CHAPTER XX.
THE ARRIVAL IN LONDON.
Martin, who owned, or pretty nigh owned, several railroads, wuz dretful talkative about the superior merits of our cars, etc. And, to tell the truth, these English cars did seem quite a good deal like ridin’ in a wagon, or a old-fashioned coach, where you set facin’ each other, and they wuz pretty low, made so as to not bump our heads when goin’ through covered bridges, I guess.
Of course, Martin paid for the best there wuz, and we had a hull car to ourselves, all cushioned and fixed off in the nicest manner, and after we all got in we felt very comfortable all alone by ourselves if we’d wanted to. And ever and anon a basket of good refreshments to refresh ourselves would be handed in to us. But it filled me with horrow to see bottles of beer, wine, etc., in every one of ’em, and I sez to myself—“Who and what did they spoze I wuz?”
I wuz indignant to think that they should dast to offer she that wuz once Samantha Smith bottles of intoxicants.
Josiah kinder hefted the bottle in our basket, and said dreamily sunthin’ about when you wuz in Rome of doin’ as the Romans did. But I sez to him coldly—
“Be you a deacon or be you not? Are you a member of the Temperance Society in Jonesville, or are you not?”
And he kinder wriggled round oneasy in his seat and laid the bottle down. If it hadn’t been for me, I tremble to think what would have been the result to Jonesville and the world at large.
Ever and anon the guide would walk along sideways by our winder and go the hull length of the train, for all I know a-seein’ to us. I don’t see what hendered him from fallin’ off. It wuz sunthin’ I wouldn’t have done for a dollar bill. I never wuz any hand to walk sideways, even on the ground.
But, howsumever, there wuzn’t any casualties reported.