Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-11-24
TVIH VHV 'IUuH9 We s''E''
who is the Confidence Man.

We believe we took ride with Inn the
other night, 1t was as dark as Erebus. We
had but five minutes TO the moment for the
Lightning Express to leave the station-the
last'truuks were being checked ..The laggards
were searching for seats in the crowded
coaches \ few were hanging up hats, vail
ses, canes. Ac. Some acre dlsposlng them
selves as best they could for snoozc. 9th
crs We're quietly reading newspapers, letters.
and hooks A number of " muzzrr's dar-
lingsi and lader's pets We're crying a il
thcy were darlings and pets " got up" pm-
posclv to scream and nothing else
OUTSIDE a storm had set up dismal howl
and roar and the rain fell in torrents
But the passengers by rail needed not the
warriug ot the elements They were dry
warm, and comfortable, they had paid their
fare. aud adorned their hats with their tick
ets.
All j. ready The time y up. 4 Warning
bell tmkles in the office. The conductor cries
'' all aboard ,' and We jump upon the engine
with the driver and the stokrr, bent on ride
with them The conductors lamp swings ms
the littlo hell unkics again " loot. Iput'
whreArs the whistle The driver moves the
le, II Our iron ,tcai w"il br'k2n aud oHt.
diem, TO the slightest wish OF the master'
moves slowly, steadily, bat with prudSi0us
' lONt J, uUu Llit lbllH lIHI3' WIN lNS NV H'''-
drcd beating hearts and its dinly itwinSiing
lights. glidcs out OF the station, and i oD
! On its journey at ouc'. Quicker, quicker
and quicker Yet Teyolyr ''o great driving
wheels, and speed is cracked on upncc
" hcWi Before We can compose our,r't ol
/ think or " get used to TIN. sort oi Journey
/ ing the stormy night air is filled for mile'
around with the impetuOus roar OF the rush
ing train
B We hold our breath, aud clutch convul
sivcly the iron railings Of our standing place
aud iust begin to shape the idea that w
should much prefer II seat IA one ol Tia
coaches, or Il firm ioJting on ,bc surface O
I mamma IIrth.
Good gracious, how we iiy ON
Not quick enough yet dimlN thr ,toI"
feeds thr greedy furnace. just as calmly th
driver turns on the irreslstihl" steam,
We tremha from head to foot. II" ci
CINE seem, to be mad-iu-tinct with notion
determined to run away The night Is hlar
with dalkucss The rain dt,hes ~ our face
and there j. 4 tempest of wind TO bult''. W
cannot see Il rod ahead. " c hear the trai
hying over bridges, around curves, throug
dcep cuttings ana usy tuuAols, and we wor
der, Us the engine leaps forward like Wi
racer ON lis mettle, and stunS with fury"
wonder if all the people in the long train
coaches behind us are sitting quietly IL the
seats, chatting, dreaming and reading lust 4
: they did when We we've among them an hot
, before
just ls terror and superstition begin act'
ally to gain the mastery oyer our quiycrir
nerves, and vo begin to think il would be a
I right 10 throw tIe stJkcr into the turnac
p throttle the driver a.; NJ, jost, turn on q
1 full heal OF steam and jump o,crhoHri wi
"a wild yell. a htdc string is Pull,d' Il
whistle slcoohcs suri!.y its piping alAIui
the steam is partly shut od, the speed bcgi
70 slleknn apAce. the brakes arc clnpled