Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-01
Tn OVERLAND STAGE LINx.-The Prori-
nee Journal has correspondent who has
d the journey across the Western Plains,
= das,rihoa q rort,op Of his trim as .li,tW-.

self The frst night attempted tn sleep
on the middle seat, and as that %as less than
four FEET long by ten inches WIDE, 1t did not
a ford a very luxurious couch. found NY
self continually splitting over the edge but
managed at last TO get into an uncomfortable
dose. just then the infant commenced a
tattoo on the back OF my head with PAIR OF
shoes. | changed end Tor end,
and thus brought my shoulder blades 10 con-
tact with the old lady'- knees. which were
certainly az POINTED as the human anatomy
is capable Of At every lurch of the coach |
was threatened with instant precipitation
like a chemical salt Besides, the wagon
and thew did not emit the most delicious
odors. In fact they smelt like kitchen
chimney when some very unwholesome cook
ing had been done. Fortunately. | couldn't
sleep, as | h. We no doubt nightmare com
posed Of small shoes and bad cookery would
have settled upon me
At Fort KearDey the unsllOyed delights OF
our journey fairly cyan. There we took up
an Irish woman with a sick boy. The mother
had that peculiar feminine Irish odOr, "a
though she had been dipped in cold soup and
had sopred IN drying. 4 penetrating Odor
that will not be shut out, and that, like jea-
lousy, grows by what it feeds on But
the boy Everything else faded into insight
fcance before his all-rervading presence.
He permeated the entire coach. and perhaps
several yards around it. Cold soup became
bearablr, and the wagon-naster' boots were
into quite delicious bouquet.
Our coach became a trav cling hospital, sad
~ IN need Of the efforts Of the Sanitary Com
mission
For the nourishment Of the sick boy bot
tie OF milk WAS carried along. This bad one
OF those obstinate corks thar are never tight
when they are In, and will never come out
without a struggle. Unfortunately, the in
valid Was always in need of sustenance at
the toughest part OF the road. Then the
cork had to be picked out with a pen-kniie
Sumo of the milk was stopped into tumbler
and some spilled ON the clothes of the pas
sengers, and the infant was fed under diff
culties The bottle was replaced behind the
mother, and in the numerous jOltings of the
coach was capsised, covering the whole tor
ward seat with a milky way. No more milk
could be obtained for twenty miles, and the
infant, although Just fed, with the perversi-
" OF illness, screeched icariully at the loss
OF mis- COW.
During the days, which were warm and
pleasant, We could enjoy free circulation of
pure and invigorating air. But the nights
were cold, and with closed curtains we stTug-
gled with our fate. At wsyside stations.
benighted travellers, anxious for a lift,
would apply for admission
" Any room INSIDE p
Yes, sir, plenty Step right in, sir
Middle seat right by the window"
Said window beng on the windward side
close shut, to keep out the night air.
Scarcely seated, the bewildered traveller
looks about him in apparent dismav. Has
be made mistake, or is this really one OF
the coaches OF the Overland Stage Line?
Are the people about hin wholesome travel
ling companions, or are they recently releas-
ed from the Andersonville pen? lie won
der II the WirE trial has ended in his &C
4uIttai, snd 1t b, is On the box. Aud be
4ueri,s mentally ii the whole load i,n't
pretty near tic dead line. Cautiously DO,
lowers the window on his sid, OF the coac.
and draws long breath.
- Ii you please, cir, asks tle l,I, 1H Jue /
back seat. - won't YOU raise That window ? /
The night air Is too cold for my child, who
Is i'll.
Up goes the window with a bang, and /
The unfortunate settles INTO his seat with a /
,rOan. Presently he lowers it again for an /
nch or two, and his eager nOse may be seen /
projected above the sash, and sharply dehn- I
ID against the night sky. Al length be can /
Desr 1t no longer. and suddenly lowering the 1
sIndow, he calls out, - say, driver. III /
-Ide outside IT You please" lie isn't used 1
10 1t as we are Other wayiarers take his /
place from time to time, and speedily follow
lis example.
At Junction House We receiSed an add
lon To our company, IN the shape OF an old
zen tleman and rife. He took the ire
luently vacated seat ana looked about him
With the usual wonder and dismay, and I'D
,e;od neryously with bis rifle, contriying
omehow TO point at each OF US successfully. |
IS n he were desIrOus Of shooting something. /
it last be brought it to bear ON the lady be-
ma him
- Is that gun loaded, sir?''
" Yes. ma am, but You needn't be aleaId /
II 1t, 'twon't 20 off,
=. Nth. Id little rather you'd point ir /
ONE other way
Change of position on the part Of the rifle,
which the owner promised 10 discharge at
he fri stopping place. Meantime he has
-wertd the window twenty times in half an
hour, and raised 1t again al the remOnstrance
i the lady On the back seat lie is lust
bout to follow the example OF his predeces-
Ors, when rain begins to tall. and shuts HIM
" Madam turning TO the Irishwoman.
hadn't you better lay that child on the |
eat, and sit here in the middle
We await the answer with breathless anx-
ETY., Tor we know what it Is to have that
bid stirred w.
g No sir. he won't lie still except on my
up"
Thank God for that degree OF infantinc
'eryersity. The old gentleman, who is evil
emily bachelor, commences a lecture on
he proper training of children, when he
happens to recollect that his saddle bags are
xposed to the weather. He Tugs in an enor-
nous pair from the roof of the coach, that
ook AZ If they might have afforded a safe
lace OF retreat during the deluse. These
re continually slipping down ON the sick
bids feet and eiIciting sharp yells of agony.
presume you have no horse, sir, =
uietly remark.
- No cir, have no horse" answers the
10 gentleman somewhat lrritably. - What
lade you think OF it ?"
'.Oh, 1t only occurred to me that if YOU
ad one, you'd want him inside
wrathiul glance from me To the saddle
Ags and back again sufhces to vent his in
ignatlon, and he regaies himself with a
luff Of fresh air over the top OF the window
"a under protest from tue Lady on ,nc
LEX s,as.
Denver, at last and We ar, released l.slu
lr larar house. Taking me- quietly asil,.
re old gentleman looks intentlS in nv tee.
aye particular attention to NY nose, All
ks anxiously:
- Have you any such things about YOU as
factory nerves? Have you any sense OF
nell?''
- | bad when LETT Kearney, but the last
lree days and nights hsv, 9Uut obhterated
-
. Three days and nights, you needn't
I've your lite insured. You'll never die -
I'd he walks away with a dignihed AIR a. if
: had been conversing with one OF tie i'm
ortals
>ra \