The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-09-09
Miscellaneous.
A Clergyman taken in.

before and OF course, knew nothing OF the
vicious habits of the elephant The cler-
gynan stood on the pier, with his carpet bng
in his hand, and wondrous expression on
his mild counteuance, when he was espied
by Jehu, who was OIL the lookout for fare.
"Coach, sir" said Jehu, touching his hat
respectfully, and looking demurely.
9" Yes, my friend" replied the clergyman,
waking suddenly from his reverie, eyes do
want n coach"
Gan right, sir come this way" and Jchu
seized the carpet bag 10 which its owner ciung
and was dragged through the crowd 10
Tickety old machine, which the driver called
n coach.
"Wherc to, sir 2" said Jehu.
~"To any respectable public house, am
Stranger here"
an carry you to tho best one in town
the hotel where rooms have been taken for
she King of France"
"Blcss me !" said tho clergy hon. dis the
ex-King Of France coming over?-I didn't
hear ofthuL"
Expected next steamer, sir--hc would
have been here before, only he wished to see
ifthe Queen of England wouldn't want TO
come along too"
"Ah" said the clergyman, eve live in en-
citing times"
ave don't do anything else" responded
Jclu, ms lie jumped upon the boz and applied
his whip to his miserable mays.
TO what den ofthicvcS the rascally coach
man Carried our country friend, we cauuot
say, since the victim was unable to describe
the place or lis locality to the police. But it
was opposite II dirty looking buildiug, that he
$Vas put down by the driver, who then de
mnnded three dollars fare.
"Thrce dollars ~ exclaimed the good clcr-
Fynan, ''wly ncighhor of mine told me that
the rates were fixed by law, and that would
have TO pny only three shillngs TO ride II mile
III the city
ooh, hat was before tie news ofthe French
Revolution came wages have riz since ;hem
and the law now is for every man To get as
much as he can, and keep all lie gets, aud we
20 in for that law-we do"
"I}ut my friend, if had known YOU would
have demanded so much, should have walk
ed"
"'T amt snfe for strangers to walk in The
City-ten 10 one, they'll meet the elephant"
don't understand you"
BY tbs time, according to the clcrgyman's
account, the kunve must have tired of iooling
his victim, for he answered snucily-
81 can't stop to talk with you--pay me my
three dollars and let me 60"
The country gentleman, unsuspicious an
hour before of such II trick, yet felt that he
was being cheated, and mildly declined to
pay the money.
'Then you must go before magistrate -
cried Jchu, in Il rage.
"WIingIy-and ifthe magistrate says that
Your charge is right, will pay it,"
"Better pay it now and save the costs of
the court" .....
THE costs of the court will justice of
the peace charge anything for answering n
single question ?"
"a single question If you go to law
with me, we will have IL regular trial, uccor-
ding to the new Constitution. I'LL have ju-
ny of twelve men, if they can be got, or six,
any how" answered the hacknan.
The clergyman endeavorod to compromise
with the Jehu. but new idea had entered
into the racul's head, and now he not only
demanded three dollars fare, but extra pay
for the delay The victim concluded to see
the magistrate, and he re-eutered the hack
and was driven of,-where, he could not tell;
but his description of the scene which follow
yfd was ludicrous enough:
81 was introduced to the magistrate who
shook hands with me, asked the hackmnn
what was the nature of the charge, and shook
this head when told that would not pay three
dollars for riding from the steamboat 10 the
hotel. asked him ifthe charge was just?-
'tie said the new law was not clear TO his ap-
iprehension, and that jury must decide the
matter; and thanked God that under the new
and the fact, and he ddn't care for all the
benches in the Supreme Court--then he
walked away with the driver and, told me
that I must consider myself IA prisoner till the
case was adjudcated. / asked him for my
carpet bag. lie said the law did not allow a
prisoner to have cnPpet bag or trunk, I'M
til the chief of the police had examined into
its contents-and asked the for the kew 10
send with the bag to the chiefs office which I
gave. waited for more than an hour before
4 jury was empannelled; when the trial be-
gan the magistrate asked me i'll had COUNSEL
lreplied no: upon which he said that The
Court would assign me counsel, and red
faced man who stood in the door way wa
told to take charge ofmy case. The hack
man was examined and told his story yer,
briefly. Then was put upon the stand ant
questioned and cross questioned for TIVE
hours. was obliged to state where cami
from, how old was, what was the stnte OF
my wite's health-how many children had
II my congregation was large--what salary
mad, and whether it was paid monthly o
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. there had been rnyiva
IN the neighborhood during the year-wha
my opinion ofthe ship fever was-whethe
there had been any cases of small poX in m,
town, aud ifall the children had been vac
'clnated-what works on natural history hat
read, and lchether had seen the elephant
10 each of these questions my counsel loud
Iy protested, and offered to show from I'll,
new constitution that could not be COMPEL
ed to answer them. But told him woul,
mach rather answer them Mt once, than tc
lose time in discussion. Finally the case wa,
given to the jury after very long charge