The Southern herald., 1898-03-25
How Benjamin y
& L9miSOa Vas Cured.
BY HELEN ELIZABETH WILSON.
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| DLNJAMlN LON lSON, motOrmar oI
! ID street car No s, was a short stour
man with full beard and ruddv com.
pIeXion; but he had none of the cheer.
full good nature which is supposed to ac,
company corpulent figure. Whether
II was a strain Of Saxon gloom or the
hardshipS Of his calling, some cause
impellcd his black, beady eyes to twin.
Eie 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 single track with a series of
sidc-switches. When these delays oc-
Cured it was his custom to come into
the car 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 a chance
for argument might not be lost; for
what man was ever known to resist such
a temptation? The line was quite dem
ocratic, and the sorrowful motorman
had as antagonists all sorts and condi-
tions of men, none Of whom moved him
from his deep-scated 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
prominent street; prepared to sell AL
kinds OF furniture and also to repair or
make the same. If so desired. All his
hopes and plans were fully shared by
Young ard pretty Mrs. Knight, and, in
a less degree, by their small daughter
whose threc-year-old interest was large
" confined to making piayhouses
among the furniture. The process Of
getting established, even in a modest
way in a modest, old-iashioncd 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
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 shouc with a
bright, hot glare and sent off a SHIN
mering heat painful to the eyes. Mr..
Knight Noted with the satisfaction of a
workman the neat woodwork
and perfect appointments Of tie car
not thinking of the heat and the delay
Seated in a corner enjamin took in
The situations; here was a new man and |
4 long wait. He settled down and
crossed his short legs and gazed down |
The track.
"No matter how many trips I make |
over this road. I've always got TO wait,
he began, sadly; "goin or COMM june
ion of terminus, this cars always got
o wait"
By this time he was looking directly
It Mr.. Knight, and as no one replied,
he young man fell into the trap with
yreat ease and politeness. That's TOO
,ad. Is there some difference in the
ars?" he said, sympathetically.
"No. it jest seems as if it was So
ad to be so. Comes with the work;
Iard Job, motorman; cut in all kinds
# weather ard all hours; stand on
cur feet constant, only when you've
rot TO wait. No exercise, and you get
rstv you're burden 10 yourself. No
est Sundays or holidays; never even
et laid off for hard times and slack
york. Now with your business it's dlf-
erent, s'pose. You have to lay Off SO
, sneak. many's the time. Hain't done
1uch vet in Linden, have you?"
By this time the other passengers
.crp listening with more or less inter-
ST. and they heard Mr.. Knight ac-
that business had not been
,rv brisk so far Benjamin went on
loorily and with relish:
NO. nor it won't be. It's hard to
ct custom here, The Ktapes has the
IN Of trade; they've been here Tor
ears and made money; but they have
rdertakin' too. You don't have that
ranch, do you?"
The young man hurriedly diselaimed
ny interest in the undertaking busi-
css.
That's pity. It pays well, once
ou get started; but l wouldn'ttry here