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HARD TIMES.
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cannot take us and all our luggage so far, he is so very weak and worn up; do look at him."

"Oh! he's all right, miss," said my driver, "he's strong enough."

The porter, who was pulling about some heavy boxes, suggested to the gentleman, as there was so much luggage, whether he would not take a second cab.

"Can your horse do it, or can't he?" said the blustering man.

"Oh! he can do it all right, sir; send up the boxes, porter: he could take more than that," and he helped to haul up a box so heavy, that I could feel the springs go down.

"Papa, papa, do take a second cab," said the young girl in a beseeching tone; "I am sure we are wrong, I am sure it is very cruel."

"Nonsense, Grace, get in at once and don't make all this fuss; a pretty thing it would be, if a man of business had to examine every cab-horse before he hired it—the man knows his own business of course: there, get in and hold your tongue!" My gentle friend had to obey; and box after box was dragged up and lodged on the top of the cab, or settled by the side of the driver. At last all was ready, and with his usual jerk at the rein, and slash of the whip, he drove out of the station.

The load was very heavy, and I had had neither food nor rest since the morning; but I did my best as I always had done, in spite of cruelty and injustice.