The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-01-11
INE NIAGE lRIIKR.

J.
through the town Of Alhol in Massachu.
sets, an accident occurred 10 the stage
coach 10 which | was comfortably doing.
which rendered il necessary 10 take an.
other ieam-- and as matter Of course a
new driver--a happy looking fellow, With
rosy cheeks who, TO all appearance, was
about twenty years Of age The passen
gers having congratulated themselves On
their escape from vehicle so unsafe.
were again beginning to resign them,
selves 10 nodding slumbers, when | de.
termined on another change Of position;
and therefore, by tbe politeness Of the
driver, who checked the horses. mounted
the box to his left hand The drivers seat
is always good one, and if the man al
the rein is all obliging being, possessing
wlthal a typographical knowledge Of his
route, traveller must be solitary, who
does not love TO view strange scenery.
which is continually varying as he gszss.
A little courtesy on my part soon drew
George into conversation. My first opin
ion thar he was an intelligent and obi.
ging young man was confirmed by
variety OF circumstances. | ascertained
that George was an orphan HIS father
and mother both died in one season. leav
ing him, at the helpless age Of two years.
without iarthing, 10 the mercy Of those
into whose hands he might fall. How he
had been taken care Of or by whom, he
could not lell-at least he appeared un.
willing At the age Of ten, after having
passed through several families. gentle
man placed him with an upright New
England farmer. in the northern part Of
the county of Worcester, where be en-
joyed the advantages Of district schop
and at the plow and turf. Till his MAE.
teenh year His reputation for honesty
sobriety, and faitbiuness, induced a
Stage propriety. in neighboring town to
give him employment as driver; his con-
sltulion being evidently enteebled by the
constant fatgues Of farmer. His mas.
ter, perfectly convinced Of the necessity
of his pursuing different line Of busi
ness, with great kindness Of heart went
thirteen miles TO assure the proprietor
that Georges character was without
blemish ........
When was in the stage, George had
been one year on the line, and, as al
erwardslearned had secured, The fiend
ship of all the proprietors, and the es-
teen of every stranger whom chance
brought 10 his coach.
There was an elderly lady on the back
seat, to whom | related Georges story.
when resumed my former place. This
was Mrs. B. whose home was in Porto
Rico. She had been over various sec.
tons of the United States, in the vain
hope OF recovering her health. Such was
her interest in George, from my account
of him, that when we arrived at Lancas
ter, pleasant town thirty five miles from
Boston, the end of his route, that she
presented him with silk pocket hand
kerChiCt in one corner OF which was
dollar in consideration, she said, Of his
'careiulness with her baggage George
was senSbly affected with her kindness
assured her he did not merit present,
for he had done no more than his duty,
and the same he did by every one
Well, said Mrs. B.. always take care OF
the baggage, and you will be prosperous.
George bowed respectfully, and the new
coach in which we located drove from
the door. Our next driver was bloated
faced, short, staggering, swearing, whip
cracking, Jehu, who ran his horses one
moment. and condemned them tor not
lrotling the next The contrast between
him and George was so apparent, that the
passengers exclaimed he was unfit TO
manage a rein. In moment, owing to-
his unSkiliulness or partial intoxication,
we never could determine which. the
horses sprang from the road, and the
carriage, passengers and baggage, were
thrown into chaos down a precipce Of
fifteen or twenty feet. have no leisure
for describing the particulars Of the
scene; it was soon ascertained, however,
that Mrs B. was badly injured. One of
the horses was Immediately detached
from the carriage, on which rode with
out a saddle. and almost without bride,
back to the village for physician. As
| knew no one but George, and thinking
that SO good a driver was probably ia.
ken as good care OF his horses as he had
Of his charge before we left him. | rode
to the stable door, and TO my great JOY
found him washing his horses. 1t was
unnecessary to relate the disaster-he
anticipated my words. and in ten min
utes mounted the doctor on one of his
heetest nags, and followed him on an
other. On examination, the right arm Of
Mrs. B. was lound 10 be fractured She
was taken to the nearest dwelling, where
the limb was splintered, and in the mean
time George assisted the careless dog
who caused the whole mischief, TO regu
late his affairs, re.harncss, re-pack, re
sit, &c. In the course of two hours the
carriage, which had received no material
damage, was again under way, with the
exception of one passenger. Recollec
ting the lady's injunction TO take care of
the baggage carefully conveyed her
trunk and bandboxes TO the hotel, where
they were placed in safe depository
Several weeks elapsed before Mrs. B
was again able TO pursue her journey To-
ward the metropolis. Whenever George
had leisure from the constant routine Of