The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-10-18
Dan Rice's Gratitude,

An interesting incident is related of
Dan Rice, the celebrated circus perform
er, in late number of the Reading Ga
setee. When Dan left Reading with the
pig fourteen years ago, he went towards
Kutztown. Here he was completely stuck
the pig didn't draw, and Dan found
himself out of cash, with scarcely coat
to his back, and altogether in one of those
awkward quandaries from which extrica-
tion is hopeless, short of miracle. But,
in the depth of his distress, Dan found a
Good Samaritan in our worthy friend,
Judge Heidenreich, who lifted him out of
the mud, put him in a suit of new broad
cloth, and lent him horse and wagon to
take his pork to another market-'in
short as Mr.. Micawber would say, to
Allentown. Here Dams evil genius a.
gain beset him-the pig proved too little
pork for the Alientowners shillings, and
Dan fell deeper into the mire of debt and
destitution than before. To add to his
troubles, crisis in his wife's health was
approaching, when to travel any longer
with Dan, was periling the travail She
must shortly undergo on her own account
In this sad dilemma, Dan had no other
resource but to sell the horse and wagon
Judge Heidenreich bad loaned him, and
with the proceeds take his wife home to
Pittsburg, buy cradle, and prepare for
the stern realities of married life. He
made notch, however, in the corner of
his brain, Of his Indebtedness to the Judge,
which he determined no statute Of limin-
tation should ever obliterate Time pass
ed on-Dan dissolved partnership with
the pig, took step higher, and reached
the stage of one of the Philadelphia the
atres. Here the Judge saw and reeogniz-
ed him one night-discovered Eislodgings
next morning, and gave him friendly
call. Den, although in improved circum-
stances. was still poor, and wore thread
bare coat; but the Judge, in the hardness
of his heart, arrested him, and took him
before-not the Mayor, but-a Clothier,
and ordered suit to be brought. But
Dan would not stand that proceeding
suffered a non-suit, and left the Judge to
an empty judgment. From that time to
this, they never met, until last Tuesday,
when Dan and his Company came to
Reading to perform, and the Judge came
down to attend Court. Dams first duty
was to hunt up his old friend, and invited
him to take short drive about town, to
which he consented, and horse and.ve-
hicle were soon at the door. Dams e..
quipage, like that of his profession gen.
orally, seemed pretty stylish turn out.
1t consisted of bran new carriage of ell
egant make, cream colored Arabian
pony, and spick and span new set of
glistening worth, when you come
to estimate such things by dollars, some
S4O0 or $500. The drive was taken and
enjoyed, and time few swiftly by, as the
two friends talked and laughed over the
half-forg often events Of old times. Dan
drove the Judge back to his lodgings,
stepped out upon the pavement, and, be-
fore the Judge had time to rise from his
seat, handed him the reins and whip,
with graceful bow, and said These
are yours, Judge-the old horse and
wagon restored, with interest-take them,
with Dan Rice's warmest gratitudel' The
Judge was stricken dumb with amaze
ment for few moments, but soon recoy-
cred his self-possession and began to re-
monstrate. But Dan was inexorable-ho
closed his lips firmly, shook his head,
waved polite adieu to his old friend in
the carriage, walked off to the hotel, and
left the Judge to drive the handsome G