The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-17
LITTLE DAVE"
BY Joel Chandler Harris.

BY Joel Chandler Harris.
Street car No. / is q car that would attract
attention anywhere, 1t is a car that is full of
individuality whether it is loaded down with
passengers or whether it is empty. l have
paragraphed No. in the newspapers before
now abiding somewhat sarcastically To its
pecularities; but these illusions have had no
effect so far as 1 can see. The ramshacille old
car rattles right ahead as usual, displaying its
pecularities at every crossing and at every
curve. One moment its movements seem to be
an acgrayation of smoothncSs. 1t glides along
without Jolt or jar, but, Just as the sensation
becomes pleasant. it breaks into gallop, then
subsidies into a trot, and so on TO the
end. There are other peculiarities which
will not mention for fear that unimaginative
people will say that / am somewhat eccentric
myself. Those l have referred to can be felt
and appreciated by all men,
Why not make it point, then, to avoid No.
A? perhaps you will ask. We'll, some irritable
people do, but, for my part, prefer No. /, TO
any other car. It's individuality is worth
studying. Even its drivers are interesting.
Kit Shelton drove it month or more, but he
was transferred to another car, and DimmiciI
took his place. Dimmck was a character III
his way. A more accommodating man never
drove on the line. AS the country advertise
irients put it, he studied to please. He was
not always cheerful, but he was always good
hurnored. No matter how irritable the pas
.sengers might be- he never lost patience. lie
was always ready to explain or apologize, and
vet he somehow managed to impress people
with the idea that he not a man to be i'm
posed upon. Dimmick was o responsive per-
son too A smile Or q kind word would win
him at once.
1t has long been my habit, when the weather
is favorable, to ride on the platform with the
street car drivers, and in this way came to
know Dimmiclz very well, He was great
taker when once started, though he rarely
talked about himself. He had had very wide
experience in the north Georgia mountains,
and once he told me he had been to Albany in
the state of New York, fact that struck him as
very important. And no doubt it was 10 DIM
mick, for it was easy enough in his case to con-
Glude that he had visited Albany as the unwil-
ling guest of the United States government.
Such things have happened before now, and
they will probably happen again.
One who has been riding on the street cars
four times day for seven years or more, is
apt to notice every little incident, whether odd
or commonplace. 1t was therefore no motive
cfcuyiosity or inquisjtivencss that led me to
fenarl what seemed TO be one of Dimmick's
peculiarities. No matter how busy he was i'll
making change, no matter whether he was be-
hind or ahead of Time no matter whether the
sun was shining, or whether the rain was fall
ing, he would always stop his car when he
came to q particular corner, and look anxious
ly up the cross street. Sometimes the street
would be empty, and then he would turn off
tho brakes in hurry, whip up his horses, and
proceed to make up the time he had lost. But,
ut other times, when thin legged negro nurse
was to be seen trying to steer fat, Wob
bling baby along the pavement, Dim
mick would kiss his hand at the couple and
break OFT into a hearty laugh
Occasionally the thin-legged negro nurse
and thetfat baby would manage to be near the
crossing. and at such times Dimmick would
stop his car stock still, reach down for the fat
baby and kiss it all over its face and eyes,
proceeding which the youngster seemed to en-
Joy immensely, for il made point of laug Cling
heartily whenever this event occurred. And
the negro girl laughed too, in sympathy, so
that the person who stood on the platform when
the baby was drug or board" q employ Dim
mclls language) had the pleasure of behold
ing very happy trio Which was the hap
piest on these occasions / shall not undertake
TO say, bat my impression is that Dimmicils
enjoyment was the kcenest.
One day last before Christmas ] was driving
the car while Dmmick ate his dinner--T am a
very good driver. if ! do say it myself-when
all oG sudden heard him slap the top in his
little tin bucket, and the next moment he was
by my side, putting on the brake.
"Whats up?' said l.
"Thercs the boy, said he, and, sure enough,
there on the pavement, with the negro nurse
tryinc to keep him steady, was the little baby
that Dn4mica had been IN the habit Of stop
ping for. The nurse was grinnng and the