Araminta and the Automobile

"Araminta and the Automobile" by Charles Battell Loomis is a funny story set in a time when cars were new and strange. The story follows a husband and wife who get a car and expect great adventures, but their first drive turns into a comical mess. The driver's lack of experience causes all kinds of problems, like crashing into a neighbor's house and a doctor's horse-drawn buggy. The writing is light and humorous, showing how society felt about new technology and talking about love and home life. Even after that first bad experience, the story shows that the unexpected and humorous events define the culture around early automobiles.