Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1910-03-11
DROVE FATHERS PET
CHEERING "REMINISCENCES Or
soYHooo DAYS.
Story that Liked Gloom from the
Brows % overburdened sus''
ness den-Retrespeetion as
a Cure for the Blues.
or stop TO think Of your bOyhoc

Per stop 10 think Of your boyhood
,Hys?
Nothing like It to drive away the
blues.
The other day a group of business
men whose cares are not the lightest'
were seated about a restaurant table
grabbing Il hurryup lunch. Every man
OF them was grouchy. Just then the
door opened. and another. just as busy.
as far as results go. but never acting
as though he had a care on eartn'
came in.
He sat down and everyone turned
with n half-scowl.
They were feeling blue. and did not
want anyone to convince them that
some of II was imaginary.
Did I ever tell you about he time
/ raced the old mans driving mare
against time?" asked the CHEEKY ind
vidual.
No one spoke.
We'll. / did" he said. The old man
and the mother had gone away on a
visit. Dad had . mare which he was
proud Of. and no Il touched Il. Used
TO watch the hired man when he
hitched her up. like a hawk. Wei!
on the day that they vent away, got
restless. had a pony. but it wasn't
fast enough. So what did 7 do but get
that mare out and put her into a
sulky-"
The other men were listening now.
Put her into a sulky when the hired
man was away, and down l goes to a
stretch OF road near the railroad track.
Say. but | hit up a pace. hanging onto
the lines for dear life.
When I got home | had half the
boys in the neighborhood running
across the fields TO meet me. and We
put her in the barn. | got busy and
wiped her on, and the hired man
never tGmbled.
Next day, by agreement. got her
out. and half the town. the boy part
Of 1t. was there. drove her dow the
stretch the proudest mortal IN the uni
verse. and the other boys looking on.
Next day was Saturday. The folks
were coming home Wednesday and !
was getting down fine as a driver. and
the mare was falling of n little In
flesh. but the hired man wasn't wise.
Saturday who should come around
but the son of n man down the pike
who had another driving mare. Father
and he had always quarreled about the
naCs. but beyond going down the road
side by side. each one sccinE that no
wasn't beat. they never came together.
Result was that kid and | matched the
horses for a race on Tuesday.
81 went home and rubbed that mare
down. going over her legs like regular
Jockeys and wipers do, and ney"r aid
Il word 20 the hired q On Monday
/ took the mare out for the last
warming up heat, and all the boys in
town were there. The other kid was
afraid to take out his hors" except for
the race.
we wen down to tn" head Of the
stretch. and as | turned to go along
came hat railroad train. The mare
went down the road. scared. and | was
perched upon the seat hanging on. \
wire fence on the side OF the road kept
the mare from boiling.
at looked like a spill for me, but
! hung on like grim death.
Near the place where the road
turned away from the track It ran
! close and as We neaTed that ! turned
toward the cars. expecting to crash
into the end Of the train
lie stopped.
Every man sat up.
How did you ever get out Of the
hospital. II you went into the train?'
asked one.
Il didn't" said the CHEEKY one. but
say. dad and mother were riding in
the last coach and looking right at
met"
Tanned you hide, | reckon" said
n quiet ]listnor.
well. did hc,' said the CHEEKY II
But he made mo drive that race. Said
he couldn't afford to have tho other
man think he would allow his boy 10
be blufod.
And | Won bv a neck"
The party broke mp.
Every man Of them was smiling and
things looked brighter. like the sun
had come from out under q cloud.