Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-02-23

our tastes did not all lie in the same di.
rection. Jack Stirrup is Cor rather was
at that period) riding and hunting
man, and was not unfrequently to be
seen in Newmarket; Stretcher, 90 the
other hand, loved boating, and prefer
red the sight Of well-developed biceps
to that of the best bred hunter, aud
would often remark to Jack, chow on
earth you can say that yoa would rather
see the Two thousand than the 'Time-
race in the 'Colquhoun Sculls,' | eau
not for the life of NE make out" Ed
wards was a poet and reading man, but
whose wit and talents rendered him d.
universal favorite, while Davies was Il
rich, open handed, good hearted fellow
as ever lived. For my own part do
not think l had any well defined p'ecul-
iarity, but did little OF everything. l
read little, rowed little, hunted a
little, had fair income-in short, if |
had any characteristic at all, it was IL
love OF laziness and practical jokes.
We congratulated ourselves in getting
a carriage to ourselves with the excep-
tion of the old gentleman have named J
for we intended to keep out the cold,
and bes suile ourselves with sundry pipes
and cigars We had our cases out and
were preparing to light up as a matter
of course, when we were astonished by
my ais a-ris dashing away the newspa-
per which had hidden his face
30 object to smoking? Yes, sir,
[ do object. I object very strongly,
sir and beg that you will instantly re-
place your cigars in your pockets in
sist Gu having no smoking in this car
riage ~
We looked aghast at this sudden burst
Of old gentlemaniy wrath
"Might ask if you intend travelling
far on this line sir?' inquired Edwards
in his conically polite tone.
"What is that to you, sir What
business is it of yours where am going
to ?''
Il merely wished to suggest, in case
nf your travelling far, that, pleasing and
delightful as it would be for US to enjoy
your agreeable society, yet, nevertheless
we should try to bear the loss should
you prefer to change carriages at the
ueXt station"
mo doubt you would wish to get rid
Of me; but no, sir ! do not move my
seat, and the first one that smokes | re-
port to the guard "
''in that case fear we shall be oblig-
cd, painful though it be, to tear our
selves away" / said, as we drew up at a
small station.
Fortunately, We found the next COM
partnent empty, and as we started again
we pulled out cigar, cases, this time to
light their contents
The old boy has certainly got oCt Of
bed the wrong side this morning" said
| putting away.
Cor has made a u.istake in his bet
ting book" remarked my sporting
friend
We'll give him benefit now, at
any rate; | vote we take it in turns to
puff smoke through the lamp hole. Lets
lock at him; ah cooled down little,
is about to compose himself to sleep.
Ill trouble you for his nightcap; come
and look at it Fred
| did SO, and roared Gu seeing a red,
woven cap Of conical shape, which
added very considerably to the irascity
of the wearer's features
With perseverance which deserved a
better cause, we each made a tube Of
paper, and putting the end through the
lamp hole, took our turn at smoking
him out;' and blush as | now think
how heartily we enjoyed the onraged
state IN which he paced up and down
the empty carriage, like Gagged tiger.
The next time we stopped, however,
the guard put his head into our carriage
window, and said with a wink:
"Gentlm in next compartment COM
plains of your smoking, SIR
"'3moking - we exclaimed with mock
indignation. "i.o we look as though
we'd been smoking? What ncnsense."
and added in a mysterious manner,
You see there's one vacant seat; of
course we're not going to tell tales of
the man who occupied that"
"All right" said the guard, laugh
ing, Il wasn't born yesterday" And
after slightly confidential transaction,
Of a pecuniary nature, left us i'll peace
The snow, which had been falling
heavily all day now lay thick all round.
Our eyes ached again, as We looked out
Of the window (Which was itself frosted
over) on to the dazzling snow which
covered all the landscape; and as we
stamped cur feet on the floor Of the
carriage we began heartily to wish our
selves at our journeys end, aud by the
freside
); X :: =
"Hallo . what are we stopping for
now ? | wonder whether We re going
to do an upset, or anything exciting OF
that kind" said Davies, looking out of
the window. 81 don't see train any
where that we can have friendly col
lision with
Get out here, gentlemen said the
guard. passing the window "the line
is showed up and We shall have to wait
till it clear
The grutnbling which this pleasant
announcement caused was Immediately
stopped by our hearing the voice OF our
disagreeable companion in the next COM
partment.