The Van Buren press., 1898-03-12
How Benjamin II
X LOmiSon Was Cured.
BY HELEN ELIZABETH WILSON.

nENJAMIN Johnson, motorman of
d street ear No. s, was short, stout
man with a full beard and ruddy com
pleXion; but he had none of the cheer
full good nature which is supposed to ac-
company corpulent figure. Whether
It was a strain of Saxon gloom or the
hardships of his calling. some cause
impelled his black, beady eyes to twin
kle mournfully in the midst of the re-
signed and hopeless expression of his
face.
His route took him to the suburban
terminus of the street railway, and
there were the numerous delays COM
mon to n single track with series of
side-switches. When these delays &C.
Cured it was his custom to come into
the ear and discourse in a gloomy man
ner 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 chance
for argument might not be lost; for
what man was ever known to resist such
q temptation2 The line WAS quite dem
ocratic, and the sorrowful motorman
had as antagonists all sorts and condi-
tons 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 an one was Charles Knight, fur
niture dealer and cabinet maker, newly
come to Linden and established on a
prominent street; prepared to sell all
kinds of furniture and also to repair or
make the same, if so desired. All his
hopes and plans were fully shared by
young and pretty Mrs. Knight, and, in
a less degree, by their small daughter
whose -year-old interest was large
ly confined to making playhouses
among the furniture. The process of
getting established, even in modest
way in a modest, old-fashioned suburb,
required frequent trips to the city; and
on some of these Mr.. Knight was ac-
companied by his wife and child. The
evident happiness of the family was
noted by the observant Benjamin, and
further increased the bitterness of his
spirit and warmed him for an encounter
with the innocent and unsuspecting
furniture dealer.
It was on a sultry day in July that he
began the campaign. The car stood on
the bridge switch with the prospect of a
long delay. The rails shone with a
bright, hot glare and sent off SHIN
mering heat painful to the eyes. Mr..
Knight noted with the satisfaction of
practical workman the neat woodwork
and perfect appointments of the car,
not thinking of the heat and the delay.
Seated in a corner Benjamin took in
the situations; here was a new man and
a long wait He settled down and
crossed his short legs and gazed down
the track
''No matter how many trips | make
over this road, I've always got to wait"
he began, sadly; "goin' or comm, june
ton of terminus, this cars always got
to wait"
BY this time he was looking directly
nj Mr.. Knight, and as no one replied,
the young man fell into the trap with
great ease and politeness. That's too
bad. Is there some difference in the
cars?" he said, alphabetically.
mo, it jest seems as if it was So
had TO be so. Comes with the work;
hard job, motorman; out in all kinds
of weather and all hours; stand on
your feet constant, only when you've
got TO wait. No exercise, and you get so
lusty you're a burden 10 yourself. No
rest Sundays or holidays; never even
pet laid off for hard times and slack
work. Now with your business it's diff
ferent, | s'pose. You have to lay off, so
10 speak, many's the time. Hain't done
much yet in Linden, have your
BY this 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
rloomily and with relish:
''No. nor it won't be. It's hard TO
yet custom here. The Krapes has the
run of trade; they've been here for
years and made money; but they have
undertaken too. You don't have that
branch, do your
The young man hurriedly disclaimed
any interest in the undertaking bust
ness.
That's a pity. II pays wen. once
ron get started; but wouldn'ttry here.