The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-11-18

nNOL V.,,Gi saaD 4nih rq nnls.2oiq
IL. h...a. =..4ss=..al ,--- -..-- :. ---..--
natursd wagonel was not proof against
fair words and spiced ale. He Yielded,
took the, cup, drained il in a twinkling,
shook Bill heartily by the hand, wished
him merry Christmas, and added:
SHOW don't you be long following;
for drive slow as Twill, you'll have two
or three miles TO run for il, ! know"
"We'Il look to that, Dick --geod-by,"
replied Bill, hurrying inward, while
Dick betook himseI! to his horses heads,
cracked and smacked his whip; his
horses pricked up their ears, and away
they went. g7 The ponderous wagon
rumbled heavily pver the stones Of ST.
lent Shrewsbury, accompanied by the
gathering of sixteen pair Of horses
hoofs, and the occasional ,"Gee-o-a-
whoop! Come up! On SmiIer!" of the
driver, who was soon out of sight Of
the qiovial Hunting Horn, and fairly
started on the broad London road. He
walked slowly by the horses heads for
some time, whistIing and humming to
himself, and every three or four minutes
turning back his head towards Shrews-
bury, 10 see whether his companions
were vet on the road. He had pro.
ceeded, however, at his very slowest
pace, FOR more than an hour, without
their appearing. = -, ..,7'.,!...
SNOW, this i; unkind,"' quoth tile
wagoner to himself, as he udged along;
but did / not say it would be so!-
Here are Bill and Tcm sitting snugIy
by the fre-drinking till they be drunk
en-! What shall ! do9 must 90 on!
Lord, Lord, how bitter cold it isl" He
laid his whip across the shafts Of his
wagon, and stood still, slapping his
hands against his side for warmth. BY
the time he had done, his wagon had
proceeded thirty or forty PAGES ahead
oi him. Just as he was overtaking il,
he passed u milestone; and, with a
larm and surprise, caught a glimpse OF
figure Of a brawny saiIor-looking man,
sitting beside 1t, with Il little basket by
his side. -. ,..'', I', -. ',,'
"Good morning! a merry Christ.
mas To- you, Master Wagner! How
are you, eh?" inquired the, stranger.
.Prety we'll, but desperate late des.
perate!" replied the aurried wagoner,
passing by the speaker. g." ,..'.,.5 ,'.'.
.'Stop, just stop minute" said he
shave you got any body in your va.
gon? Can you make room for me, eh9
"Lord, sir, no; rse got three men
sleeping there already" replied the
poor fellow, his heart beating fast
thinking that he had hit upon a good
device for terrifying one whomhe took
to be a highwayman. "They're all
soldiers-all three Of them; and Pm
giving them a Iift for Ten miles or so,
They've all got their muskets." "'.' -.
"Eh! What? Soldier, did you sayr
inquired tie man, evidently discomfort.
ed. SHAY die il haven'tr' replied
the, wagner stoutly. .,.,-, ...;" ~
"What the ----- ~ brings soldiers in.
10 these parts, eh?" "Lord, sir, don''
know. You had better ask them, for
they're calling me-; ,Goodrmorrow.
good. d.morrow, ST" said tie wagner,
and running up to,his wagon, he affect.
ed 10 be walking in conversation with
some one inside OF it. He was very
much alarmed at,he slight accident just
recountcd, and was growing more and
more uneasy al the prolonged absence
of his companions. HIS head was fill
ed with fears of murder and robbery.
Gould he doubt that he'person he had
been speaking to was a highwayman
Often did he look over his shoulder to
see whe,herithe man who had addressed
him was following; but he saw nothing
moving on the long line Of high roadhe
had passed, and his fears began to abate.
1t was NOW not far from two o'clock,
and the morning continued bright aud
frosty. Like the eye Of beauty, the
moon shohs forth radiantly and cheer.
Iingly from the unclouded blue. No
sound interrupted the solemn silence.
Except the drowsy tinkling Of few
bells about the horses heads, the clat.
Itering OF the hoofs, and the monotonous
rumbling of the wagon wheels. For an
hour and half the Wagonep mst'h6th-
ling moving on the, road, except the
mail, which had just thundered past him,
about twenty minntesofbeforeo He
seemed to have forgotten the occur.
renee which had so alarmed him. E.
|vensthe prolonged, absence of his two
companions seemed to have ceased dis
turbing him;' fol- made up his mind
10 continue at his nextaputtingiup place
till they arrived. Recollecting sudden.