128 CAROLINE.

— a abnnneo

Another wagon coming A Narrow escape.

 

“ Yes,” said Beechnut.

“ And will you change seats with me?” said Phonny.

< Yes,”’ said Beechnut.

So Phonny took Beechnut’s seat, which was the one
on the right side, and then taking the reins and the whip,
he drove along the road, very much pleased.

Presently there appeared another wagon coming at a
distance. Phonny felt ambitious to go by this wagon
without turning out of the road a great deal himself. He
was influenced in this by two different feelings. In the
first place he considered it a mark of good driving to be
able to go by another carriage by passing very near to it.
Then besides, the other wagon was driven by a boy whom
he knew, and who was a little younger than himself, and
he felt a sort of foolish pride in making this boy turn out
as mueh as possible for him. The other boy did not turn
out much, and so the hubs of the wheels came very near
striking each other as they passed.

In fact Phonny thought at the instant that the wheels
passed each other that they were going to strike, and he
looked over the side of the wagon at the moment, utter-
ing a slight exclamation of fear,

“ Wi—yi!” said he.

The wheels passed by each other without striking, and
then Phonny looked up to Beechnut with a smile upon
his face, saying,

“ No harm done.”

“Yes,” said Beechnut, “there is considerable harm
done.”

“ What harm ? ” asked Phonny.

“ You disturbed my quiet of mind,” replied Beechnut,
“and you have spoiled the comfort of my ride for ten