The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-07-22
fur tbr Bnys auh &irl5.
A TRUE STORY FOR BOYS.

A TRUE STORY FOR BOYS.
In ono OF the most populous cities Of New
England, short time since, party Of lads
all mcmsers of the same school--got up a
grand slcig h-ride. There were about twenty
five or thirty boys engaged in the frolic. The
sleigh was drawn by six gray horses. The
afternoon was as beautiful! as any body could
desire, and the merry group enjoyed them
selves in the highest degree. 1t was COM
mon custom of the school to which they be-
lon.cd. and on previous occasions, their teach
cr had accompanied them. 1t is quite likely
that the restraining influence of his presence
would have prevented the scene which is the
main feature of the present story. On the
day following the ride, as he entered the
srhoo-room, he found his pupils grouped
about the stove, and in high mcrrimcnt, as
they chattcd about the fun and frolic of their
excursion. lie stopped awhile and listened :;
and, in answer to some enquiries which he
made about the matter. one of the Iads-a
fine, frank, and manly boy, whose heart was
really in the right place, though love Of
sport sometimes led him astry-voluntcerc,l
to give a narrative Of their trip, and its vari-
riOus incidents.
rs he drew dear the end of his story. he
exclaimed, 20, sir there was one little cir.
cumStance which hal almost forgotten
to narra:c to you Toward the latter part
Of the afternoon, as VIC were coming home
we saw. at some distance ahead of US, a queer
looking affair i'll the road. We coull not
exactly make out what il was. It seemed 10
be sort of haIf:and- half monstrosity. Aswc
approached it, it proved to be a rusty old
sleigh fastened behind covered wagon. pro.
cccdIns at a very slow pace, and taking M
the whole road. Finding that the owner was
not disposed to turn out, We determined upou
volley OF snow-balis and a good hurra.
=" These we gave with a relish; and thew
produced the right effect, and little more.
for the crazy machine turned out into the
deep snow by the side OF the road. and ,hc
skinny old pony started on a full ,rot. As
we passed, some one of us who had the wh,,
gave the old jill of horse good crack.
which made him run faster than he ever did
before, I'll warrant And so, with another
voHcy of snow-baII'. pitched into the front OF
the wagon, and three times three cheers. We
rushed by. With that. an old fellow in t!.c
wagon. who was buried up under an old hat.
and beneath a rusty cloak, and who had
dropped the rcins. bawlcd out, Why do Won
brighten my horse :" why don't YOU turn
Oh: then :" SAID the driver. His horse VA,
frightened again, and ran M against loMlrl
team, and believe, almost caps;zeL the old
creature. And so We left him"
well boys, rr,,licd the instructor. THAT
IS quite an incident. Eut take YOUR seats,
and after our morning service is ended, will
take my turn, and tell you story, and all
about \ >leigh-ridr. too"
Having finished the reading Of chapter
in the Bible, and after all had joined in the
Lords PRAYER, he commenced a. follows:
Yesterday afternoon, a very venerable
and respectable old man-and clergyman
ty protcsslon-was on his way from Boston
to Salem, to pass the residue OF the winter at
the house Of lis son. That he might he pre-
pared for journcying, as he proposed to do
IN the spring, he took with him his light wac-
on, for the winter. his sleigh, which he f..
tened behind the wagon lie was. as have
told you, very old and very intrm Ills tenn
pies were covered with thinncd locks, which
the frosts of eighty years had whi,cned. Ills
sight and hearing. too, were somewhat blunt
cd ny age, as yours will be, should you live
to be as old. lie was proceeding very slowly
and quietly, for his horse was old and feeble,
like his owner. lie was occupied with men,
cries Of the past, and his thoughts reverted to
the scenes OF his youth, when he had perilcl
life IN =htng for the liberties of his coun-
try: to the associates Of his college DAYS. of
whom the greater part chad fallen asleep "
in death; to the days of his minist-a,ion of
the gospel Of his Divine Master both in the
church Of his people. and to the heather of a
remote wilderness; to the scenes of advanced
years, when the in6rmitics Of age we're press
ing upon him,-and sadly and soemnlv. to
the dead Of his household and Of his love.
long since buried out of sight; :" leading
the way to that better world, from which he
was not far distant.
D." I'le he was thus occupied, almo.t forget
ting himself in the multitude of his thoughts,
he was suddenly disturbed, and even tcrr;G.
Ell. by loud hurras from behind, and bv fu-
rious pelting and cattcrin: Of balls of snow
and Ice upon his wagon. In his trcpilation
he dropped his reins, and as his aged and
feeble hands were quite bcnumbed with cold
he found It impossible to gather them IN. and
his horse began to run away. In the midst
OF all the old mans trouble and alarm. there
rushed by him, with loud shouts, large par-
ty of boys, in sleigh drawn by six horses
Turn out. turn ont old fellow give us the
road' OLD boy "-"w hat'l YOU take for your
pony, old daddy :"-"Go it frozen nose w"
:" What's the price Of oats ?" were the var;-
Gus cries that met his ears. PRAY do not
fr'Shfen my horse" exclaimed the infirm
driver. Turn out thcn-turn out. wac
the answer, which was followed by reneatea