The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-01-29
From the Boston weekly Symbol"
ASSEsSn W. DIvIDENDS.
by SCuIBOB.

d
During the height of the Maine
specializing fever, steady old East
ern farmer was induced to purchase
four shares OF the capital of the
"PoRTLAND AND FoGrowN STAGE
COMPANY" But the old gentleman
having always been consistent loco
Joco, was not altogether satisfied
with the prospect Of the result of his
speculations in fancy stocks, until
he ascertained that a shrewd Wing
neighbor Of his had been 'dabling in
the same puddle.' AS misfortune is
fond of company, our hero congrat-
ulated himself that, come what would
he was no worse off than his neigh
Dor, and thenceforth breathed
freer, DEEPER
| But the winter previous the old
fellow had been married to his Sec
ond wife, and in honeymoon fit of
generosity, had purchased gaudily
painted sleigh, TO carry his young
wife to meeting on Sundays.
Being naturally parsimonious, the
sleigh in the summer season, was a
source of unfailing annoyance, and
he never cast his eye to where the
aforesaid sleigh was seated, "alone
in its glory" above the big beams
of his barn, without feeling an ire
sistible desire to throw his pitchfork
at it.
But the travelling season came on.
The 'Portlanda and Fogtown Stdge,'
with its four prancing grays, day at
Ter day dashed gaily by the old fell
lows mansion, filed with beauty
and fashion, and covered with booty
and boot-top trunks. 'Twelve in
s de and nine out, without counting
the four babies and the little Mig
gers, muttered the old man as he
RECOMMENDED pitching his hay
that stage must be doing good bu-
siness and no mistake.' As he rails
ed his fork the jaune sleigh seemed
to curl up its nose and look down at
him with supreme contempt. On
that laundering old sleigh, l wish /
had the worth on it in stage stock
lie exclaimed.
AT this moment his Wing neighbor
appeared, and after discussing the
crops, the weather, &C., he made
some allusion to the size of the barn,
and the price u That sleigh. The old
mans eyes beamed with Joy, but, af-
fecting Indifference, he adroitly
transferred the conversation from
the sleigh to the stage, and ended by
offering to swap the sleigh for his
neighbours stage stock, provided he
would give him 'Barkshire' pig to
bI5'. This the neighbor could not
agree to, but as he wanted the sleigh
very much, although he had the
highest opinion of the stage stock,
he ,couM swap even. Our hero de-
murred-wanted time to consider
would let him know within a week,
and the neighbor retired.
The next day, as he was moving,
a gentleman refined in his horse by
the side of the wall, when the follow
ing conversation took place:
SIS this Mr., Grimes p"
eyes"
"Do you own any stock in the
Portland and Fogtown Stage Com
pany ?"
eyes"
"Well, you're a lucky man."
"Why SOP"
"There's an assessment upon it,"
"The ID there is 70
eyes. An assessment of ten dol
lars per share"
"Who settles ?"
"rhe driver"
This was enough. Dropping his
scyth, our hero started without hat
or coat for the residence Of his neigh
Dor.
"NIr. Brown" said he, 81 guess
you may have that are sleigh"
every well, Mr.. Grimes, but you
appear excited"
"Never mind-just give me them
are sti0kits cause Pm in a great
hurry"
The certificates were duly handed
over, and Mr.. Brown, by bill, put in
possession of the sleigh. This ac-
} complished, our hero started down
] crooked alley, over Buntin's brook,
/ up the great meadow, into the street,
where stood the tavern.
lie was just in time, for at that
moment, the portland and Togtowu
| stage" the driver covered witt
dust, and the horses with foam,
{ came dashing up to the door. How
. the old gcntlcman's eyes sparklcd
There never was such y stage, there