The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-06-26
A Boys FancIes.


While yet boy Of ten years old, it
was sore puzzle which we should be,
farmer, store-keeper or stage-driver. The
last honorable business had the prefer
ence in our mind. Yet there were days
when the other named pursuits strongly
urged their attractions. We reflected,
that if farmer, we should not have to
drive the cows to and from pastures, but
should have a boy to do it for US; we
should have men to work under US, and
not, as then, be ourself obliged to work
under them. We could rest when we
pleased, and no one could scold us. In
shart the attractions Of a farming life
were manifold.
But, however attractive, we never re-
turned from an errand down town with
out feeling our preferences shaken. A
store was to our young eyes a mystery of
sights and sweets! All, to be store
keeper, put my fingers whenever pleas
ed into the candy jar, or peppermint
drawer to eat raisins or figs every day!
Ito go behind the counter whenever /
chose, and to open drawers, and to look
under the counter, which was always a
place of imaginary treasures! Besides
but this was a secret and envious
thought might, by using pomatum,
and by diligence with brush and glass,
become as smooth and pretty as that
dashing clerk, Jim Velyettop! All, if
my brown face and fat checks only would
look as handsome as his smooth face
But of that despaired every time I
| looked into the little glass that served
purposes of humility in my little bed
room. Yes, merchant | would be.
But one ripping blasto of the stage horn
put all these fancies to an utter route.
There came the stage-the great red
stage-full Of passengers baggage be-
hind. and piled on top; Hiram Barnes
in the drivers seat; corduroy brooches
on, low crowned jaunty hat : in one
hand the four reins, and In the other the
whip, whose long lash was perfectly en-
chanting to my boyhood, always except.
ing the occasion when it was swung
around to give sscut behind" But, O.
! that 6ual dash of the team! Every
horse had saved up little steam, and on
coming round the corner, the pace which
had been sparkling before, burst into a
royal run, rounding up before the tavern
in style that captivated every boy Of
the least spirit. No-others might be
farmers and merchants, but our MUD
was made up, and stage driver we
would be Nor was the charm lost,
when, on going towards home, we passed
Mr.. Parker's stage barns, and saw the
smoking horses under Ulysses Freeman's
hands (Cato and Candace were his pa
rents), while driver Hiram summed him.
self with all the superb airs of dandy
of the barn yard It was too much it
was too much Why were some men
born to luck, and others to lucklcss seclu-
sion? Here were these happy fellows
living among horses, driving whenever
they pleased-the admiration of all the
boys in town; while I, shut up in the
door yard, only let out to drive the COWS,
run of errands, or-saddest of ALTO go
to school-seemed doomed to spiritless
life !!
| Yet, it is not to be supposed, young as
| mo xr,oyn that x,r, rool1xy hol;oval 4ho% a
stage driver was the happiest mortal
alive. We had enough discernmcnt to
know that military captain, in all his
brightest esregimentals," was higher
and happier being than even stage.
driver. But such position we never
dared covet in the most unreasonable
imaginative hour. We should as soon
have aspired to be star. It was toe
much to look upon! And when we had
once seen Captain Cuel in his glorious
apparel, he from that hour become be.
ing apart from all humanity. It is true
that he came to meeting like tho rest ol
the town people, and that he drove ar
OK sled in Winter, and farmers wagor
in summer-but now his old straw hat
nor his brown tow dress, could so disguise
/ him, that we did not see blazing through
| their disguise, the remembered glory q
his captains suit
Well, We witnessed pretty much ever,
| youthful aspiration. We did not learl
q farming we-iailed 70 own store y,
missed stage driver's seat, and of cours,