Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-09


of US, q queer looking affair in the road. We
could no, exactly make out what il was. Il
seemed to be a sort Of halfand-half monstros-
ily. A. we approached il, it proved 10 be a
rusty old sleigh, fastened behind covered
wagon, proceeding at very slow rate, and
taking up the whole road. Finding that the
owner was not disposed to turn out, we de-
termined upon a yolley Of snow-b;,lls and Q
| good hurrah. These We gave with relish
and they produced the right effect, and llttl.
more, for the crazy machine turned out into
| the deep snow by the side Of the road and the
! skinny old pony started on a full trot AS VIZ
passed, some one who had the whip gave th,
old jilt Of horse good crack, which made
him run faster than he ever did before, III
warrant And so, with another volly of snow
balls, pitched into the front Of the wagon, and
three times three cheers, we rushed by
With that, an old fellow in the wagon, who
was buried up under an old hat, and beneath ,
rusty cloak, and who had dropped the reins
bawled out. why do you frighten my horse !!
'Why don't you turn out, then :! says the driver
So we gave him three rousing cheers more
his horse was frightened again, and ran up
against loaded team, and, Ibclieye, almost
capszed the old creature-and 50 we left him
We'll boys replied the instructor that
is quite an incident. But take your seats, and
after our morning service is ended, will take
my turn and tell you story, and all about :
slcigh-ride, too
Having finished the reading Of a chapter il
the Bible, and after all had joined in the Lord I
prayer, he commenced, as follows -
| Yesterday afternoon, very venerable and
respectable old man, and clergyman by pro-
fession, was on his way from Boston 10 Salem
TO pass the residue Of the winter at the house
of his son. That he might be prepared fol
ourncying, as he proposed to do, in the spring
he took with him his light wagon and for the
winter his sleigh, which he fastened behind
the wagon. He was just as have told you
very old and infrm his temples were covered
with ihinned locks, which the frosts Of eighty
years had whitened his sight, and hearing
too, were somewhat bluntcd by age, as yours
proceeding very slowly and quietly, for hi,
thoughts reverted to the scenes of his youth
when he had perlled his life in fighting for
the liberties ofhis country to the scenes OF
his manhood, when he hid preached the gos-
pei of his divine Master To the heather Of the
rcmo.e wilderness and to the the scenes OF
ripper years, when the hard hand of penury had
laid heavily upon him. While thus occupied
almost forgetting himself in the multitude OF
his thoughts, he was suddenly disturbed,
and even terrified, by loud hurrahs from be-
hind and by a furious pelting and clatterlng
OF balls Of snow and ice upon the top of his
wagon. In his trepidation he dropped his
reins, and as his aged hands were quite bcnumb-
ed with cold, he found it impossible to gather
them Up, and his hosre began to run away.
/ In the midst Of the old mans trouble, there
rushed by him, with loud shouts, party OF
boys, in sleigh drawn by six horses. Turn
out, turn out, old fellow - give us the road
old boy, - What you take for your pony,
daddy - Go il, frozcn-nose, - What's the
price of oats = were the various cries that me,
his ear.
Pray, do not frigh,cn my horse,' cxclaim-
cd ,he inlirm driver.
Turn out, then turn out, was the answer
which was followed by repeated cracks and
blows from the long whip of the grand sleigh,
with showers of snow-balls, and three tremcnd-
Gus huzzars from the boys who were in it,
II The terror of the old man and his horse va,
! increased, and the latter ran away with him t6
| the imminent danger of his life. lie contriveC
however, after some eXertion, to secure hi
reins, which had been out of his hands during
the whole Of the affray, and 10 stop his hors'
just in season to prevent his being dashed
| against loaded team.
4 AS he approached Salem, he overlook a
young man who was walking toward the sam.
| place and whom he invited to ride. The
! young man alluded to the grand sleigh,
which had just passed, which induced the ole
gentleman to inquire if he knew who the boy.
were. lie replied that he did-that they al
belonged TO one school, and were a set Of wilc
fellows.
Aha exclaimed the former, with hear
~ laugh, (for his constant good nature hat
not been disturbed) do they indeedp VIII,
their master is very well known to me. an
now going to his house, and rather think
shall give him the benefit of this whole story
H A short distance brought him to his journey
end, the house of his son. His old horse wa
comfortably housed and fed, and he hirnsel
abundantly provided for.
That son, boys, is your instructor ; and tha
aged and nfirm old man, that old tsNow,
and old boy (who did not turn out for you
but who would have gladly given you the whOl
road, had he heard your approach,) that oil
oy,' and old daddy,' and old fro.en-nose,
was your masters father -
II Ii is not easy TO describe, nor TO imagine
the effect produced by this new translation o
the boys own narrative. Some buried thei
heads behind their desks ; some cried SOM
looked askant a, each other, and many has
tened down to the desk of the teacher will
| apologies, regrets, and acknowledgement
without end Allwere freely pardoncd, bu
were cautioned that they should be more civil
for the future, to inonensve travellers, an,
more respectful TO the aged and infrm.
H Years have passed blythe lads are men
though some have found an early grave-th
manly boy is in the deep bosom of TN
ocean buried They who survive, shou
this story meet their eye, will easily recall ii
scene, and throw their memories back to tn
| 'School-house in Federal street. and to thei
! old friend and well-wisher.