The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-01-09
An Old Time Picture.

HOVER al the iOnch OF the plough share.
The picture of New York village inn
has become historic-a thing of the past
Ii and the stage coach were lovely in their
lives, and in death they will moi he divided.
What New York country boy-boy TWEEN.
ty years ago does not remember that inn
-cannol shut his eyes and see it now, as
ii stood rambling structure, with low
browed ''soop' and well.worn step, and
The traces of time and storm upon its bal
tered gables Here was the bar room
here the great fire place. with its huge cid
knob -androns. in the old fashioned winter,
bearing pyramid of fire, while around il
the rush buttoned chairs were drawn up in
a great circle. And where is the old Boni-
face, with 'scapon lined" shuffled around
in his slippers and STIRRED the glowing logs
with great shovel ill they roared again!
And where is the old village squire that sat
there in the corner, and nightly saved the
nation "from war. pesiilence and famine 20
where the village gossip that retaiIed 10 tie
crowd of lisiners The small scandal of the
day! The walls are covered with old
handbills; all that remains of one is a frag-
!
top of The bill,' where The wool ought to be.U
went away in Whit, as it lighted some-
body's pipe, while ia the lieu thereof, con-
stables sale, done with poor pen and pale
ink, is attached 10 the wall with four Sec
tions of an unfortunate wafer. Here an inn
passale horse is getting away from an i'd
describable man; there and old placard of d
MI han in
having allighted on a blue elephant, and a
rampant lion having thrust his nose into the
pockel of a stage drivers coat that hangs
from wooden pin, but grandest OF all is
the picture OF the stage coach labelled the
ENTERPRISE" that is drawn by four spank
ins horses, with three legs or so piece, is
Plungng directly into thunder cloud while
''John Rogers and family" stand aside to
see The world go by
Here is bunk, sirown With a buffalo
robe, rough h coat, the advertising half Of
an old newspaper, whip with an Alexan-
drine lash, and village loafer; and there,
in that dim corner, is a cage, with wooden
bars pointed at The tops, and narrow shelf
beneath, through which, aforelime, liule
> |
came and went, as the weather was cold or
= hot. or wet and dry, or the wind blew from
ihe north, or ''there was a great cam."-
. Then there was the dog, huge shaggy and
old as long ago as we can remember, old
q before that, forever asleep under the bunk,
: or forever lying with his nose between his
S paws in The open dOor.l
4 Ii is summer, and summer noon TIE
r big yellow watch hangs mouonless, the
n blacksmith S hammer intermits, man lies
asleep on the dry goods box, and the mer-
chant stands still IN the door. A thirsty
= dog is tapping water at the trough by the
h pump, and drone is saying his prayers on
V lis edge. The bar-room is silent, all but
IS the heavy breath of the doing master and
dog and the drowsy hum of flies. Tie
3 Fireplace is green with asparagus: for the
?; winter is over and gone. Family in the
III distance is a sonnd-it is bee in the gar
,s den-shriiler, clearer--ii is shout Lou
der, louder, nearer, il is The horn of The
!. coming stage Now it winds up and
down among the notes like bugle, abrupt
q, and emphatic, and then with "dying fall
IS The landlord arouses himself, the dog is
awake, the postmaster comes out upon the
VI steps, the tailor looks out OF the Window
Il The rattle of wheels is distinguished, the
jingliug OF bolts and The crack of the long
ed whip. Down The hill, over the bridge, here
it comes, rounds 10 with flourish, and th:
four finland are brought up before the doc
with an emphasis that makes the old coacl
rock and swing like ship in a swell.
The door is thrown open, and one wo
;, man in a green caiash emerges; the de
pleied mailbag is whirled out from beneai
/ The drivers feet, and The leaders and whee
horses already are meeting the "relief, ," a
Ill they defile out from The shed, The leader
as gay with tassels and the bright plated ring;
'All right" is The cry; the ribbons ar
f., in hand two sharpe notes upon the horn
the women in the green calash comes ou
again the coach door goes 10 with bang
nd The whip is whirled off with a whistle, and
is by some slight OF hand, explodes exactl
between The off leaders two ears, and ava
they 90, while clouds of dos, roll up benin
the dusty 'sbootn aud hide The small bo
towed by The straps ike small boat stern
lid The Columbian Star" and letter for th
lawyer are taken ont Of the bag the tai
or's needle is flashing again through IN
u!' seam /; the sparks begin TO fly al the doc
,an OF the Blacksmih-ihela landlord lies stretch
ed at length on the bank, and the world hs
gone by for day
a Happy viIlagei Would that the Rip Va
pc, Wrinkles of The valley might awake fro
led their long, long sleep bot not the stag
horns herald note, nor The steamers as
rings along The river; nor yet me voice