St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-11-15
Taking it Coolly.

he story of Harrison GRAY Otis and
the tIdngman l. thus related:
Otis WAS travelling in the State of Con
nccticut. 1t WAS before railroad cars
had begun to break mems bones ON
sundays. lie had IN important cause
to argue in Boston on Monday. and
having been detained in New York um-
til Saturday. he left that city III his gig.
rode "m till late Saturday night. when
he put up at Il New England village
inn. and resumed his journey SUNDAY
morning. He had rode but IL few steps
from the tavern before Il grave person.
age. known IL Il 'tidimg man. stepped
up. took his horse 10y the head. and
rn"lly informed Mr.. Otis that he WAS
arrested for travelling on the Sabbath.
and must proceed with him tu the Jail I,
Mr. otis replied
.'Sir. respect the dry and the law ::
hut shall hr obliged tn break ynu
head H. we'll a> the Sabbath. if YOU do
not let me quietly =" Oh my way
But the officer WAS not I" Ice hlutfcd
of IN this manner. He said he knew
his duty and should do it. Nh. otis
then drew out from his portmantcau Il
Volume which the official recognized a.
the statutes of the State. and remarked
very hlandly.
"Wcll my friend, it won't dn any
hunt to look at the law Il little.
'Ol no" said the tiding man. ''luu
will find it all there.
Nh. otis read aloud. If ANY person
shall Ice guilty of Sabbath break ne. aS
aforesaid. il shall hc lawful i"r the It'd
Ing man t" arrest and stop him: :" aud
then he added. THE law Is against me.
must submit.
'Wcll. them. rci"imcd the tidimg
man. 'N"u must make mp N"ur mind To
quarter III the lork-up till t"-mnrrnw ::
50. # ~" please. "" Will rid" back to
g"tlrr.
"Oh no." rcturtcd Oti>. that will
never do. don't intend that you shall
ride back. or anywhere else with me.
to-day. The Statute reads. mind y"u.
that luu shall arrest and stop: that ;
all. lou can stop me ;I> long a. You
please but that is the extent of your
power. The law SAYS nothing at all
about l"u carry ing me oil t" the lock
mp. non OF l"uI riding in my %ig on the
Sabbath either.
1t WIS Il vcIl stormy day. The poor
llulnH- man Ni> aIltiu\ com IIltltlN
drrmchrd: and the prospect of standing
10y the gig all day and night in Il muddy
road. Wa> 10y no means either pleasant
or compatible with the dignity of his
office.
Nh. otis again repeated with entire
comp">ulc. Il still wish You to cuu>id
cr. Sir. that ! ann y"ur prisoner t"r ;"
reads the law: nothing more. l"u can
90 ach if You please. but | intend l."
stop where | am.
:" saving. the old lawyer drew his
cloak around him. and made prrpara
tinlr> t"I Il quiet >m""zc till Monday
m"Ining. if the tidim%-man maintained
his watch until thai tar-di>tant day.
The poor fellow looked ;r> blue ~ imdi-
90. and really felt quite ~ umc"mt"lta-
bile H. Il Young go>lin" in Il shower. He
gLLcd Il moment Or two on the CompO>-
eel expression of the sheltered and com
placcnt lawyer. and without saNing a
word. fur his feelings were too hi" for
uttcrlncc he rclnqui>hcd his prey.
and went home to mediate um the uIys-
tcric> of the law and the palmer pre-
ccptS of the gospel.
Mr.. otis fingered Just long enough Ia
permit the officer to get fairly around
tine ccrnrr. and then proceeded on his
Journey.