The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-04
Vignettes of An Inland City

written on his brow. was learning. once
and forever, all about the merits of a GER
tain kind of pickles.
Very WELL then" said Winnie, begin
ming TO get a little bit ruffled herself, Il
| shant say anything more about anything.
But" she added sarcastically, I'm glad
that Billy isn't like some men l know"
And the three of them settled down into
mournful meditation
In another moment the car came to a
sudden stop and a messenger boy, who had
hailed it from distance and who had been
running with all his might to catch up
with 1t, shot In through the open doorway
! and sat down squarely in the lap of one
| of the elderly women. He scrambled to
his feet as the car resumed its journey.
| while the victim Of his unintentional as
| sault brushed her dress briskly with a
| handkerchief, as if something prohibitive
| had been spilled over it, announcing in no
uncertain terms just what she thought of
| motormen who amused themselves by jolt
| ing their cars about like that. I'm going
| to report that man Tomorrow" she told
| her sympathetic friend who in her turn
| declared that such actions on the part of
1 the street car men were simply outrage
| Gus.
The messenger boy deigned to give one
| look of contempt in the direction of the busy
| old ladies. and then. cuddling UP in a seat
| and hauling forth from his hip pocket
| paper novel of Young Americas Five-cent
Library" was soon engrossed in the aston
| ishing adventures of one Cheyenne Pete,
| the One-eyed Avenger," who, according to
! authorized reports became involved in a
| certain "ferocious feud in the Deep Diggings
| canyon"
The car came to another stop presently
There was long wait. and at last through
the doorway toddled tiny colored boy OF
about five years. and behind him, like a
big back drop" on a vaudeville stage,
came his mother. Both were of ebony
| hue. The mother was Of unusual proper
tions as to height and breadth. Her waist
was merely suggested by the deep crease
that ran around the middle of her garments.
On her generous bosom reposed a huge
| white cotton backed" satin badge, pinned
| in place with shiny tin ornament that was
| intended to represent a rose in full bloom.
| The little boy was in holiday attire-a blouse
| suit decorated with brass buttons. Won
| derful sailor collar. with bright red tie,
| and jaunty cap of nautical sort.
| The proud parent sat down, taking up as
| much room as three ordinary passengers
| would have required, and lovingly hoisted
| up the mite of darkness by the coat collar
| on to the seat beside her. She looked like
| a big fat exclamation dash and he like the
| dot under it. From the time the two were
seated the pickaninny never removed his
eyes from off the conductor. They were the
roundest. whitest eyes imaginable. and they
| rolled about like a pair of new marbles
| white allies. In the little black fist which
he held out before him was a single time
| worn, weatherbeaten street-car ticket. After
waiting for what must have seemed a GEN.
fury to him he finally called out in a piping
| little voice:
| 'Heah, man-heah's ma faih!''
| Everybody in the car laughed-except-
ing the bowling enthusiast, who by this
| time was snoring gently. Even the senti-
mental couple UP in the corner became
alive to the situation. while the ill-humored