Chapter 17 Old Captain and His Successor.
The cabs were busy and we hadn't yet eaten our lunch when a poor young woman carrying a heavy child came along the street.
She asked Jerry if he knew the way to the St.
Thomas Hospital.
She was a stranger in London and her child was sick.
Poor fellow, she said.
He is in a great deal of pain.
If I could get him into the hospital, he might get well.
Sir, how far is it?
I'm sorry, Mrs. Jerry said, but you can't get there walking through these crowds.
It's three miles away, and that child is heavy.
Yes, but I am strong, and if I knew the way, I could get there.
No, you can't. said Jerry.
You could be knocked down.
Look, get into this cab and I'll drive you to the hospital.
And hurry, the rain is on its way.
No, sir, she said.
I can't do that.
I only have enough money to get back home.
Please tell me the way.
Look here, Mrs., Jerry said.
I've got a wife and dear children at home.
Now you get into that cab.
I'll take you there for free.
I'd be ashamed of myself to take any money from you.
Heaven bless you, the woman said, bursting into tears.
Jerry helped the woman and her son into his cab.
As Jerry went to open the door, two officials of the town ran up, calling, "'Cab!'
"'Engaged!' cried Jerry.
Ignoring him, both men pushed past the woman and sprang into the cab.
Jerry looked as stern as a policeman.
"'This cab is engaged, sirs, by that lady.'
When they understood Jerry's intent, they got out, calling him all sorts of bad names.
Thank you a thousand times, the woman said when they arrived at the hospital.
I could never have gotten here alone.
You're kindly welcome, and I hope the dear child will get better soon.
As he watched the woman and her child enter the hospital, Jerry said how pleased he was to have helped someone in their time of need.
He patted my neck.
I think I know how he felt.
The rain was coming down fast now.
Just as we were leaving the hospital, I heard someone call for a cab.
We stopped and a lady came down the steps.
Jerry seemed to know her at once.
She pushed back her hat and said, Jeremiah Barker, is it you?
As she got closer, she said, you are just the friend I want.
It is so very difficult to get a cab in this part of London today.
I would be happy to take you, ma'am.
Where would you like to go?
To Paddington Station please, and if we have the time, I would love to hear about Polly and the children.
We got to the station in good time, and the lady stood a good while talking to Jerry.
I found out she had been Polly's mistress.
After asking many questions about her, the woman said, How is the cab work in the winter?
I know your wife worried about you last year.
Yes, I had a bad cough that stayed with me into spring, but I'm getting on pretty well.
I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have a horse to look after.
Well, Barker, she said, it is awful to risk your health in this work.
If you ever decide to give up cab work, let me know.
Then she put something into his hand, saying, Divide this between the two children.
Polly will know how to spend it.
Jerry thanked her and seemed very pleased.
We left the station and hurried home to rest.
One day, Captain and Jerry saw two strong horses running quickly in a light carriage, being whipped all the while.
Jerry watched in horror as the carriage and the horses headed straight for them.
Within a moment, the horses were pushed up against the cab.
Both wheels were torn off and the cab was thrown over.
Captain was dragged down.
Jerry was thrown too, but miraculously only got bruised.
When poor Captain got up, he was cut badly.
Jerry led him home gently.
It turned out the driver of the carriage was very drunk.
He had to pay for the damage he caused our master, but there was no one to pay damages to poor Captain.
Jerry and his men did the best they could to make Captain feel comfortable.
Everyone felt bad for Captain and Jerry.
At first, Captain did well, but he was a very old horse.
Finally, Jerry decided that the kindest thing to do to Captain would be to put him out of his pain.
The next day, one of the men took me to town for some new shoes.
When I returned, Captain was gone.
The family and I all felt the loss very much.
Jerry soon heard of a valuable young horse who had run away and done some damage.
The coachman had orders to look around and sell him for as much as he could get.
I can do with some high spirits, said Jerry, as long as he isn't mean.
There isn't a bit of meanness in him, said the man.
His mouth is very tender, and I think that's what caused him to act wild.
He had a bearing rain on, and I believe it made the horse mad.
The next day, Hotspur, that was his name, came home.
He was a fine brown horse without a white hair on him.
He was as tall as Captain and only five years old.
Jerry patted and talked to him a lot, and soon they understood each other.
Jerry said that with an easy bit and plenty of work, he would become as gentle as a lamb.
Hotspur didn't like the idea of going from a carriage horse to a cab horse.
He felt he was being looked down upon.
But at the end of the first week he told me that it was worth the move to be treated so well by Jerry.
In fact, he settled in well and Jerry liked him very much.
