Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-02-09

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informing his host that the Earl of Butte was
still prime minister, and the Hanoverian sue
cession like to be secure in return in for which
he heard of foal with five legs and a bewitched
dairy. "Seven will give time to reach Guiford
before dinner; and | am so tired that a long
sleep will be useful.
Hobbies retired, promising punctually; and
having committed himself and his concerns to the
care of Him who never sleeps nor slumbers,
Francis Fairhold was soon dreaming of his own
good household and friends in London. The
man slept soundly, for he had good health and
a clear conscience but as the din of the pigeons,
cocks, and Guinea-fowl rose round the solitary
inn at the summer sunrise, Mr.. Fairhold was
disturbed by something running across his face.
1t was mouse. He saw it dart away among
the white dimity, and, thoroughly disgusted,
our order-loving merchant started up. Things
were not as they ought to be at the Golden Lion
that was manifest and he would never call
there again. With these reflections he rose and
dressed himself. 1t was hours before the ap-
pointed time, but the household was all astir
People rose early in the country then; but the
bacon, eggs and strong ale, which formed we'll
to-do merchants breakfast, were therefore pre-
pared without delay. The morning sun was
shining on heath and hill, and though the road
was miry with the last nights rain, Mr.. Fair
hold felt nowise inclined to stay. The kitchen
company had departed over night; but the ost-
Ter had the satisfaction of hearing the valise
chink once more, besides receiving his yearly
tcnpence. The landlord poured forth his good
wishes; Mrs. Hobbies came as far as the draw
well to make her parting courtesy; and with
all the civility he could assume, our merchant
rode on to Gulford.
The mouse had caused him to yield to his in
trinity of grumbling ; but the day was fair, and
his annoyance diminished amazingly, when, at
some miles from his destination, he found the
wagon, which had left that town for Hosham
with the first light, sticking fast in deep rut.
The horses had broken their traces and fled over
the fields, pursued by the WAGNER and one of
lis passengers while the rest, consisting of two
Sussex farmers, brewer, q butcher, aud the
master of Portsmouth trader stood in great
trcpidation regarding noted gang of highway
men, said to be somewhere in the neighborhood.
Our traveller cheered their hearts with the assll-
rance that he had neither seen nor heard of
them. The wagoner and his help had by this
time caught the horses, but all endeavors to
mend the harness proving vain, the latter offered
, to proceed with their new acquaintance to Gull
ford, and bring back assistance if possible. Such
accidents were by no means uncommon in the
travelling of those times. Ever ready to oblige,
Mr.. Fairhold at once assented to the proposal :;
and, by the way of making haste it was agreed
that each should ride and walk by turns.
1t was soon found, however, that the wagon
traveller, who was little more than II youth,
could get over the miry road almost as quickly
as Fairhold's quiet horse rapid progress of any
kind was indeed impossible, and they beguiled
the way with conversation. There was some
thing in the active figure and honest, cheerful
look of his companion which seemed familiar to
the merchants memory He had a frank, cour-
: teous manner, too, which at once won Mr.. Fair
holds liking and his dress spoke of respecti-
bility striving with narrow means. Fairhold
ycnturcd, on the strength of seniority, to hint
some inquiries touching his history and prospects
"My father said the young man, "was
once prosperous London merchant, but specu-
lation ruined him, and he died in comparative
poverty in Dublin. My mother followed him
early to the grave, and my boyhood was passed
in beating among our relations in Bristol. Af-
ter that got my own living by serving two
drapers in succession but the first failed, and
the second was burned out. l have been trying
Q hard for situation in London, and though lit
tie to my liking, it seems the will of Providence
that should 60 to sea with cousin OF my
mothers, in whose company was on my way
to Portsmouth when our wagon stuck fast.
"What is your name, young man :" inquired
3 Fairhold, earnestly.
d " Francis Fairhold Phillips, at your service,
e said the youth.
{ "Then you are my namesake, aud the son O
9 my earliest FRIEND" said the merchant, graspinG
d his hand ;; you will never want situation while
> have warehouse. My boy, have got les
t son this morning against grumbling at triiles
n but for mouse which woke me up in no gooc
: temper, shouldn't have left the Golden Lior
d for some hours later, nor have fallen in witt
c you and the Horsham wagon"
g Before things were fully explained. they en-
:, tered the town; assistance was forthwith dis
|. patched to the wagon, and young Phillips, on
d good horse from the Crown Inn, rode back t.
1t take leave of his mothers cousin. Joyfully h
h returned to join the merchant; and Mr. Fair
1t hold. with his chinking valise and his new founc
G namesake, iourneyed safely on to the old hous
TO in Cheapside. There he found his family ant
l. business all as he had left them some two month
p BEFORE The honest foreman gave up his tempo
e. rary trust. The punctual merchant made hi
ID annual payments, and the house of Fairhol
er continued to flourish. Its master found in tn
te son of his friend an assistant on whose businos
IN abilities and, better still, sterling principles
M could rely; and as his true worth became ever
ID day more apparent in home and warehouse, MI
s. Fairhod was won't to remark how much, unde
at Providence, he owed to that disturbing nous
at at the Golden Lion, and how short sighted h
re had been to grumble at what had been blessin
" under disguise.
ce The good merchant had half made up hi
in mind to call there on his approaching journey
as when at the summer assizes, held at the OIL
a Bailey, he was summoned to act as juror o
dc - IL i