The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-10-21
DO DIG E. S :.

day Of the winter Of 1857, very respect
ably dressed traveller arrived in the stage
at Newport, and put up for the night at
Pages Hotel. He was dressed in the
common farmer costume, with nothing to
distinguish him from mankind in general,
except the peculiar manner in which lie
bundled up his head, to project it from the
cold, and the monsterous size Of his over
shoes. He was, evidently, man of fmeans,
and altogether a jolly, good natured kind
of fellow, though, at times, an air of
sadness shaded his countenance. He was
travelling, ostensibly, as an agent for a
manufacturing company in New York, but
, really-so the knowing ones thought-for
some other purpose.
What time does the stage leave here
for Richford 2" asked the stranger.
Day after to morrow morning, at ten
O'clock responded mine host.
Not till day after tomorrow 2"
No. There is mail only every other
day"
!" That is coming bad. 1t is necessary
that | should be in Richford tomorrow
night. Is there a stage to North Troy!"
"No. The Richford stage leaves here
at ten, A. NJ, day after o-morrow-driyes
to North Troy-and reaches Kichford in
time for an earl y supper"
Can | secure private conveyance 2"
Here is Mr.. s." said mine host,
pointing to me: "perhaps you can make
some arrangement with him to carry YOU rs
far as Dodge's'
"Dodge's 2"
"Yes, ten miles beyond North Troy
| That would be as far as he could drive and
get back the same day. You can see what
| arrangement you can make with him. He
keeps team, and sometimes does jobs of
the kind
The stranger said no more for some
time. He was evidently in study. l was
in study, too, and mentally resolved that
if it were possible, | would carry the man,
for consideration.
DWELL, my friend,' said he, at length,
addressing me, "can you carry me as far
as Richford tomorrow %
" will carry you as far as Dodge's, if
| that will do"
L will give you three dollars and half
to set me down at Richford to morrow"
Three dollars and half, thoug ght I; that
! will pay me well. The man is evidently
bent on going to Richford-I have a curl
! osity to carry him. | mi ght as we'll add,
that [ had a curiosity for all joos of that
kind, from the fact that on such occasions
| always ''took suthin" For four dollars"
said | will undertake the job.
-Four dollars, then," said he slowly;
ego l must"
What time will you start :" said l.
DAT six"
Early the next morning, T hitched up
"Old Sorrel," and, in company with the
stranger, drove rapidly toward North
Troy. 1t WAS bitter cold day, day
when nature needed little assistance, if
overland, when about four miles out,
passing through Newport woods drew q
flask of brandy from my pocket, and, hold
ing it up to the stranger, observed, "Here
friend, this is too cold a day to ride with
out something to drink.-take some"
"No-thank you," said he, l never use
stimulants
"Take hold" said I, eve can fill it again
at Dodge's."
! "No, | never drink, neper :" said he,
emphatically. have suffered too much
! from it"
| felt rebuked that he did not drink.
had been debating in my mind, for the last
two miles, whether to sound him in round
about way, and find out whether he drank,
or to put bold front on the matter, and
offer it to him at once. But never had
the Q ood luck to meet a teetotaller, and
had therefore come to the very sage con
clusion that teetotalers didn't travel. But,
for once, had got live total abstinence
man, actually transporting him thirty
miles on the line. l thought him stupid
very.
Dodge's is a rum shop situated on the
Missisquoi river road, between North Troy
and Rchford. It's place of considerable
notoriety, celebrated in the country around
as low.lived dram drinking establishment,
from which flows a continued stream of
moral and physical death to the surround
ing neighborhood. 1t is favorite resort
for the abandoned and reckless.
was not at this time a drunkard
was unwilling to admit that | was a mod
crate drinker. True, now and then, as on
the present occasion, thought it no harm
to take drink of brandy, in order the
more effectually to keep out the cold. |
detested drunkards. | was not at all
alarmed about myself, and wondered how
any one could be so foolish as to think me
in danger, yet my wife had often begged
me to abstain, totally. No other human
being seemed to think Of such thing as
my becoming too strongly attached to my
cups. Ny wife l thought very foolish
little love of a woman, and myself a very
strong minded man, capable of drinking a
bottle of brandy now and then, without
becoming drunkard. On the present oc-
casion, found no difficulty in disposing of
the brandy, without the assistance of my
staid companion. When we arrived at
Dodge's had drank the last drop, and
drew rein for the purpose of repienishing
my flask
"Not here, not here, friend for Hea-
ven's sake, have respect enough for my
feelings not to enter this miserable place.
Drive on; have something to tell You"
He grasped tie rein as lie spoke, and
Old Sorrel shot BY in an instant, and went
; trottipny on toward RicbrnrI H. boJ 90,