Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-02-28


Der over" l found, on the present occasion
that they were slightly in the way. Being hid
den from sight by the snow, l accidentally
drove upon the largest of them, and in conse-
quence | was turned out of the Sleigh and
nearly smothered in the snow. When got up,
| looked like polar bear and am sure felt
just as savage. l should like to have bitten
somebody. | thought. too, l heard some one
laugh. turned around to see who it was who
dared to laugh at me but there was nobody in
sight except the little black boy, and he, with
his face from me, was busily engaged in cutting
pumkins for the cows. l concluded, then that
it was young rooster, out at the barn, trying
to crow. l don't like incipient chandeliers,
unless they are broiled. One L" old red ~ was
worth dozen of them.
When | went into the house, after leading
the horse hack to where started from, Mrs.
Gray asked me what had been doing. | re.
Piled 81 have been taking turn in the yard"
AS Mrs. g. and myself rode past, pointed
out to her the exact spot where l took the
turn. She said that did not surprise, her for
was such driver. She professed to be glad,
however, that was not hurt. She supposed,
though, that one Of these days would be kill
ed was so reckless just then, one runner
of the sleigh went into hollow, and Mrs Gray,
grasping the lines from my hands, caused the
horse to swerve little, and-over we WENT
After we had scrambled up, and had righted
the sleigh and placed Mrs. G. within it, she
commenced freely on my manner OF driving !;
laying, woman-like,i all the blame of the turn
over on my shoulders.
We had proceeded but short distance from
the scene of our last disaster, when Mrs. Gray
called my attention to the singular sound the
bells sent forth. 1t was something entirely
different, thought, from what slegh-bells are
capable of doing. Atmy wife's request, stop
ped the horse, to examine into the matter. To
my SURPRISE discovered that instead of the
appropriate string of bells, tho large house bell
and smaller tagle bell were ngeniously fas-
tened upon the neck of the horse. | told Mrs
Barry what manner of sleigh bells we had, and
and to my astoishment, she laughed till l thought
she would fall from the sleigh. .MShe said they
were very stylish. For my own part, was in
dignant. had great difficulty in undoing those
bells. My fingers got very cold ; and think
had very wicked thoughts in my heart regard
ing our little black boy. But thought it best
to do nothing rash determined, however, tc
maze him wear ore of those bells around hi
neck for week. When told Mrs Gray how
| should punish him, she replied that it wonlt
be hard for her to hear the noise of the bell
but that she thought the boy himself would be
rather pleased with it, When we started again
l missed, as | told Mrs. G., the merry rites o
the bells without them, it did not seem to Int
as if we were taking sleigh-ride
Where" said to Mrs. Gray, as we en-
tered the village, "shall drive our feet steed ,
1t may be as we'll to mention, that the "fee
steed' here referred to is what some would cal
good family horse: enc warranted to sta nj
without tying one never known to jog taste
than five miles an hour; and which child o
tender years can manage. The time he make
on the road between Hillside and the st-offce
u distance Of three miles, varies from one to on
and quarter hours. Though have, when
thought dinner was awaiting me, and fearet
Mrs. &. dispeasure, accomplished the distance
In torty-tivc minutes. But this is ofsso rar
an occurrence as scarcely to Warrant me in say
ing he could do the like again. To the question
proposed at the beginning of this paragraph
Mrs. Gray replied, what hesitation, To tn
parsonage"
Of course it pleases me that my wife admire
and loves the church. | have no objection, even
to her taking an active part in the "sewn
circle which is connected with the same Tn
interest she manifests in the prosperity of tn
parish school, is, moreover, deserving Of praise
Engaged as the vestry is at this time, in raisin
funds to enable them to erect veay tall spir
on the new church, it may be excusable in he
to tighten my pockets, as she does every night
of any superhuous change which may chang
to be in them; but after allowing all this, d
not perceive the advantage derivable Of visitin
the parsonage rs often as Mrs. G. proposes
have no hesitation in saying that am, mysel
great admirer of the parson. am indebte
to him for several good things When | wa
quite an infant he baptized me. | shall eve
be grateful to him for this. Then again, afte
l had arrived to manhood, and began to be rt
garded as bachelor, he performed another &c
which it will be impossible for me ever to forge
| alluded to the ceremony which made Mr.
Gray my wife. How grateful am to him ft
this, will not here say. | sometimes thin
that Mrs g. is more grateful to him for tn
little act than it is really necessary for her
be- | was glad, therefore, when we called
the parsonage, to find that the inmates wei
abroad. mentioned as much to Mrs. Gray
She replied that it was very wicked in me
say SO.
AS we slowly rode back to Hillside, Mrs.
, oocupied the time with little discourse O
. as called it, scrmon-on jealousy. A
: original remark that she made, beginnn
thus: "Triaes light are, y and closing with I'll
: worlds holy writ" was, as she said, pertinel
) to the occasion, and, she added in conclusion
, she hoped would profit by it.
| Several days have elapsed since the abov
n recounted slcigh-ride came off The little blat
boy is expiating his offence by wearing bel
s, as proposed he seems rather proud of
a however, and feels the punishment most whit
e Mrs. Gray insists on his muiiing the clappe1
F; this kindly allow in consideration of her hea
/, aches. l am, myself, pro6ting by the origin
: remark of Mrs G.'s and have SO far overcon