North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-11-11

Fal de rol, lal de ra
! Gee up! whoa there gineral !"
The gay painted stage-coach could be seen
a long way up and off from Farmer Hatch's
western windows, for, from their door way,
the hill rose up, and up, till it seemed fair to
touch the sky and the coach came rafting
down. and down, and down. till one would
verify think it was sent on despatch to the
; bottomless abyss. So regularly every alter
nate morning at precisely eight clock, Liz
" shook up her bed in he western bed room
and hung the snowy pillows on the window
sill to air and precisely at five o'clock on
every alternate afternoon, she sat sewing at
the east window in the parlor and precisely
at these very hours came either to or fr0, the
yellow coach and the six white horses
| A quarter of mile on the road below was
the Torrey post-office, the store, the talor's
| shop, the church. and few white and yellow
houses called the village Here the stage
always stopped to have the mail changed, here
the driver jumped off, and chatted with the
| Ioungers about the door here lie met the lit
tie dandy tailor in his light blue pants, plaid
vest and, and invisible green coat, and deliv
cred him sundry packages from the city
| Said tailor, by name Orlando Schneider, was
no uniInportant parsonage in the eyes Of
Frank Gale, the driver ; for though he had a
hearty contempt for foppishness, he had an
uaaccountabe dislike and dread Of his pre-
tentions in another direction. In short
| Frank had often observed him strutting up 10
the door Of Farmer Halch's Cottage on a
summers afternoon, or lettering near the
open window where Lizzy sat and it was
whispered by male gossips around the door
of the tavern and post-c flee that a match was
Matching between the young people.
Now why should Frank care, fit were so ?
What claims had he on young maiden with
whom he had never exchanged a word IN his
life None, to be sure, but then, he pshaw-
ed and fretted at this match as though it
| were dong him great wrong and he called
the tailor "a blasted fool" though if this
were spec men of his folly, 1t was one, 1t
must be e'.essed which Frank would him
self have been both proud and happy to h ave
committed.
Il don't believe it! I won't believe it,
he cried to himself Lizzy Hatch would
never marry such little tittering, trittering
spindle shanked jackanapes as he She's a
fool if she does but these girls are all run
ming mad after little tripping dandies in their
starchcd linens, and whaebones strutting
about on their toes, because their pants won t
all wv them to st down" ....
Thoughts similar to these were filling the
young drivers mind, as the coach ratified
down the hill one bright October morning.
Near the foot OF the hill, there we're several
dangerous inequalities in the road, which de-
manded a slackening of the horses speed, and
great skill and caution in the driver; at least
this was supposed to be the case, from the
fact that Frank Gale always drew up the
rens, and moderated the cattIe's pace just at
this point. His eyes, meanwhile, instead Ct
being fixed on their steps wandered indus
trlously to the little bean shaded window,
and the laughing, rosy lips behind. This
morning the lips were not there but pres
emily the little body herself skipped from the
door, and waved her handkerchief for Frank
to stop He obeyed Immediately. and Lizzy,
rising on tiptoe oh what little tipto, those
were , extended to him a small package.
"W Will you please leave this bundle al Mrs.
Wainwright's in Court ST.? have forgot
ten the number but you will find her sign on
the door-she is a dress maker. Here is the
ninepence for you"
None of your nnepences for me,' said
Frank good humoredly, receiving the bundle
but dropping the coin ;"I charge nothing for
serving an Old friend"
"But I cannot claim your services on that
score," replied Lizzy
AT least call me such whenever can be
of use to you," said Frank, eagerly.
"Oh! you are too good" Lizzy cried
laughing. How many such old friends
have you to serve? You will find many ca
ger enough to be your friends in that way"
| But zoe have made friendship through
those little sly windows. Isn't it so ?"
."I shall draw the curtains in future.'
What to pay me for carrying your bun
dies No, sit there every day, as you have
done before, and sometimes look up with a
smile when pass. 1t will make my days
ride twenty miles shorter" "
Well, will" said Lizzy gaily and then
skipping back into the house, left Frank, with
a light heart to pursue his way.
From this time numerous little packages
were sent to and fro ; and very often bunch
of autumn flowers, golden peach, large
red apple, or fine cluster of grapes, was
found lying on the grassp plat under Lzzy's
window just after the mail coach had passed.
But cool November days were coming. The
frost had laid its destructive hand upon the
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