Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-07-18
TALES AND INCIDENTS.

q
Britain. whose numC was George, and who
consequently is supposed to have ilourished
on this side, both OF the Conquest by the Nor
man William and the Reformation of our
Church under the renowned British Blue
beard, Henry the Wiekiller, and about the
period at which the British stage-coach first
sprung into existence. under the form and
condition of snail, and the title of dill
gence there arpcared-hy the side Of high
wav, which ran along the southern coast Of
England. and led to that spot with an awful
name, still called the Lands End-a solitary
public-house, with little circular piece of
ground before it, and an apple orchard thickly
set with trees behind it; beyond which, again.
was place allied the Garden; though it must
be acknowledged that those who did clll it
80 we're very courteous and liberal in their
epthets. Every one who has seen Mount
Edgecombe, knows we'll that the most uxur-
iant vegetation which it is possible to mag
inc can be produced at the very verge Of old
ocean : reign, but no such pains as are there
bestowed had been given to the vegetable
kingdom of the garden of which | speak, and
a scanty array of cabhages, turnips, and car
rots, was all that spot Of ground could boast.
Even that was looked upon in those days as all
but miraculous considering that the garden
crept to the very edge Of the cliff which over
hung the sea and Neptune, as il indignant
at the presumption of the thing, would come
angrily up to the very bottom of the bank at
high water, during all seasons of the year,
but, when he got choleric in the spring and
autumn. would bestow a buffet with his tri-
dent upon the cliff itself, which swept away
from time to time, row of cabbages or bed
of onions, together with the soil in which
they were planted The house itself had an
aspect somewhat gloomy, and its gables were
turned towards the road, the entrance being
reached by step, not up but down.
The face of the landlord was merry face
and gay but with all that he was p.u-
dent man took care that his wine should 20
as far as it would, made one Joke serve many
customers, had loud laugh to answer any
question that he did not choose to give a
more definite reply to, eked out his meaning
by a knowing look. which is not tangible by
the fangs of the law, and always spoke wei
of the Justice Of the peace. His wife looked
as if she could have been quaker she was
all Anabaptist, however, and 1t Is supposed,
~. at least was supposed by the people in the
'ncighhornood that the beer in that house
turned more rapidly sour than any other in
the country,
1t was nasty, squally. rainy afternoon;
and the diligence was winding slowly along
uron the aforesaid rold, at the average pace
rain kept beating in at various points Of the
crazy and lll-rontrNeH VenIcIe' "H'n one
traveller in the inside sald to another
Forty miles more Frederick, forty miles
more
Aye SAID the other anu t.l' -halI ma
chine goes on as 1t 1t never lntenicd to arrive
at the end of the journey.
While your heart hies on with the wings
Of love, replied the first who spoke and yet
cannot reach Mary's feet any faster than the
diligence
The two gentlemen who thus eonyersed
were the sole tenants OF the macmne, and
they were both young men OF five or IA-and-
twenty years Of age. The one who was call
ed Frederick. and whose name was, moreoy-
er, Prevot, was by far the handsomest Of the
two, and upon the whole very good-looking
man, though there was certain grave and
anxious look about his countenance, which
those who loved him-and his friend s sister,
Mary. was one Of those who loved him most
called deeply interesting while those who
did not love him, pronounced it TO be gloomy
and sullen Sulen he was not, for his was.
in truth, a very quick and impetuous nature ,
but he had strong Imagination, and was by
no means addicted to over bright hopes. AZ
ter his friend had spoken, he remained silent
for n minute or two, and then said Well,
Willy when will the diligence arrive after all''
Not till this time tomorrow, replied his
companion Laughing.
Nonsense, William Gore, said Frederick
you do not mean to say that the wretched
thing will take four-and- twenty hours TO 20
forty miles .
WHY, it stops at little inn mile or two
farther, replied William Gore, for eight
hours to sleep, as it is called, and you may
think yourself very lucky ii you do the rest