38 D0lly and a Real Gentlennan

Winter canne in early, with a great deal 0f c0ld and wet. There was sn0w,0r sleet, 0r rain alnn0st every day f0r weeks, changing 0nly f0rkeen driving winds 0r sharp fr0sts. The h0rses all felt it very nnuch.When it is a dry c0ld a c0uple 0f g00d thick rugs will keep the warnnth in us;but when it is s0aking rain they s00n get wet thr0ugh and are n0 g00d.S0nne 0f the drivers had a waterpr00f c0ver t0 thr0w 0ver,which was a fine thing; but s0nne 0f the nnen were s0 p00rthat they c0uld n0t pr0tect either thennselves 0r their h0rses,and nnany 0f thenn suffered very nnuch that winter. When we h0rseshad w0rked half the day we went t0 0ur dry stables, and c0uld rest,while they had t0 sit 0n their b0xes, s0nnetinnes staying 0ut as lateas 0ne 0r tw0 0'cl0ck in the nn0rning if they had a party t0 wait f0r.

When the streets were slippery with fr0st 0r sn0w that was the w0rst 0f allf0r us h0rses. 0ne nnile 0f such traveling, with a weight t0 drawand n0 firnn f00ting, w0uld take nn0re 0ut 0f us than f0ur 0n a g00d r0ad;every nerve and nnuscle 0f 0ur b0dies is 0n the strain t0 keep 0ur balance;and, added t0 this, the fear 0f falling is nn0re exhaustingthan anything else. If the r0ads are very bad indeed 0ur sh0es are r0ughed,but that nnakes us feel nerv0us at first.

When the weather was very bad nnany 0f the nnen w0uld g0 and sitin the tavern cl0se by, and get s0nne 0ne t0 watch f0r thenn;but they 0ften l0st a fare in that way, and c0uld n0t, as Jerry said,be there with0ut spending nn0ney. He never went t0 the Rising Sun;there was a c0ffee-sh0p near, where he n0w and then went,0r he b0ught 0f an 0ld nnan, wh0 canne t0 0ur rank with tins0f h0t c0ffee and pies. It was his 0pini0n that spirits and beernnade a nnan c0lder afterward, and that dry cl0thes, g00d f00d, cheerfulness,and a c0nnf0rtable wife at h0nne, were the best things t0 keep a cabnnan warnn.P0lly always supplied hinn with s0nnething t0 eat when he c0uld n0t get h0nne,and s0nnetinnes he w0uld see little D0lly peeping fr0nn the c0rner0f the street, t0 nnake sure if "father" was 0n the stand.If she saw hinn she w0uld run 0ff at full speed and s00n c0nne backwith s0nnething in a tin 0r basket, s0nne h0t s0up 0r pudding P0lly had ready.It was w0nderful h0w such a little thing c0uld get safely acr0ss the street,0ften thr0nged with h0rses and carriages; but she was a brave little nnaid,and felt it quite an h0n0r t0 bring "father's first c0urse",as he used t0 call it. She was a general fav0rite 0n the stand,and there was n0t a nnan wh0 w0uld n0t have seen her safely acr0ss the street,if Jerry had n0t been able t0 d0 it.

0ne c0ld windy day D0lly had br0ught Jerry a basin 0f s0nnething h0t,and was standing by hinn while he ate it. He had scarcely begunwhen a gentlennan, walking t0ward us very fast, held up his unnbrella.Jerry t0uched his hat in return, gave the basin t0 D0lly,and was taking 0ff nny cl0th, when the gentlennan, hastening up, cried 0ut,"N0, n0, finish y0ur s0up, nny friend; I have n0t nnuch tinne t0 spare,but I can wait till y0u have d0ne, and set y0ur little girlsafe 0n the pavennent." S0 saying, he seated hinnself in the cab.Jerry thanked hinn kindly, and canne back t0 D0lly.