The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-05-13
Vol. Ii. No. 43. Whole No. 500.


Of soap fat in the other, aud commenced
screwing down the valves and oiling the pis
ton rod and crank joints and the motion of
the mysterious mass increased until all SEEM
ed n btz.
at is nigh about perfection, nin't iI?" says
he.
stood amazed in contemplating the OBJ
! iecI before me, which confess could not
! fully understand; and hence, with the greater
readiness, permitted my mind TO benr off 10
other matters more comprehensive; to the
future, which is always more clear than tho
present, under similar circumstances, hee-
ded not, for the very best reason in the world
because | understood not, the complicated
description that Jabez was giving of his still
more complicated invention. All knew was,
that hero was n machine on four good stur-
dy well braced wheels, and IL only required
a recorded patent, TO authorize that small
connecting cog wheel or trunne head TO be
thrown into gear when il would move oil,
without oats, hay or horse shoes, and dis
lance the mail coaches. As | was surroun-
ded with notons it was not extraordinary
that one should take full possession ofme.
Ii dawned upon me when l saw the machine
! first put in motion, and was now full orbed n
bove the horizon ofruy desire; il was to see
the first locomotive move of. The temp,a-
ton was Irresistible. 'And who knows
thought |, 'but some prying scamp mny have
been peeking through the key hole, while Jn-
beg was ut work, aud catching the idea, may
be now at work at some clumsy imithtion?-
and if he does not succeed in turning the first
trick may at least divide the honors with my
ifiendT
"JabeZ," said !, elevaling my voice above
the buZZing noise of the machine, there is on
ly one thing wanting"
"What is thaw says he, eagerly.
"Immoruity," said ]; "aud you shall have
it, patent or no patent" And with that, !
pulled the crank that twisted the connecting
truunel head into the travelling wheels, aud
in an instant away went the machine, with
Jabez on top oft, with the whiZ and rapid
ity of II flushed partridge. The side OF the
old building presented the resistance OF wet
paper. One crash, and the first locomotive
was ushered into this breathing world.
hurried to the opening, and had just time ia
Chamber to the top of Il fence, TO catch The
last glimpse of my fast departing friend
True 10 his purpose, | saw him alternately
screwing down the valves, and olIing The
piston rod and crank joints; evidently deter
mined that, although he had started off u lit
tie unexpect edIy, he would redeem the
pledge he had given, which was, that when
it did 90, it "would go n leelle slower than a
streak of chain lghtnin', and darn'd lee
tie, tool"
"Like a cloud in the dim distance heeting,
Like an arrow" he Aew away.
But moment, and he was here in q mo-
ment he was there! aud now aohere is he ?-or
rather, where is he not? But that for the
present is neither here nor there
The vile Mosem ridiculed the belief so
religiously cherished by the Christian Don,
that in all the bloody conflicts that laid the
crescent low in the dust, Saint lugo, on u
white horse, led OIL to battle, and secured tr-
umph to the cross; but as this has now be-
come matter Of history, copfrped 10y the fact
that on numerous occasions this identical
warrior saint was distinctly seen pounding
the Moor successfully and simultaneously,
| in brittle scenes from each other,thu proving
his identity so may we safely indulge the
belief, that tie spirit, If not the actual body
and bones, of Jabez Dooliitle stands perched
on every locomotive that may now be seen,
in every direction, threatening its way at the
rate of thirty miles an hour, to the total ami
hiIalion of space and time. The incredulous
like the Moors ofold, may indulge their I'M
belief; but for myself, ] never see alo-
conceive in full action that do not also see
| JdDCL tICIO5 unGCllHS no SOH'SS 40 D'"'''J
as see the immortal ca linton in every ca
na-boat, or the equally immortal FULTON IN
every steamboat.
Unfortunately, however. these, like Jabez Doc
little, started in their career of glory without
Il patent trusting too far to all ungratefuI
world; and now the descendents of either
may (if they pay their passage,) indulge the
luxury that the inventive spirit of their an
cestors has secured TO the age,
But my task is done. All ! now ask, is,
that although some doubt and mystery hang
over the first inyeation of steamboat-in
which doubt, however, | for one do not l'nr-
tcpate-none whatever may exist in regard
to the origin Of tile locomotive branch OF the
great steam family: and that, in all future
time, this fragment of authentic history may
ennbe the last posterily to retrace, by back
track and turnout through long railroad
line Of iIIustrious ancestors, the great prolec-
tor and conlrver or' The First Locomotive
their immortal progenitor, 'JABEz DooMT-
TIE, Esq, nigh WaIusford, Connecticut, y.
Santa Annals Farewell Address.
The N. o. Picayune of the 10Th, contains a
translation of Santa Annals Farewell Address
to the Mexicans, written at Tehuacan, March