Jerry Barker was a very good man. He was kind and strong. He was always happy and he liked to sing songs to himself. One song was about family helping each other.
The family worked together every day. Harry Barker was very good at stable work. Polly Barker and Dorothy Barker helped with the cab. They brushed the cushions and cleaned the glass. Jerry Barker cleaned the horses in the yard. They laughed and played while they worked.
Jerry Barker always started work early. He said that people must not waste time in the morning. He did not like people who were late. He was often angry when late people wanted him to drive too fast.
One day, two young men came out of a tavern. They told Jerry Barker to drive very fast to the station. They offered him an extra shilling (a silver coin used in the past). Jerry Barker said no. He said the extra money was not worth hurting his horse.
Another driver named Larry took the young men. Larry whipped his tired horse and drove away fast. Jerry Barker patted my neck. He told me that he would not hurt me for a shilling.
Jerry Barker usually drove at a normal speed. But one morning, a young man fell on the street. He was carrying a heavy portmanteau (a large bag for clothes used when traveling). Jerry Barker helped the man get up.
The young man was in great pain. He needed to catch a train at twelve o'clock. He asked Jerry Barker to drive fast. Jerry Barker saw that the man was sick and white. He agreed to help the man.
Jerry Barker spoke to me. He told me to run fast because we had a good reason. It was hard to drive fast in London. The streets were full of an omnibus (a large carriage that many people use like a bus), wagons, and carts.
A driver must be very careful in London. You must see every opening in the traffic. You must be quick so your wheels do not hit other carriages. Jerry Barker and I were very good at this. We moved through the crowded streets.
We reached the station at eight minutes before twelve. The young man was very happy. He offered Jerry Barker an extra half-crown (a coin worth more than a shilling). Jerry Barker said no. He was happy because the man caught his train.
The other drivers at the cab stand laughed at Jerry Barker. They asked how much extra money he got. Jerry Barker told them he did not take the extra money. He said he enjoyed the fast run with me.
Larry told Jerry Barker that he would never be rich. Jerry Barker said that being rich was not the most important thing. He said he was happy with his life. Governor Grant told Larry that he was too mean to his horses.
Governor Grant said Larry always changed his horses because he whipped them too much. He said "Good Luck" only stays with kind and smart people. Then Governor Grant went back to reading his newspaper.