The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-12-22
LIFE STORY OF A CAB.
THE GHoSTLY REcoLLEcTIoNs OF
AN ANCIENT VEHICLE.


Daughter Nellie-Saw Some Sights When
1t Belonged to a Society Lady-Now 1t
Belongs to a Night Liner.
"Talking about ghosts" interrupted
Bill SAKE as he shifted his quid of tobacco
and pulled the blanket over his horse, this
here wagon of mine and me has seen MORN
you fellers ever heerd Of.
1t was big, burly jehu who spoke, and
he was addressing his remarks to group
of several of his kind when reporter hap
pened along. The story was interrupted
Immediately, and the reporter was accosted
with the familiar interrogatory; "Kedge,
sir? I'll run you home cheap" No, he
didn't want to go home then. Perhaps
later he would.
"Let's hear that story of your'n, Bill, Z"
said one of the men, breaking the silence
"It's long story, boys, but seein that
you want to hear it, why, here goes. To
begin at the beginnin, this turnout be-
longs to me- The horse and kedge was
onct upon time high goers, but little
bad luck and hard treatment brought it
to the bazaar, where | made it mine for
$45. AS / mounted the box to drive to my
stable neat looking ma come alongside
and asked me if l had any objection to
his takin last look inside. Course
hadn't, and he climbed inside and staid
several minutes. l was gettin sort Of
anxious when the door opened and he got
out. His eyes was red as if he had been
cryin, and he looks up to me and says,
'Pard, when you bought that kedge you
bought MORN one-half of my life Then
he wiped his eyes and turned away. Them
words of his bothered me considerable.
The next day l gives the kedge coat of
varnish and covered the seats with linen.
1t was a great improvement, and starts
ON the following Monday to do business
on my own hook as night liner.
GAS 1 said, the kedge looked fine then,
and the first week or so there wasn't a
man on the stand who did better business
than did. One night last winter, when
it was snowin like tarnation, / couldn' It
stand the cold any longer and gets inside.
1t had been a short night-that is, there
was few people out and no business at all.
hadn't been inside MORN minute when
l heerd some one groan. Another drunk,
says /, and with that opened the door and
looked outside. It was as dark night rs
ever saw, and couldn' It see dozen yards
in front of me. unfastened the lamp on
the dash and looked about. There was
no one in sight, and | laid the groan to
my imagination and got back. Pretty
soon W. startled again by a voice COM
in from t..l seat in front of me. Boys,
that kedge was talkin to me"
''Oh, rats" put in one of the drivers.
"Bill SAKE, you was drunk"
"No, indeed, 'Owley,' was as sober
that night as 1 am this minute. Fact is,
l amt drunk drop since that night.
Wait till finishes the story. Let's see,
was where the front seat was talking.
Well, it says TO me: Bill SAKE, would you
like to hear my storyP Would you like to
hear of the joys and sorrows that l have
garfield Listen, then. l came from the
west, where one of the most noted builders
put me together. first belonged to a
senator, leastwise he WASH t senator when
he bought me. When he was elected,
carried him home from the legislature,
and he was very happy. All the way he
kept saying to himself, "This is the crown
ing triumph of my life." was happy my
self that night, and carried him as gently
as possible. These springs were marvels in
buOSO udJSt anu EluCG1 bnS
horse, was as stylish coach horse as any
in the town. A short time after that
was brought to Washington. 1t was !
that carried Miss Nellie, the senator's
daughter, and her sweetheart, the young
banker, when the latter asked her to be
his wife, and followed the wedding pro-
cession later on.
"'One day while was resting in the
stable with a cloth cover over me, the
coachman runs into the stable and tells
the hostler to hitch up quick, as the SEN
ator while walking on the capitol terrace
had slipped and hurt himself. We were
on the street in iiffy, and when we pull
ed up at the private residence where mas
ter had been carried felt awful bad
Then they brought the master out. He
was white as a ghost and bleeding from
an ugly wound in the head. | carried
him home, but he died the next day. That
was the beginning Of my sorrow. After
the funeral Prince and were sold. We
were bought by society lady. 1 won't
tell you of the sights we saw and the con
versations heard. We only lasted short
time in their service. would get out Of
order every chance l had just to spitt
them, and Prince he went lame and was
sold. They bought another horse for me
but went to pieces shortly afterwarC
and was sold to livery stable keeper
That was the most trying moment of my
life. Perhaps it was because had to g
into public life anyhow the burden was
lightened after two years in that servict
when was bought by my old coachman
the one who used to drive me when thu
senator was alive. He cared for me a!
best he could, but l was discontinued
The trouble this time was the use wa
being put to. Every day it was a funeral
and so much sorrow was upon my spring
that 1 gave out and was taken to the ba
saar. My master hated to sell me; tina
was him who looked inside after yoT
bought me. Yes; he hated to sell me, bu
1 was rather glad of a change. Then yor
bought me and can tell better than AM
one else what a hard life both of us hav,
! led
'I had just settled myself to reply wheI
policeman shook me and walked up.
had been dreaming"
Thought all the time 1t was like tina
or else you was drunk, ;" said "Owley," il
disappointed Washington Star.