Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-08-18
MISCELLANY.
A Midnight Excursion.

"Well stranger, you air chawed up pretty
considerable bad and that's fact Bar or
catamount ~
'The scene was the country store at the
cross roads, in the town OF IL, which all
who have hunted or travelled much in Ilerki-
mcr county will rccollcct and the polite in
terrogator was a large, whiskcred
hard-iaced man, in a red flannel shirt, whose
appearance, no less than his dialect, pro-
claimed him to be from the far West. 1t was
evening, and group of loungers were smOk-
ing and chewing by the open fire, whose
warmth though it was midsummer night
was far from unpleasant.
The person to whom the question was ad-
dressed, partly turned his head towards the
speaker, but did not immediately reply and
| took the opportunity of examining him
more closely than had done upon his en-
trance. lie was, without exception, the ug-
licst, most ptiahe specimen of humanity
that | have ever seen. One of his legs had
been amputated above the knee ; his right
hand was withered and contracted, as if by a
severe burn his shoulder had a curious
hump; and the cords of his neck were 50
drawn and shortened that the cheek seemed
| to rest upon it, as on Il pillow. His eyelash-
/ es We're gone, and his hlood-shot eyes were
| continually moving uncaslly within their raw
and inhamed lids. But more painful to the
/ bcholdcr than all this, was a strange, unde-
fined expression of horror, which was never
absent from the face and which told, more
strikingly than his wounds. the story of somt
awful trial to which he had been subjected
With all this, however, there WAS some
thing 50 mild and gentlemanly in his manner
that he seemed at once to challenge and OBJ
tain the pity and sympathy of every one
His entrance into the store. apparently a to
tai stranger, had checked the lively flow o
the ordinary bar-room conversation, but NOR
than one chair by the fire was offered him
and many glance ofcommiseration exchang
ed between the rough laborers.
'Bar or catamount ! repeated the HoosieI
IL thought, said the stranger, in the no
low voice of Il consumptive, that should fin
some one in here tonight who would recollet
me. recognize many of your faces. An
yet, he added, sadly, my own mother di
not know me-
There was quick movement in the grou
about him at these words, and every eye W,
bent once more upon him. But no one spok
Deacon Pelton, resumed the ugly maj
your son Bill and used to 60 to school t.
gcther down AT thG creek
"Lord help US, said the good old dcaco
ito think OF the changes Well. he adde
rcsignedly, it's what we must all come tc
S 1t was plain that the elder was fairly pu
zled
II never thought till lately pursued t
cripple, that should be obliged to tell II
name to my old companions and friends.
\ Look at me again
"No, no, muttered the man in the red sh
10 audibly; zone look day at that fellow is
pt much as | can comfortably staggcr under.
But the store-kecpcr, taking step or t,
IL, E,.,a g,
moment with an eager air, and said
"Neighbors,, its Ben Larkius!'
ben Larkins = said the deacon, why,
heard you We're dead.
~ You will hear that again soon, said
new conner, and it will be a true story the
There was AN awkward pause for the
friends of the poor man, with all their cu
usity. had "A native delicacy which Restrain
their questions, But the western mau, "
now saw him for the first time, was who
free from any such embarrassment.
stranger, said he, i aint much given
pumping u man against his will, but shO
like to know how you came 50, just to kC
out of such scrape myself
II came in here this evening" said the
ly man, 'on purpose to meet as many nf
old acquaintdnces as ] could. anu tell
., story. | knew | should have to tell it 81
feel that my misfortune is known, and tia
NS' am free from questions.
lie shifted his seat, a. il to obtain AN
- sicr position, and continued Those of
who saw me Il couple of years since will
collect that ! was then, as had been Tor
eral years previously, a warm and active
r., itirian. Now that have come home To
ors among you, it seems of little m lmcnt \
ar comes out the winner in these duu Itlul RI,
H.. but then it was din rent thing To M, Al
for believe | wAs never wanting in any ser
on which my party asked of me, frou che t
her of the election of the Good old General i
the rsan, who Is, trust, in a better place t
ave the ~ }itc House now
'' Amen - said the rod--hirted man,
IL. solemnly.
N, "N hen | emigrated TO Ohio, two y,
sine, continued Llrsins, ! car led my
e thurl .=m with me, aud became pretty
known in the section ot tine county ahuut
village OF W, where settled. lun II
remember. at least all of you vino read
oia' newspapers, that our last gubernatorial {
11ny tion Was AN unusually exciting one.
- longed to one of the state general colninli
az. and, AS the returns on election day cdin'
,icc, by express, we began To grow fairly viii
igcs w had hriurehand made all the ncHcssar,
'trs' rangomrnts To have the earliest authe
c'o- news of the result posted of To the New
and | had utrr,.aI f., sa,. that , ,,.r