Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-11-24
PUBLISHED DAILY BY
SAMUEL WIDEN,
A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER.

hcnSi0nS, that IS some eighteen or twenty StOhe,
had occasion to travel in a stage coach from Ok
ford to London. The stage carried six inside:
and our hero engaged two places tas in consider
alton of his size, ne commonly did Tor himself.
The other four seats were taken by Oxford STU
dents. These youths being lighter than our mo-
dern Lambert. arrived at the Stage before him,
and each snugly possessed himself of a corner
seat, leaving u centre seat on each side vacant
The round good tempered face of John Bull soon
after appeared at the carriage door. and peering
INTO the vehicle and observing the local arrange
ments that had been made. he said with smile,
You see am of Il pretty comfortable size. gen
tiemen. | have taken two seats. | will be
obliged if one Of you will move into the opposite
seat. so that may be able to enter
My good Sill" said pert Young lawyer,
possession is nine tenths of the law. You en-
Gagged two seats. There they are oneach side. We
engaged one each, came first. entered regularly
into possession, and our claims 10 the seats we
occupy are indisputable. "
81 do not wish to dispute your claims;' said
the other. .'but trust to your polteness. seeing
how the case stands, to enable me to pursue NJ
journey"
20. hang politepess," said hopeful young
scion of some noble house, :" | have horror OF a
middle seat, and would not take one to obiige my
grandmother. One sits so ungracefuly: and be-
sides. one loses all chance OF looking at the pref
" girls along the road. Good old gentleman ar
range your concerns as YOU please; stick 10 my
corner''-aud he leaned back, yawned. and set
tied himself With hopeless cOmposure, in his
place.
Our corpulent friend, though a mani not easily.
discOmposed. was somewhat put out by tins un-
mannerly obstinacy. He turned to smart
looking youth with shipper on Ia, taCe--a clerical
st!dent. who had hitherto sat in reveric, dream
ins perchance of sOmr fat benehcc. "Will
YOU not accommodate me:' he said: a." this is the
last London stage that goes to day. and business
Of urgent importance calls me 10 town"
:. Some temporal affair, no douh;." said the
graccess youth. with an air of mock gravity;
:. seine speculation after filthy lucre. Good ia
rher. at your age. your thoughts should turn hea-
1cuward instead Of being confined to the dull hea
Wy tabernacle ofclay that chat us US to eath," &
his companions reared with laughter at the damn
cd clever joSe."
glow of indignation Just colored the stran
gers cheek; but he checked the feeling in mo
incnt, and said. with much composure to the
fourth - Are YOU also determined that shall
loose my place: or will you oblige me by taking
accntre seat.'
LAY do, rom," said his young Lordship TO the
person addressed ''he's something i'll tie way OF
your profession, quite physiological curiosity
You ought to accommodate him.
May be poisoned if do" replied the stu.
dent of medicine, sin a dissecting ne
would make an excellent subject; but in coach,
and this warm weather, old gentleman, it
voo'll place Yourself under my care, III engage,
in the course of six weeks, by dint of judicious
course of diuretics and cathar,ics, to save you
hereafter the expense of double seat. But,
reaily,to take middle seat in the month Of July,
IS contrary to all the rules of hygeia. and prac
tCe to which have peculiar antipathv.
And the laugh was renewed at The old gentle
mans expense.
By this time the patience of coachee, who had
listened to the latter part OF the dialogue, was en-
hausted. -. Harkee gemmen," said he, ''set-
tie the business a. you like; but it wants just
three-quaTters of a minute of twelve, and with
the first strike Of the university clock, my horses
must be Off | would not wait three seconds
longer for the king, God bless him. 1t would
lose me my situation" And,with that he mount
ed his box, took up the reins, called to the oster
to shut the door, and sat listening with upraised
whip, for the expected stroke.
AS it sounded from the veneer able belfry. the
horses, (as if they recognized the sound, started
off at gallop with the four young rouges. to
whom their own rudeness and our late friends
disappointment afforded prolific theme for joke
and merriment during the whole stage.
The subject of their mirth in the mean time.
hired post chaise, and followed and overlook
the coach at the second stopping place. where
the passengers got ten minutes for dinner. As
the postchaise, drove up to the inn door. two
young chimney sweeps passed with their bags and
hrooms. and their well known cry.
s'Come hi,her, my lads said the corpulent
gentleman. - What say YOU to a rider"
The whites of their ewes enlarged into still
more striking contrast with the dark shade of their
sooty cheeks. ''Will you have ride, my boys,
in the stagc-coachs''
..Yees zur.,' said the elder. scarcely daring to
believe the evidence of his ears.
..Well. then-ostler. open the stage door -
In with YOU; and dye hear? be sure you take the
middle seats; so-one on each side"
The guards horn sounded; and ooachee's voice
was heard: '.Only one minute and half more;
gemmen. come on.
They came, bowed lauyhinsly to eur friend OF