Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-24
The Toll-Bar.

as the turnpike, althOugh IL Is an H.
stitution that is passing away from
many districts, and in London (save
at the bridges) has altogether disap-
peared. According (if we remember
aright) to Mr.. Samuel Weller, a turn
pike-man was, or should have been,
a misanthrope, living in solitude, and
taking delight on wet and snowy
days, in seeing the passengers through
his bar disengage themselves from
their warm wraps and tumble in their
pockets with numbed hands for the
ticket or the money. Certainly, many
toll-gates were placed in lonely spots
enough, and apparently as far from
other human habitations as possible !;
and such a one was the Afford Gate,
on the Great North Road and near
the Border. 1t was near nothing
else: placed in the centre of a bleak
and treeless moor, and visible on
both sides for miles to the occupant
of the box-seat as the coach came
spanking along with its four bays, or
to the poStboys, as they spurred their
horses to the gallop, for the occupants
of the chaise behind them were often
in a hurry in that locality, it being
but a stage or two from Gretna Green.
Except for such Swift-pass-company
as these, the turnpike saw few visit
ors; and in winter-time, even on such
a highway, the traffic dwindled down
to small proportions, and sometimes
when the snow was deep, even ceased
for a day or two, so far as wheels
were concerned, altogether But still
the horn would be heard sounding
cheeri!y over the white waste o.
snow, and the guard Of the mail, il
his scarlet coat, would 90 riding by
with the letter-bagS as quickly as the
"balling" snow would permit him
The coach had been obliged to stoT
at the waysidc inn on the other side
of the moor, even less fortunate, was
with its three remaining horses, stucE
fast upon the road.
In such seasons the Afford Gate
would be lonesome indeed, and thC
two ancient women who kept it (fol
there was no NAM, found their posi-
tion anything but agreeable. The!
had, it is true, a good store Of provi
sions always laid up against such oc
casions, and plenty of money accrued
to them at the same period, for the,
could not 90 to the country town tC
lodge it in the bank. This last cir
cumstance was a source of well-found
ed apprehension to them. Mrs. Ali
son, the widow of the late toll-keeper
and who had at his decease succeeded
to "the trust" and her sister, Ellel
Bates, were both somewhat ancien
danes, and Of course could not hav,
defended their little mansion agains
the attacks of even q single robber
while their nearest protector, JacoI
Wright, the blacksmith, dwelt at leas
two miles away across the moor
Often and often had he and his wife
over a dish of tea at the toll-gate
sympathized with these good ladie
and done their best to comfort then
after their several fashions-the wife
by acknowledging the reasonablenes
Of their apprehension, and dwellin.
upon its social points of hOrror-th
murder of both hostesses, for il
stance, that would probably preced
the spoliation of their dwelling, tn
husband, by treating their fears a
chimerical, and even demonstrating
to them how all risk of loss Nigh
be avoided by entrusting what none
they took in the house by day to tn
guard of the evening mail for deposi
at Wellborough, the nearest countr
town.
On a certain afternoon in earl
winter, when Mr.. and Mrs. Wrigh
were thus partaking of the hospital
ity of the sisters, the conversation
had especially run in this particula
groove; the snow, although not deeF
had already fallen in sufficient quar-
titles to keep from travelling all VIII
were not compelled to do so by nj
cessity, and the two poor women fel
that their lonesome season had sc
in, and were depressed in spirits az
cordingly. There was good dea
of money in the old tin case, whic
was their strong box, for the cold an
searching winds that had lately swep
the moor had kept both the goo
ladies from going into Wellborougl
and they now bewailed this accumI
lation of wealth-wealth, howevel
which was not their own, of course
but that of the turnpike trust-a
likely to prove their destruction
Some Unlocking fellows had slouche
by the gate that very morning, an
one of them, under pretence of wan
ing glass of water, had made hi
way into their little dwelling.
"Then send on the money, as
have advised you fifty times before
quoth honest Jacob. ''by the ne2
coach, and then you will be easy
your mind"
"Ay, ay," said Mrs. Alison in he
quavering voice, "that is all very we
,r if one could persuade wicked peopl
d that this had been done. But whe
/ robbers are disappointed of boot
}; they are more bloodily inclined tha
d at any other time"
e "And of course" observed Ellie
Bates, 1--WE had much rather lose OIL
IS money-and especially the commi
sioner8; money-than our lives"
eyes, indeed" assented the wei
meaning Mrs. Wright, "though it
}, not even losing ones life which ma
be the worst of it, for did you NJ
al al read in the newspaper only last Wi
- ter that some men with masks broE
+ into lonely dollhouse, just such ;
: fbio ,oirht too opJ ynut tho noOr tol