Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-02-28
HAD a FRONT SEAT.

When He Got Through His Mother Hardly
Knew Him, But He Had n Good Time.
Between the shafts of coal-cart
horse logged along at a leisurely pace
one day recently. 1t appeared to have
the whole day before it and looked as
though it was Illuminating on the per-
versities of fate as manifested in the
social distinction between the hauler of
a heavy load of coal and the animal
that ways its locked tail in front of a
stylish 7 cart. 1t was going in the di-
rection of Fulton street, and had just
left coal-yard situated on a thorough
fare where the said coal-yard is, very
properly, regarded as an eyesore. Its
driver was a contented-looking Irish
man, to whom the comforts of a we'll
smoked pipe seemed to be appealing, to
the exclusion of every thing
else in the world, except the
companion by his side. Social
distinctions We're not troubling him at
all, notwithstanding the fact that his
companion was manifestly at one end
of the social line while he was at the
other extreme. A boy in something
suggestive of a Fauntleroy suit sat be-
side him, but there was nothing effemi-
nate about the lad. He was evidently
about eight years of age, that is to say,
he was exactly old enough to appreciate
the precise character of the exalted
privilege he was enjoying. Nothing
could be more apparent than that the
topmost summit of the young mans am
bition was being gratified. AS no other
horses were in sight, and the danger of
collisions was therefore quite remote,
the daintily- attired young man was, for
the time being, actually master of the
proud position. The reins were in his
grasp and che was shouting "Get up,
get up" with unnecessary but most
enjoyable vigor and enthusiasm.
His vocal industry had no effect
whatever, either upon the ami
NAL or upon its regular driver The
horse logged along at no accelerated
speed, as though it understood the situa-
ton perfectly well, and the smoker of the
clay pipe occasionally cast an approx
ing glance at the youngster. The pro-
cession attracted some attention and
pedestrians enjoyed the contrast. About
three hours later the same turnout made
its appearance in the same thorough
fare. The boy did not seem to be quite
as daintily attired. Not that his face
was really any blacker than that of the
regular driver, not at ALI Both faces
were just about as black as they could
be, but the boys face looked the black
er of the two, because of the contrast
between its color and that of such
parts of it as had escaped the thick
layer of coal dust. 1t was quite ap-
parent that he had helped to unload
the coal, but whether he had risen
to the dignity of actually using the
shovel was not explained. In front of
handsome brown-stone house the
young man was himself finally unload
ed. He had about him the air of one
who has at last achieved the object of
perfectly legitimate and laudable ambi-
ton. His mother was looking out of
the window as the coal cart material
lied. She had long ago become alarmed
about her son, but she did not know
him until he opened the gate. Then she
raced down stairs, at once relieved and
mortified.
''Oh, what sight," she exclaimed.
"Where on earth have you been, you
young scamp?"
''It's pretty hard work, mamma, but
you can bet it's lots O. fun, an had
front seat all the way. You should
lust try ."-Brooklyn Eagle.