Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-04-24
From Chamher's Journal


lis this the AtsA8ierH asked lady, ma
- ing her way amongst knot of idle ga2ers
10 surrounded the coach which ran every
Z nav between Carlisle and Whitehayen,
Yes, ina AIN just going to start, said the
coachman.' The economy Of the proprietors
did not afford guard
I'm afraid you've no room for me, OBJ
served the lady, boxing at the pyramid Of
luggage and the crowd Of passengers already
seated.
Plenty Of room, ma am, inside We'll
take care Of your luggage, ma am, and her
two portmanteaus were slowed away in
those mysterious little corner cupboarI-like
places yclcped tho front and back boot.
But her hali-dOzen bandbo2es those ladies
companions, requiring the mildest treat
mcnt.
What are we to do with the bandboxcs D
shouted the hostler, as they all came tum-
bling down from the roof on the first move
ment Of the coach
'Well done stupid . growlei the coach
man, checking fine start, 'Why don't you
tie EN- on Get a bit of twinc and sling 'em
over the sides.
Are my bandboxes safe = anxiously in
quired the proprietrx Of those receptlclcs
of caps.and bonnets, popping out her head
The now tightly-lied articles answered for
themselves by bobbing and dangling over her
upturned vision.
I'm afraid, ma am observed the remark
ably fat gentleman who sat next to her. If
there's an upset, your bandboxes will have
bad chance
is there any danger, then, sir, Of the
coach upsetting1'
i should't have given You the corner, and
sufocated myself in this middle seat'-there
10
said the gallant fat man. I'm an old tray
eler, ma am, and know which is the safest
place.
Dear me, it's very alarmingn said Il
prm, thin old maid who guarded him on the
hight. 'COachman is there any danger .
Yes ma am Of your catching the tooth
ache ii you don't keep your head in said
the vulgarly facetious fellow. as he pulled
up to take an unlicensed thirteenth passen-
ger al the toll-bar.
Coachman y said a wzzened, cross
looking little attorney, occupying the third
corner of the inside, you We already your
number-twelye out, six in, with an unlim-
tied quantity Of luggage. shall lay an
information
In truth the coach was most alarmingly
topheavy and the four smoking horses had
some difficulty in pulling it up steep hill
which they were ascending If she backs
said the remarkably fat gentleman, rs il he
delighted IN frightening the ladies', it's all
over with us.
'Oh" exclaimed an affected Young miss
in the fourth corner, strangely reversing her
little knowledge of travelling why don't
they lock the wheels CoacLman put the
drag on
The coach, however arrived safely at the
top Of the hill Look to your wheel " said
foot passcnger, as he walked on his road,
with his bundle over his shoulder. The care
less driver took no heed
with thou let me speak to the coach
man, asked comcly-looking Quakcress-
the fat genteman's ris-a-ris - stretching
her head ont Of the window 'Coachman.
thou shalt drive me no further thou must
ret me down
III set you down, ma am said the coach
man, lashlng his horses into a gaIlop down
the hill.
The coach gave a lurch and righted its.
eli-'G1ing said the fat gentleman, an6ther
and again II recovered its equilibrium
Going third-'GDne - The wheel
came oil and over went the coach with its
fearful load into the ditch.
What scene then presented itself One
gentleman was thrown Of the roof, and seat
ed-not very comiortably-on the top Of a
quick set hedge. y young infant had been
Jerked out Of its mothcr's arms, and lay un-
hurt uncomplaining FAR up in the ditch
But even IN tins distressing disaster, where
fortunately, there seemed to be more frac-
tured bonnets than bones, the mdicrous
seemed to prevail, by the fat gentleman ma
king two or three abortiye attempts to
squeeze himself out of the window-tbe
door, as usual beng impossible to open. The
ladies' and the iittle attorney, all Of moder-
ate dimensions, were easily cxtrcated t., but
the man OF flesh now properly punished
ior his seltshness was left last lie had forced
himself so far through the window. that he
fq9!a 80 On NO iurther-thus unable to ad.