on her "oncc upon time" look.
"The greatest Virginian that ever
was born." she began (for this farm
house with the garret room was in
sight of the Blue Ridge), "was the ono
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 as
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 cagcrncss to answer.
mo stree; there's splendid picture
in my book of General Washington Civ
ing up his sword to the Congress at
Annapolis. The fellows are dressed
up too funny for any thing. with their
hair tied back like Jessie's; only all
their heads are white"
"But Washington was put in tho
drivers seat again." continued grand
ma, "whcn the people voted him Pres
idcnt OF the United States. and they
had great work to get him to keep tho
reins for eight years; he did not think
Il best for the country that one man
should continue to rule; so back hc
went to Mount Vernon, to take care OF
his servants and his land, and do his
duty as gentleman farmer And
now (here grandma looked very sad)
here are my little Virginians quarrel.
ing over being stage coach driver"
Washington's little fellow citizens
looked tremendously shccpish. but tho
mention of voting had suggested .
happy thought to Tom.
"Let's vote for the driver" cried he.
adding. with virtuous severity: 'Of
course no fellow must vote for HIM
self"
The choice fell on baby Madge, and
having settled the affairs of the infant
republic by the example of their great
est countryman, grandma went back
chuckling to her knitting.-Etizabeth
ID xyy.., .,, NJ v Jod.nendenk