Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-05-16
fitrrarp Selections.
THE PEASANTS COT.
A THRILLING STORY.


of the ship took passage with me. The
whole cargo belonged to them, and they
not only wished to do some business in
England, but they also had desire to
travel some. Besides the three owners,
had four passengers in the cabin. The
passage from New York to England on
that occasion was the most severe and
stormy ever made. 1 had experienced
heavier storms, but never such continued
hard weather. The old ship was on a
strain the whole Of the time, and though
1run her into Avon without losing life
er an important spar, yet she had re-
ceived much damage. Her mainmast
was sprung, her rudder damaged, her tim
bers strained. and for the last week the
pumps had to be kept going all the time
owners, passengers, officers and all doing
their share of work at the brakes.
As soon as we could get the cargo out.
the ship was hauled into the dock for re-
pairs, and we found, upon examination,
that it would be a week before she could
fiji for sea, and if she had all the repairs
which she absolutely neened, it would take
her nearer two weeks. A contract was
made for the job and one of the owners
agreed to stay by and superintend the
work. This left me at liberty, and I be-
ganto look about NE for some place to
visit. had heard much of Salisbury
Plain. The famous Stone-henge was
there, and so were three other relies of
Roman and British antiquities. Accord
ingly to Salisbury Plain 1 resolved to 90.
When l went on board the ship to make
arrangements with the owner who had
remained there, found one of the pas
sengers just leaving. His name was
Nathan Leeman. He was a young man,
not more than thirty years of age, and I
supposed him, from his features and idiom.
to be an Englishman. I told him was
going to Salisbury, and he informed me
that he was going the same way.
Leeman had been intending to take the
stage to Devices, and thence to take some
of the cross coaches; but had resolved to
take a horse and travel where, and how,
and when pleased, and he liked the plan
50 well that he went Immediately and bot
him good horse and saddle.
Itwas about the middle of the forenoon
when we set out, and found that Leeman
intended to visit the curiosities with me,
and then keep on towards London, by
the way of Andover and Chertsey, he
having sent his baggage on ahead to
Salisbury by the great mail route, which
ran many miles out of the way. 1 found
my companion excellent company, and on
the way he told me some passages from
his own life. He was born in England,
but this was the first time he had been
IN the kingdom since he was fourteen
years of age, and was led to infer that
at that time he ran away from his pa
rents. During the last six years of his
residence in the United States he had
been engaged in Western land specula-
tlons, and he now was independently rich.
We took dinner at Bradford. a large
manufacturing town, six miles southeast
sof Bath, and as soon as our horses were
rested we set out again. Towards the
mlddie OF the afternoon the sky began to
grow overcast, and we had promise of a
storm By five o'clock the great black
clouds were piled up in heavy masses,
and it began to thunder. At Warminis-
ter we had taken the direct road for
Amesbury, a distance of fourteen miles.
sand when this storm had closed upon US
~Fe were about half way between the two
places. / was in no particular hurry,
and as | had no desire to get wet, l pro-
posed that we should stop at the first
place we came to. In a few moments
more We came to a point where small
cross road turned off to the right. and
where guide-board said it was five miles
70 Deptford inn.
Proposed that we should turn into this
0y-way and make for Deptford inn as
last as possible and my companion ready
consented- We had gone a mile when
the great drops of rain began to fall but
as good fortune would have II. We es,;ad
small cottage, not more than a fyrIono
ahead, through clump of poplars. We
made for this place, and reached it before
we got wet. There was good sized
barn on the premises, and long sheep
shed connected it with the house Be-
neafh this shed we drove, and just as We
alighted, an old man came out. We told
nm that we had got caught in storm
and asked him if he could accommodate
ns over night. He told US we should
aAFe the best his humble place could az