Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-01-07

l., ~, tt.S ~ was A1Stsy OF 90
home alone, and to make the matter
short I asked. She said she didn't kere
if she went out and tumbled in. There
warnt only one seat. 80 | set in Het,v's
lap and jim in Prudence's lap, and off
we started. | didn't feel exactly rite.
but as we were to unload Hetty about
hat way, il wasn't so bad as nigh be.
| had the relns, and for one didn't feel
Ike being very long on the road, and /
guess the old mare didn't neither, for,
we hadn't gone fur afore her tail began
to go whish, whish-and her fore feet
kept coming down harder, and pretty
soon she broke into a clean run, which
made the wagon Jump fromone stone to
another as if 'twould shake your liver
out. Hold the critter in don't let her
breakP says Jim. Never fear,' says |,
'i'll fetch her up easy at any time Jest
then we come to little piece of down
bill, which was as ruff as a cats back
when she's skcered, and set out to hold
her up, but the more pulled her the
"usser she run. | braced agjn the fore
part and told Hetty to hold on behind,
and then | give one almily twitch;
something give way, though couldn't
tell what it was. but it seemed as if
I'd split the old critters jaws clear
up to the ears, but it didn't stop her no
more than it would to whistle TO chain
lghtnin.' On she went faster and faster.
and at every plunge the Old wagon seat
and all there was on it would jump as
1nuch as two feet, right in eend sartain.
The trees and fences flew by 50 quick
we couldn't count them, and the moon,
which was almost down, kept roI!;n and
tumblln about ortnlly, while as for the
stars, the sky was all kivered with lit
tie shiny specks, that kept dancing and
chitterweeln' about jest like the sparks
in oIaeksmith's chimney. The gals
they screamed, and Jim he got held of
one rain and hoIIercd whoo! and grip.
ped t'other and hollered whoo! but there
was no whoo to her-she only puffcd
little harder, and made the fire roll out
OF the rocks terribly. tholt for sartin
the Judgment day was come and we was
death on the pale hoss. When we got
opposite old Squire Gawkins, Hetty
sung out like pig under a gate to get
ou-ou-wout she coulden't do it all
at once, yyod Know, on account ofs slis.
+ motion, and she screechcd so you might
have hcered her two miles. Hold your
tongue, you in!ernel wild ca,r says jim,
'or this old she devil here ahead, will
lead US all into eternity in less than
time. Prudence blubbered, and put her
arms around Jim and hugged abouttI,
closest. kinder thort shouldn't much
-kere il we did all go to the pIa.e he
spoke OF, i'll could sit in his seat--it
would be a kind of satisfaction to b.
chawed up in a stone heap, ifthe smash
would only come when had two SUCH
pretty arms around me. But as for
Hetty. she dug her long bony knuckles
into my ribs as if she d tear my bones
out. 1t was heavens mercy how the old
mare kept the road, for we couldn't
steer her no more than we could the
wild rinosecross, and the smoke rolled
out of her nostriIs like Beelzebub him
self. Well on we went liokety smash,
over the rocks and gridrons, sometimes
on one wheel and sometimes on none
!. at all. Jehu! how she did make the
gravel ffy-my teeth ratified in my head
as il they were all loose in the socket.
, At last we come in sight of Deacon
Dimon's Now says Jim, hold her in,
for if she turns up the Deacon's lane
we are all gone suckers. Well, says !,
lend US hand at this off REMAND we
, placed ourselves. Give off the word,
Jim,' says I, Nov then, together says
he, and we settled upon her. But we
might jest as well tried to hold bull
moose by the tail. At that moment the
.frein broke and let US back ontaaka
4 gals. .Ohp says Prudence: .Waual,l
I says Hetty; ITS comm, says Jim, and
I.seeM il, was, for at thar instant the
oldsmare turned the cofnerlike weatil-
I er-Tooster In q whirlwind. Hold on
I says Igand .Hettyl let iii her bread books
like the gripepf death = dead nigger.
| felt a sort Of dizzy feelin Jest as d BODY
does afore they puke-so | drawed in
my head and shut my eyes, and over
we went! there was yell and then a
smash, and then when come to myself
was sticking forked eend up, drove
clean over my shoulders in a heap oi
, corn fodderl AS soon as could dig out
t looked around for the fragments
5 Hetty was lyin on her back with near
haf the back side Of my trowsers in
in her clutch, that she gri ped and news
er let go of when the smash come
t The old mare was gone with the fore
, wheels, and the rest the wagon was
bottom up in the ditch. Prudence wasn't
, hurt much-she fell as | did, on the
|, stalks; but as for poor jim thort it