Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-02-18
HOW EBENEZER TRAVELLED

Ebenezer had TO go to BRISTOL for
get why. Indeed. | don't know that
ever knew. Ebenezer generally plays
his own game without coniiding in any
of his two.Iegged friends, even his mas
ter. ! call the gentlemen who annually
pays into the revenue the sum or seven
and sixpence on behalf of this great
deg, Ehenez rs master" but of course
GubDins Is not really that in any other
respect. Ebenczer lets him pay the
seven and s%ixpence for the sake OF a
quiet life, and because he considers that
any money given to him is better spent
on penny buns at the bakers, but rs
Tor being ordered about by Gubbins, or
following diubbins whenever or wher-
ever Gubbins pleases. why. Ebenezer
secs Gubbins further first. He follows
if he feels inclined of course. and If he
has another engagement Gubbins k
his walk alone-and there's an end Of
the matter.
Talking of financial affairs and eX-
Denditure of his private income, | may
mestlon that most of us "tip" Ebenezer
occasionally. When EbeneZer wants q
bun be generally calls on n of us-he
rs very impartial. and gives us our fair
turn IN strict rotation-and banks on the
front doorstep until the coli is given to
him. Once | had no penny in the houS
hut EbeneZer wouldn't believe 1t, and
continued to advertise his unDelief on
the doorstep. Now. | wanted to work,
and having nothing under a s~iXpence,
u opened the door and presented Ebe-
meier with that coin. Ebenezer took
1T, looked doubtful for a moment. and
then spat IL out and posed himself for
more barking. / hastened TO assure
him that 1t was all right.
You ought to get seven buns for that
coin, Ebenezpr.' / said. Its a six
pence. Don't be put off with six. now;
any respectable baker will give you
seven
Ebenezer gave a little yelp, snatched
mp the coin and trotted down High
street way. Now comes the point.
Simms, the baker. gave him six buns
an a paper bag: Ebenezer counted them
as the fellow put them in one by one.
Then he looked ut Simms and Simms
looked at him. Simms had the six
pence.
We'll" said the baker. what is it?'
Ebenezer didn't say a word; he turn
cd straight round, and went and fetch
ed a policeman!
You have to look out with Ebenezer:
de is not a dog to take liberties with.
Well, as | say, EbeneZer had to go TO
Bristol, where he had friends. on bust
ness. Gubblns didn't go; it was a mere
private enterprise OF Ebenezer's, with
which Gubbins had nothing to do. AS
n matter Of fact. Ebenezer was walking
past Paddington Station with, / think,
Dat 80. - - .... -. n EA.~,A .xVLF.l.
when IL suddenly struck him that the
$40 express was just about due to
start for Bristol and that he had some
business 10 ransact in that city, ami
might just MS well take this opportunity
of running down there and polishing il
of,
So EbeneZer trotted on TO the plat
form. and, finding that he had a few
minutes to spare. went into the re-
freshment room. where he had a sand
witch or two, for Ebenezer is not a
proud dog in spite of his great talents
and splendid record Of achievements.
and does not refuse sandwiches or buns
merely because IL happens to be Il
stranger who desires the honor OF of
fering them To him. He did not eat
any portion Of the buns presented to
him on this occasion. however, because
tbs WAS the 14th Of May. 1925, and
those huns had been baked on January
~, 1893, and Ebeneztr had tasted
.;reat Western buns before, a. well as
those of other great lines. and had sub
sequentiy informed his friends that 1t
was best to avoid all railway buns. be-
cause the newly baked penny dread
ful' is IN exceedingly indigest.ble
dainty and bad TO travel u9on. Ebe-
Meier, you know, will have his joke.
Then EbcneZcr chose his carriage
tirst-alass, Of course-and hoped in.
EbencZer knew he had no ticket. and
that he would have to condescend to
diSsemble in case of any inquiries be-
ing made, but he also knew very well
how to manage these little affairs, hay
ing played the gamc before.
Accordingly, when the guard came
round for tickets. he carriage being
then full up all but the seat opposite
Ebenezer's. which had, however, been
secured BIZ 4 gentleman now busy with
n friend in the refreshment roo.a-g
Scotch friend. l fancy, or it may have
been an Irish -EbeneZer stood up
an his seat Inc whined aud figeted with
his feet. and looked volumes at the
guard. as though he would say, 'Oh, do