Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-01-30
THE STAGE DRIVER.

Wrinkle knew every body and everything
and every body aud thing knew Wake
lie knew all the girls, aud the schooi-chil-
dren, and the old men, and the young men );
aud bowed 70 them as he rode by, aud they
bowed to him. For forty miles he knew
where every body lived, and who every boz
dy was that lived any where. lie knew the
tall white house on the hill, and the large
house, with pillars IA front, among the trees,
and the little black house over in the field !;
and there was always somebody standing by
the houses, to whom he bowed. Sometimes
he bowed to the well-sweep that happened
to move III the wind sometimes TO dog
that sat on the door-sieps. How many snll-
ing tavors he got from the girls, who, alter
dressing for the afternoon, sat by the open
front windows how many from the chill
dren that swarmed about the school-houses
In fact, every body smiled aud bowed when
he passed; black and hard favored men !;
ruuggy aud obstinate men; coarse AID awk-
ward men, Every day be had sort of
Presidents tour. Then, he pointed out the
tree where man hung himself, and the
woods where a bear was shot, and the barn
that was struck by lightning, and the stream
where a man was drowned. His good ma
ture was unboundad He did errands for
everybody: he ran a sort of express to the
city; an express too, from one neighbor-
hood to another. lie knew every place in
/ Wood lin, aud could execute every order,
from getting IRON castings to purchasing
gimp, aud matching papel-hanglngs, and
delivering billetdouN. lie ran express be-
tween Hearts. Nothing pleased him better
than to have a loye-case IN hand between
two persons on different parts of his route
there was such a carrying OF little notes aud
little remember-me's, and lille mods aud
signs and then he could drop big bum
die of tenderness IN single look, as he
passed the sweetheart hanging out the
washing of a Monday morning. Then Of
tie widows son whom he carried to the CT
" some live years before, and who had been
all this tine at sea, he got the first Inteli-
gence ana as he walked his horses up a
long hill, and the mother sat rocking aud
knitting by the road side, lie told her that
her boy had been spoken of the Cape of
Good Hope, or that his ship had been re-
ported from Rio. When any body was sick
along the road he bore the daily intelligence
to friends, who stood at their doors waiting
for it; 10y what diylnation it was commune
Gated nobody could tell, but the effect was
instantaneous; so by an invisible, aud as it
were omnipotent hand, he dropped smiles
aud Tears, Joy aud sorrow, wherever he
went and his own heart was so much in il
all, none could help loving him. Beside,
he gave little gratdltous rides; lie let the
boys hang on behind; and in the winter he
would take up half dozen school-chlldren
with their mistress, aud help them through
snow drifts. Then he carried the mail,
which is itself small universe in leather
/ bag; here, sweet spring 10 some bleak aud
ce-bound soul; nj the next turn a black
thunder storm on some tranquil household /;
a Leyden lar on wheels, giving every body a
shock as 1t passes, making some laugh aud
others scream. Wrinkle carried this, aud II
was as # Wrinkle himself was It and some
people, notwithstanding they loved him So,
hardly dare see him, or have him open his
mouth; they didn't know what had happen
ed, or what might happen. In addition, he
brought people home aud as he drove on,
he got the first sight OF the old roof and
chimneys he got The first sight of the rose
bushes aud the hlacs in the yafd; he saw,
TOO, from the quletuess ABOUT the mouse,
/ that a surprise was on. hand he knew per
iectly well that the daughter whom he was
bringing was not expeeted-lhat she meant
To surprise the old folks. He did not hurry
his horses he dad not make any sign. lie
landed the young lady at the gate, and was
taking of the baggage, when he heard a
scream ia the door. lie had expected 1t all,
and looked SO sober, as he pulled the strap,
! with one foot on the wheel, aud his back
bent to the ground 'Winklei cried the
mother why didn't you tell US Susan was
coming! You have almost killed me :
Wrinkle loved TO kill people SO.
There is magic in the calling OF stage
driver. Every body knows aud asplres to
know the stage driyer; every body IS known
by, and is proud to be known by, the stage
driver. The little boys remember II month,
# the stage driver speaks to them. There
Is a particular satisfaction to be able to dis
tinguish among drivers, and say, II was Win
lkle, or it was Mason, or it was Mitchell.--