Year: 1860




u should be done we'll, for in pleasure as in
business, he liked to do the right thing; he
therefore willingly undertook the execution of
number Of commissions in town from a CO.
PiOus list furnished by Mrs T.


Thompson Is n London merchant head of
the great indigo house Of Thompson Son & Co.
Of Blue lane, and too sensible a man to live
in the smoke and dirt of the great CITY: mis-
neat and well-appointed villa, about twelve
miles from the Northwestern line, and within
short drive Of a convenient station, is the
very beau ideal Of what the residence of a
welI-tO-dO city gentleman ought to be.


On leaving home on the morning of the day
of the party, Thompson, of course received
strict Inlunctions from his wife; backed by the
rest OK the female PARTON Of his family TO be
sure to come home early, which he readily
promised to do, if possible; and after making
some remarks about the claims of business
laughingly bade them not forget the standing
direction to dispatch the vehicle The would
not allow either himself or wife or daughter
to call his handsome equipage "the carriage
by the turnpike road to meet him if by any
chance he should not return by tho last train.
He fully intended, however, to be home an
hour or two earlier than usual SO as to take
down with him the ices, game extra wines
and other requisites for first-rate ''st down.
supper, and to be able to decant the wine
himself, and generally assist Mrs T. in the
hnal arrangements before his guests should
arrive. But it so happened that on reaching
the city, Dir. Thompson found an unusual mass
Of things demanding his attention He soon
gave up all idea Of getting away early. but
managed to execute his commissions which he
sent on by the train he had hoped to 20 by.


But even the hour of what he called his
own train passed before be could get through
the unexpected pressure Of business and there
was nothing for it but to wait for the last-the
last that Is, that stopped at this station
which left London at O'clock This was an
nOyIng, and the waiting would have been irk-
some but that he occupied himself in fetching
up some arrears of correspondence, and in
other business matters; and, finally, sending
for Hanson cab, he started in capital time
Tor Euston Square, not so much vexed at his
detention as those who are not business mem
might imagine.


The day had been dark and snowy. and with
the night came sharp frost and fog. which
latter got thicker and thicker as they drove up
TO HOlbOrn. At length, Just as thew entered
one of the squares, the london peculiar be-
came so dense that it was difficult for the dri
yer to take his bearings even by the aid Of the
lamps, which had dwindled into mere specks
of light, visible occasionally here and there
The Jehu of the high-wheeled cab was reduced
TO walk, and even at that cautious pace made
some very unfortunate speculations as to his
course, now grating against the railings of the
enclosure in the centre of the square and now
getting on the foot pavement.


Push on, cabby," said Thompson, coax
ingly' during one OF the numerous stoppsges
that occurred.


Easy said, sir, replied cabby; bat while
my wheel Is locked in these ratings, don't
see where l can push to, unless it's down the
hairy. -


Just then the fog cleared off little. and ey-
hibited to both fare and driver the curious fact
that they had been going back, the horses
head being turned toward HOborn. The true
state Of affairs, however, being thus ascer.
tanned, cabby wheeled about, and was going at
spanking pace to make up for lost time, when
another dense mass of fog lOOmed over and all
was again in total Obscurity This was most
provoking for the time was getting on: yet to
advance beyond a walk was impossible


- Pray, push on, cabby," said Thompson.
again popping out his head, "or we shall be too
late for the train, after all; push on, and III
zee II can find an extra half crown for YOU -
Thompson had strong conviction that half
crowns in number suited TO the occasion could
do anything, and cabby, by his increased eff
forts, proved the influence of the stimulus.
But 1t would not do; the old difficulties re-
CURED, and, finally, while Thompson, getting
desperate, was alternately persuading, threat
ening, and limiting at even additional half
crowns, St. PancraS clock struck nine.
1t was all over; the last train was starting
What would Mrs. Thompson say? What would
his visitors think2 and what was to be done
But Thompson was never long in q dilemma:
hs was a man Of business; he was not an indi-





that his vehicle would come to meet him
when ii was found that he did not arrive by
the 9-o'clcck train, he agreed with cabby to
drive him toward Harrow the Hill rs fast
rs be could. Between the cab and the ''ve-
hiclo the distance might be managed, he
reckOned, in about hour and a quarter or
say an hour and twenty minutes business men
especially those who travel by railway always
calculate TO a nicety,) so that he would still
get home before supper; and the bargain, for
L
water by way OF an extra FLIP, was at once
concluded.


The Harrow road was reached in less tin Q
than could have been hoped; and Thompson
suggested TO cabby the probability of even a
second glass Of brandy and water, if that pace
were kept up. But as they came upon the
country road 1t was so extremely slippery that
such pare was dangerous, and at the foot of
the hill at Kensal Green they were once moI q
reduced to a walk. Up that steep bit of road
glazed with layer Of frozen snow, there was
no hold for the horses feet; and the fog. driven
by keen east wind, was rapidly enVeloping
the northwestern suburbs and even the coun-
try beyond where mingling with a thick white
mist, caused by the sudden frost in a choice
atmosphere, il became even more dense than
1t Was in London. This greatly increased the
difficulty Of getting up the hill and the horse,
at last, after slipping, straining, and plunging,
lost his footing and fell. :
whip him up, " cried Thompson, who, though
not cruel man, looked upon the matter from
a purely business point of view in which the
fall appeared kind Of breach Of contract that
ought TO be dealt with in q summary manner.
Without deigniDg reply, csbby jumped down
and proceeded to loosen by hole or two some
Of the harness, to lift the shafts little. so as
TO take the weight from the shoulder, and in
other ways to assist the fallen horse But
nothing would avail; there was no hold for his
feet on that sloping sheet of ice. After each
effort the struggling animal fell again, and at
last gave up the attempt and lay perfectly still


Thompson, who was not man to stand by
and do nothing, let himself out; and cropping
his way round to the driver, whom he could
not see in the fog, put the searching question,
what be meant TO dO?"


There's only one thing as'll ever get that
hoss up again this blessed night" said cabby


"And what $ that2'


why something as we haven't got"


-'Well, what is il ?" repeated Thompson


'sWhy, hOss-cloth," replied cabby, cor a
blanket; or any ways, il il wasn't blanket