Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-12-29
yntertsting Storp.
DODGE'S.

In the afternoon of one of the coolest
days Of the winter of 1858, very re-
specially dressed traveller arrived in the
stage at Newport, and put up for the day
and night at Pages Hotel. He was
dressed in the comutbn farmer costume
with nothing to. distinguish HIM from
mankind in general, except the peculiar
manner i'll which he bundled up his head
to protect it from the cold, and the mon
strous size of his over shoes-=he was evi.
IDENTIFY man of means, and0 although a
jolly, good natured kind of fellow. yet,
at times, an air of sadness shaded his
countenahce. He was travelling. ostensi-
bly,, as an agent of a manufacturing com
pany in New York, but really=so the
knowing ones thought-for some other
purpose.
What time does the stage leave here
for Richford?" asked the Granger.
Day after to morrow murning ut ten
o'clock" responded mine host.
Not till day after TOMORROW ~
mo. There Is a mail every other day"
"I'hat is coming bad. 1t is necessary
that should he in Richford to morrow
night. Is there no stage to North Troy p
No. The RichfUrd stage leaves here
at ten A. NJ, day after tomorrow drives
to North Troy-aEd reathes Richford III
time for an early SUPPER .s3laais
i" Can | secure private conveyance 2"
Iaa" Here is Mr.. S said mfbe host,
pointing to ne perhaps you car make
some arrangement with him to carry you
as far as Dodge's.'
Dodge's ?"
Yes, ten miles beyond North Troy.
That would be ~efar as he.eeald ariSa
and back the same day. You can see
what arrangement you can make with
him. He keeps team, and sometimes
does jobs of that kind"
Thesstranger said NO more for some
time. He was evidently in study. !
was in study too, and mentally resolved
that if it were possible would carry the
man for g consideration.
Well, my friend,' he said at length,
addressing me, =" can you carry me to
Richford to morrow 2"
Perhaps MOTTO Richford; can carry
you as far as Dodge's, If that will do"
i will give you three dollars and a
half to set me down at Richford to NOR
row night"
Three dollars and half, thought I,
that will pay me well. The man is evi
IDENTITY bent on going to Riehford-I have
curiosity to carry him. | might as
WE'LL and | had curiosity for all jobs of
the kind, from the fact that on such oc-
casions always took something Four
dollars, said |, and will undertake the
| job"
-Four dollars them" said he, slowly
go must"
What time win you start'" said l.
cat six"
Early the next morning I hitrhed up
Old Sorrel, and, III company with the
stranger. drove rapidly towards North
Troy. 1t was bitter cold day, day
when nature needed little assistance, II
ever and when about four miles out,
passing through Newport woods, drew
a flask of brandy from my pocket, and
holding it up to the stranger, observed.
Here friend, this is too cold day to
ride without something to dfink-take
some"
No,-thank you" said he, II never
use stimuants."
Take hold, take hold" said !, eve
can fill it agaia at Dodge's."
No, never drink, never !" said he,
emphatically. II have suffered too much
| from it,
felt febuked that he did not drink.
l had been celebrating in my mind for
| the last two miles, whether to sound him
III around-dbout way, and find out wheth
| err he ever drank, or whether to put a
| bold front Oh the matter, and offer it to
him at once. But never had the good
luck to carry teetotaIlef, and had there
fore come to the conclusion that teetotal
lers didn't travel. But for once had
got d live total abstinence man, actually
transporting him thirty miles on The line;
! th6ught him stupid--very.
Uodge's is rum shop, situated oil the
Missisquoi FLYER road, between North
Troy and RiEhford. It's place of con
| siderable not6riety. celebrated in the
country around as low-lived, drain
! drinking establishment from which flow
led Continual Stream of moral and phys.
ical death to the surrounding nelghbof
hood. 1t is . favorite resort for the
abandoned and reckless.
i was not at this time a dfunkatd.
was unwilling To admit that | was mod
crate dtinker. True now ard then, as ON
the present occasion, | thought it NO
harm to take d drink of brandy, IN order
more etfectually to keep out the cold.
detgsted drunkafds. | was not at all
| alarmed about myself. and wondered how
any one could be SO foolish as to think
me I'm danger, yet my wife had often
begged Of to abstain totally. No 9TH
sr hGman being seemed to think OF such