Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-02-02
A January Stage Ride--An Affecting In
cident

A correspondent of the ST. Louis Democrat
gives his experience In trip by stage from Sc
dalia to Springfield, Mo during the recent cold
term. Tho distance is 100 miles and the ordi
nary time thirty six hours. The trip occupied
fifty hours. When the coach left Sedalia the
thermometer stood at fourteen degrees below
zero. The suferings Of passengers, drivers, and
animals were intense. We extract single Incl.
dent of the trips
At the different houses where We stopped. and
We stopped at nearly every one on the road, the
inmates, men, women and children, were huddled
around the chimney corner discussing only one
thing-Ihe cold. The second night out was
equally as cold as the first, and the first was as
cold as charity. My companions in the cold re-
manned with me until s o'clock of the second
night-so the driver told me; for, when awoke
OF 10 O'Clock from cold doze, into which had
fallen shout P. NJ, found them gone. was
not long alone, however, when the stage halted
at house about nineteen miles from Bolivar,
where lady and child took passage for the lat.
ter place.
She was plainly but comfortably clad, and in
conversation | found her possessed of no iaeau
intellect. She had received word that her hus-
band, who is in the army, was dangerously i'll
at Bolivar, aud thither she was going Every
few miles we stopped to warm, and at each place,
until within about Eve miles Of her destination,
the mother took the babe, an infant Of fifteen
months, into the different houses. 1t was nearly
four O'Clock in the morning, and we were within
Eve miles Of Bolivar, when the stage drew up at
o rude cabin, where the driver informed us we
could get warm, and that he would not halt
again before reaching town.
got out and assisted the lady to alight, when
We entered the dOmicil. noticed that she was
not carrying the child aud asked her where it
was, al haVO wrapped il up and laid ii on the
seat, as WAS afraid it the wind blew on it II
might catch col l." was her reply. told her she
had better bring IL in, as il would certainly
freeze. She said, mo, it is warm and will
sleep" We remained in the house half an hour
and re-eniered the stage. The baby was still
laying on the seat, aud the mother, after she
picked him up, remarked, ale is asleep yet"
Not whimper, not cry proceeded from that
child during the remainder Of the trip. The
wind moaned piteously. Closely tho mother
nestled her babe to her bosom, We reached
O., Bolivar before it was yet day, cold, chilled al
most beyond the endurance Of nature. | went
into the tavern, accompanied by mother AMI
child. Walking up the lane, the mother said to
me, "Dd you ever see such good baby-he
hasn't cried Tonight" II was half an hour be-
fore the IRE was made, no one being out Of bed
when we went in.
You have often ssen--rsrhsps you have been
party to 1t yourself-persons on cold day, on
entering room, coDgregate aud remain around
a stove where there was no ERE, and, as is usual
in such cases, always the coolest place in the
room. So it was with us we drew a chair to
the cold fireplace and awaited the kidding, which
in time followed. The FIRE was lighted, aud soon
gave out its grateful Offering Of heat. The child
remained wrapped upi it was quiet His mother
repeated, "He is asleep yet" He was asleep
-"he Is asleep ysG"-that child was frozen to
death, and, in this world, "he lie asleep yeti
Death spared him the colds of earth-he was fro
zen into Paradise.