OR, THE WORLD HAS CHAJTGED. 169 



away in the ice-house ; hired help and bottled up a couple of 

 thousand. Mr. Obe. came down to see the business well started, 

 and we loaded up the wagon with the bottles in boxes prepared 

 for the purpose, and a keg which had been engaged, and then 

 mounted the spring-seat, and moved off. The business was in 

 operation ; we delivered a dozen bottles here and two dozen 

 there, and the keg, according to engagement ; and as we trav- 

 eled round delivering, were in charming good humor, and very 

 much in love with each other, and all the rest of mankind. 



We were moving far up Decatur street — the day well ad- 

 vanced and the sun growing intensely hot — when we heard a 

 shot in the rear. We turned to see where the shot came 

 from, when " Bang ! " went another, and a cork flew over our 

 heads, with a shower of cider. This exhibition had not been 

 put down in our original programme. We considered it acci 

 dental, knowing that accidents sometimes happen in the best 

 regulated families, Stopping in front of a grocer's store, Mr. 

 Obe. stayed with the team while I gathered an armfull of bot- 

 tles and went in. I found the proprietor and family in the 

 back room at dinner. I made them a little speech on the mer- 

 its of our champagne cider, and remarked that it was a nice 

 opportunity to give them a taste of our delicious beverage. 

 I cut a wire and, before I expected, the stopper and the foam- 

 ing liquid burst out and struck the old lady full in the face. 

 I turned the muzzle as quickly as possible, and it bespattered 

 the bosom of the daughter; whirled the gun from her, and 

 the old man, in trying to dodge, turned his chair over and fell 

 sprawling on the floor. The ladies fled, screaming— and the 

 old man cursing. I was left alone in an empty room, with an 

 empty bottle. I tried to follow, to apologize and explain, but 

 they shouted at me, "Get out, get out; take the derned stuff 



