AN ADVENTURE IN A STAGE-COACH

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 3, 6 August 1908, Page 37

AN ADVENTURE IN A STAGE-COACH

The Emperor Joseph 11. had been visiting, as he often "used to do, the environs of Vienna. A misunderstanding had separated him from the two officers whom he had chosen to accompany him, and he was somewhat at a loss to find means of rejoining them. He was about seven miles from his palace; and, as he did not care to make all that distance on foot, lie inquired at the village inn whether he could not procure a carriage or at least a horse 1o take him into the city.

The innkeeper did not know that the inquirer was anything higher than an ordinary gentleman, and accordingly told him that the only conveyance to be had was the village diligence, or public stage-coach. That vehicle was not a very comfortable one, and was of course quite beneath the dignity of a sovereign ; but Joseph 11. was a man of simple tastes, so he did not hesitate to take his place in the diligence. And his place chanced to be alongside a little scullion, or kitchen-boy of the inn, who was going to pay a visit to his grandmother in Vienna.

' Nobody knows me here,' said the Emperor to himself, ' and 'twill be dark when we get to the city, so my equipage won't count.'

Then, being pretty tired with his day's travelling, he grew drowsy and dozed off, his arm resting in a few minutes on the scullion's shoulder.

He was suddenly aroused by the voice of the stage-driver, who had discovered thar Ihe number of fares he had received did not correspond with the number of his passengers. 'There's some one here who hasn't paid me!' he cried, unable to tell in the gathering obscurity just which of the travellers had or had not handed him his passage money. The Emperor turned toward the boy and remarked guile innocently :

'It seems this good man hasn't been paid.' 'Well, I'm 'all right,' said the scullion. 'The driver even suspected the piece of silver I gave him, and rapped it on the wheel to see whether 'twas good or not.' Then, with a slight wink, the lad added : ' But you, sir,— it seems to me you were pretty sound asleep when the fares were taken up.' The Emperor started and rubbed his eyes. 'Why, of course! That's true. I didn't even think of Hie necessity of paying. My friend,' he called out to the driver, ' how much do I owe you? 1

' A shilling, sir. I have to be careful, if I don't want to be cheated by a lot of tricksters.'

Joseph 11. was not offended by the, implied rebuke; he was rather, amused by the adventure. ' All .at once .however, his expression changed, as he remembered that his pockets were empty. He had given his last coin to a poor fellow who had asked him for an alms in the'early afternoon: . ' Confound it!' he exclaimed, ' I- have no money. . I've forgotten my purse.' _ „

Oh, yes! We know all about that,' said 'the driver, furious at what he believed -an -attempt to cheat him" "Well just you wait till we get to the next village. I'll yank you' oui pretty hvely, and turn you over to the magistrate. We'll see tnen who you are.'

' Yes, you'll see wHi I am,' thought the monarch, repressing an inclination to burst out - laughing. - . •- 'And I'll be paid too,, willy-niliy, ' continued the driver. i"CJi£P ev?n if l have to take the -~ -

' You'll be doing perfectly right, m/ .man,', answered Joseph, who had no desire to disclose his-identity save as -a last resource. The other passengers, having nothing' else to do, took- the driver's part against their penniless companion. The little scullion, however, rather sympathised with his neighbor/ and he said to the driver : ' Oh, • come now, Father* Hans! .-It's hardly, worth while making so. much fuss about a shilling." And it isn't quite fair to torment this -citizen, who maybe doesn't lie, i. after* all. A purse can be forgotten, you know.' 'Well, then,, you young .imp, you pay for him!' responded Hans, with a growl. The lad hesitated between the wish to be obliging and the fear of not being repaid. His kindliness; prevailed ; after taking a quick look at the ' citizen,' who was watching him with a smile, he threw a white shilling to the driver j saying to himself,,. ' I'll risk' it, anyway. He doesn^t look like a dishonest man. Jokes on his innocence, 'simplicity, and foolishness' were showered on him by the other passengers, for a time; then, growing tired of their sport, and drowsy as well, these latter gradually subsided into silence. 'So you have no ,fear of^being deceived ?\ asked Joseph 11. of the little scullion. sir,' replied the boy, after- % a v moment's hesitation. Then, growing confidential, he went on :"' You see 7 sir, it won't do to play me a trick like that,- for I'm not rich. Just as. you see me, at fourteen years, 1 earn absolutely nothing.' ' And yet you paid for your place and mine.' 'Yes, because I saved 'up for my grandmother a little sum from the pennies given to me now and then by~ guests at the inn. Outside of that, as the, cook's apprentice, I get no wages ■ at all.' 'You'll get them later on, if you like the' business.' ' But that's just what I don't. I'don'tlike it all.'^ "" 'Perhaps you are a Mittle lazy?' 'Oh, my, no! On the contrary, l'_d like to study ,^. but at something else than roasts and sauces." Only it costs;-' and grandmother is so . poorly iff -that,- as^you- 'see; I'm obliged to help, her with the pennies- ,t get. as tips.' ,<- * \ .*--.,*! 'You are a fine little- chap,', said the Emperor, considerably' affected, but not yet making himself known- to. the boy. ' You are a good lad, and I'm sure If ea veil wjll reward you. As for me well, I assure you I'll pay you" back the -shilling you paid for me' Quite tranquil and confident;, the scullion sank ' to- sTeep in his turn, after giving his name and address to his neighbor. The very next forenoon there appeared at his grandmother's lodging one of the Emperor's couriers, who brought him, in the first place, a well-filled purse of gold, and then a sealed envelope .whose contents proved to be. Joseph ll. 's orders that the. kindly scullion should give up his kitchen trade and receive a thorough education in one of the best colleges of the city. The delighted lad could not sufficiently felicitate himself on having proved serviceable, to arranger ; and all his acquaintances were also pleased at his good , fortune. . All, that is, '/save one Hans, the driver, who was not only astounded but utterly discomfited when he discovered that his penniless^ passenger- was the Emperor of Austria. — 'Aye Maria:' ' ' ;,