Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-06-14
A Roland for an Oliver.

Ilauue IL one OF tnOse young fellows
who likes joke and knows how to write
1t up. He has scored his ,"friend Tom"
many and many time. But Tom has
kept quiet. lie was waiting his chances.
The first chance came in the cold spell,
but Tom thought that that was not quite
enough.
This first chance, by the way, happened
in the Winter, during the cold spell when
everything outside of a volcano was
freezing. II happened that the joker's
folks were away. Claude claimed to be a
good housekeeper and bossed the house
and the servant man. 1t happened that
nett her Claude or the servant man knew
anything about the obstinate tendency of
water freezing in the water. backs Of
stoves during cold spells. In the morn
ing Claude and his man lighted fire In
the stove. (Claude claims to be a cook
and he was going to have fine breakfast }
The fire started and the first thing
Claude and the servant man knew the fro
zen water IN the back OF the stove ex-
ploded with rip, snort and bang. The
stove went to pieces. The ceiling was
knocked down, the windows were blown
out and general chaos reigned.
A few nights afterwards the thaw came
and with II thunder storm. Claude had
bought new range and the plasterers
and carpenters had repaired the house.
All of a sudden, while Claude was asleep
and dreaming OF a certain divinity, ter.
rife shock OF thunder shook him out of
bed.
"Gosh darn that stove! Its busted
again!" yelled Claude.
lie found, however, that 1t was only
thunder.
Now Tom kept this a secret, although
Claude had been having his fun. But
when Claude got that Ananias Harcourt
OF the Boston Globe to describe Toms
arrest at the naval parade In New York as
| a bunco steerer, Tom felt that patience
| then and there, at Pawtucket, in the
| county of Providence, ETC., ceased to be q
virtue.
Everything comes to him, who waits,
Tom waited. IL came.
One day lately Tom and his friend Dan
had some business of great Importance.
In fact, Dan was going of to sell some
logs aud expected to be absent for at least
two days. Dan and Tom and Claude
had had dinner together and they rel
ished 1t. Tom had promised to do some
thing for some one and "hadn't had time"
and wanted to go and excuse himself.
Dan agreed to drive him cup the valley'
and Claude invited himself to go as steer
ing committee. A carryall was hired.
Claude became coachman and handled
the ribbons. He had had great deal of
experience with horses and knew all
about 1t, OF course. Few drivers could
compare with him, etc, etc.
OF they went, happy and Jolly; no
cloud was I'm the sky and there were no
thoughts Of open mouthed sewers. The
journey was made up the valley and stops
were occasionally made, friends were
called on and the party was entertained
royalty and as royalty did Dan and Tom
and Claude entertain their hosts.
Then they started for home. The
bright June sun was setting
behind the Cumberland Hills the
robins were singing their evening
songs; the lowing cows were vending
their way from the milky meadows to
yield their choicest gifts to hard worked
farmer lads and lassies when the tourists
started for home.
II was stable horse of uncertain age
but OF precise and solemn pace which
Claude drove. Down through the beauti-
full valley Of the Blackstone they logged
along. Then they reached the region
called the "region of civilization" on
Dexter street, so called because they make
nails and tacks and screw-nails and
spindles and looms and what not on that
thoroughfare-when all of a sudden there
was plunk Claude had driven straight
into the sewer.
"Nnff ced." Tom and Dan forgot the
romance OF the day. They were down.
Claude was up. Both hind wheels caved
in. Claude was saved. Sorrowfully
Claude "gosh- dsrDed" the luck, aud
swore "by CORY" that it was too bad.
Tom and Dan made Claude lead the horse
home and today Tom is danciag around
like an Apache yelling, "Revenge is
sweet"
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