Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-09-08
JOHN RUDD, POET AND CARRIER.

JOHN RUDD, roe AND CARRIER.
MINISTER'S was situated in the suburbs OF
Southampton. Ii was arranged, therefore
that / should journey by a small steamer n:
far as Falmouth, and thence by road to St
Gurlotts-on-Sea. | was conducted to the
boat by Mr.. Munster. On arriving at Fal
mouth, after an %uneyentful passage, | was
met on board by a rough-looking person. who
Informed me that he had been deputed by
"Missus Pendragon," TO convey me and my
belongings to st. Gurlott's.
What manner of man he was / could
scarcely tell, beyond realizing the fact that
he was Of tremendous height, that he wore a
white beaver hat, and that his figure was
wrapped in an enormous irieze coat which
reached his ankles. He gave a glance at me,
and then said In q peculiar pipy voice:
Come, lad, gie's the tip about your boxes,
and We'll move on; the mares got a journey
afore 'un, and VEIN best nawt be Later
/ moved aft. and pointed out to him my
little trunk. He looked at it in much the
salne way as a giant might look at IA pebble,
put it quietly under his ann, and moved oil
again, inviting me TO follow. We crossed
the gangway, and came on to the quay. Here
we found q large van, and a fat sleepy-look.
ing roam horse. The wagon was rooted with
black tarpaulin. and OH the side was painted,
In large white letters:
JOHN RUDD, CARRIER, ST. G~URLoTT's."
On coming up 10 the vehicle, my conductor
paused and disposed OF my trunk, then. turn
ing to me with a Come, young master, jump
in" he gave me lift which summary placed
me inside and on the top of my box; then,
before | had time 10 recover myself, | felt
that the wagon was jolting along.
What the day was like, and what sort of 0
prospect We were passing through, | had not
the remotest idea; the ~tarpaulin and the
enormous figure Of the driver completely
shutting me in from the world. l waited for
awhile. thinking, perhaps, my companion
might turn communicative and make some
suggestion as 10 my better disposal; but none
came. lie sat like a log, and, beyond a few
disjointed EXPLANATIONS to the horse, uttered
not a sound.
As he evidently had no intention whatever
of taking the slightest further notice of me,
/ thought 1t best to approach him.. l accord
ingly shouted "Hi!' several times and gave
him a few vigorous pokes in the back; hut
neither Of these attempts producing the
slightest effect,I concluded he must be asleep.
l accordingly swung off the van behind, and.
running beside the horse, hullo'd to him
from the road.
This trick told better. Mr.. Rudd, who
seemed, indeed, to have become oblivious OF
the world, gradually turned his face toward
me and gazed at me for a time with a vacu-
Gus stare. Then he pulled up the horse with
q jerk.
THE Lord preserve zee y he said, whats
the lad dom thar'y'
/ explained that I had swung ont of the
wagon. because 1t was not pleasant inside,
and added:
Have you got room up there for two, Mr..
Rudd?'
Instead of replying to my question, hs
gave q chuckle. and said:
"You'm a smart 'un; Mr.. .Kudd, chs Now,
haw did you come 10 knaw that thar, young
master, ehY'
Iexplained that l had concluded from his
appearance that he must be the master of the
van, upon which John Rudd' was painted;
but he only chuckled again and plped:
"You'm a little 'un to be such a scholardv
As / saw he was about to become fossilized
again, l fastened to repeat my former ques-
ton. Mr.. Rudd gazed abstractedIy at the
seat and then at me.
.'Mayn't / some up" 1 said, 'it's so close
inside the van. and l would rather ride be-
side you, Mr.. Ruddy' Then. without giving
him time for a refusal, ! leapt upand nestled
beside him.
MI. Rusd made no protest-he simply said,
s'Moye on, mare" and the mare moved, on
forthwith.
We had left Falmouth behind Us, and were
moving cumbrously along the high road.
Looking to the right and to the left ! could
geo nothing but andulating sweeps Of land,