The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-02-25
miscellaneous
How BENJAMIN Lomison Was
Cured.
BY HELEN ELIZABETH WILSON.

Benjamin Lomison, mOtorman Of
street ear No. s. was a short stout
man with full beard and ruddy com
pIeNiOn; but he had none of the cheer
ful good nature which is supposed TO
accompany a corpuient figure
Whether il was a strain of Saxon
gloom or the hardships of his calling,
some cause impelled his black, beady
eyes TO twinkle mournfully i'll the
midst of the resigned and hopeless eX
preston of his face.
His route took him to the suburban
terminus of the street-railway, and
there were numerous delays common
to Il single track with series Of side
switches. When these delays oc-
cured, it was his custom to come into
the car and discourse in gloomy
manner upon whatever subject was
at hand. The daily passengers on
! this run were used to his ways, and
some one usually took the opposite
side so that Il chance for argument
might not be lost; for what man was
ever known to resist such a tempta-
ton? The line was quite Democratic,
and the sorrowful motorman had AS
antagonists all sorts and conditions of
men, none of whom moved him from
his deep-seated discomfort with the
universe.
The older passengers knew his views
and he knew theirs; so it was on the
new and inexperienced traveller that
he expended his darkest peSsimISm,
backed by illustrations from his own
experience.
Such "a one was Charles Knight, fur
niture- dealer and cabinet-maker,n new
~ come to Linden and esta blished on
prominent street prepared to sell
all kinds of furniture and also to re-
pair or make the same, il so desired.
All his hopes and plans were fully
shared by young and pretty Mrs.
Knight, and, in IA less degree, by their
small daughter, whose three year-old
interest was largely confined to max
ing playhOuseS among the furniture.
The process of getting established,
even in modest way i'll Il modest old
fashioned suburb, required frequent
trips to the city; and on some of these
Mr.. Knight was accompanied by his
wife and child. The evident happi-
ness of the family was noted by the
observant Benjamin, and further i'll
creased the bitterness OF his spirit and
warmed him for an encounter with the
innocent and unsuspecting furniture
dealer.
1t was on a sultry day in July that
he began the campaign. The car
stood Oh the bridge switch with the
prospect of y long delay. The rails
shone with bright, hot glare and
sent off Il shimmering heat painful to
the eyes. Mr.. Knight noted with the
satisfaction of Il practical workman
| the neat woodwork and perfect APP
Dointments of the car, not thinking of
the heat and the delay. Seated in Il
corner Benjamin took in the situa-
| ton: here was IL new man ami Il long
wait He settled down and crossed
his short legs and gaZed down the
| track.
mo matter how many trips | make
| over this road, I've always got to
wait, ;" he began. sadly; ''goin' or COM
in, junction or terminus, this cars al
ways got to wait
BY this time he was looking directly
at Mr.. Knight, and, as no one re-
/ piled, the young man fell into the
| trap with great ease and politeDess.
That's too bad. Is there some diff
| ference in the cars:n he said, sympa-
thetically.
| NO, it jest seems as if it was So
| had to be so. Comes with the work.
hard JOB, motorhan; out Ill all Kinds
of weather and all hours; stand on
your leet constant, only When you We
| got TO wait. NO exercise; ana you
get so Justly you're a burden to your
sell. NO rest sundays or holuays;
never even get lald OH lor nara times
ana sack Work. No" WITH your
business It's Gilereht' pose. 10u
nave TO lay OIL, so 10 speak many, the
| 4, La, 4 l, rnt
| time. Ham done nuch yet III LIN
den, nave youE
by tins time the other passengers
were listening with more or less inter
est, and they heard Mr.. Knight ac-
| knowledge that business had not been
very BRISK so far: Benjamin went
on gloomily and with relish:
No, nor 1t won't be. Its hard to
get custom here. The hrapes has the
run OF the trade; they've been here Tor
years and made money; but they nave
undertakln TOO. on don nave tnat
branch, do your
The young man hurrledly dlsclalmed
any interest IN the undertaking bust
|