The Republican journal., 1874-08-13

the sleigh and scattering its fragments in
every direction. Mr.. A. fortunately re-
tanned possession OF the reins; an excited
crowd gathered about the wreck; he was
the only one who was cool and collected.
"Well," said he, addressing the horse
you've done it now, haven't YOU? Do
you know what I'll do with you1 I'll send
you back to Miramichi.n
Although not Il man Of quiet tcmpera-
ment he possessed a large fund Of quiet
humor; many amusing anecdotes are re-
membered of him in this connection one
must suffice. A dancing school was an
unknown institution here until several
years after the commencement of this
century. The first one was kept by Il
teacher who came here from Peterboro'
N. H. ; the second and third teachers came
from the same place. it seemed as if
Peterboro' was destined to be the source
from which all our dancing-masters for
successive generations were to be derived.
When the first elephant ever here was eX-
mblted her keeper was accustomed to put
her through clumsy performance which
ne called dancing. He was engaged in
Ihal performance when Mr.. A. went in to
look At her what is she doing g. he
asked bystandcr. ''Dancing,n was the
reply. dancing, is it," said he. 80, |
see; come from Pcterboro', didn't she ("
III was not unusual with him to assume
an ar OF harshness which was altogethef
amer 10 his nature He contracted one
Iall win man to manufacture for him u
lol OF shingles OF certain quality and di-
lnenSionS Tor special purpose and paid
| Tor them in advance The day came and
passed when by the terms of the contract
me shingles were 10 be delivered at his
store Several weeks afterwards the man
made ms appearance but without the
shingles. Mr.. A. began 10 upbraid him
IN the severeSt language for dishonesty in
not fnlflllmg his contract. esquire" said
the man rs soon rs he found Il chance To
put in word, II didn't mean Ia cheat
yon; III show yon why | havn't made
your shingles and began taking off
bandage after bandage from his right
hand until ii was fully exposed, irarlully
swollen, the flesh nearly gone from the
thumb-the bare bone sticking ont-a
most ptiable sght."- ~" eXclaimcd
Nh A. ; ''d-n the slinglcSt Harry, call
NC to.hlS clerk, "pnt up twenty pounds Of
pork for this man" F'Hut, Squire, can't
pay '--'pul him up twenty pounds
OF flour, Harry" ''But. Squire -" Mr.
A. took another lool, Al the swollen hand.
the tleshless thumb Fifty pounds, IIar-
~, and two gallons of molasseS, pound
OF Tea "But Squire, I'll never be able
- and the poor unfortunate fairly broke
down, tears streaming from his eyes. while
MIR. A, his own eyes fast filing, rushed for
the door screaming "liarry fiji his pnng
up with anything he wants. pausing 4
moment at The threshold, $50 over to the
house and tell 'em to give you some dim
ncr while Harry's putting up Your things
D-n the shingles, Don't say single 10
me till your thumb gets we'll
Is not the heart of the reader Of the
foregoing narrative, briefly and imperfect
ly told, prompted to adopt the language
of Stelne in his Tristram shandy , The
accusing spirit, which flew up to heaven
chancery with the oath, blushed as he
gave ii in; and the recording angel, as he
wrote il down, dropped 4 tear upon the
word and blottcd it out for ever
Hamilton, the man who hunted all day
ior the blllc con-, was himself somewhat
OF al original, but is particularly rcmem-
hered tor the involuntary ride he tool, one
evening lie had contracted the very bad
habit of adjusting all domestic difficulties
by beating his wife. Some of our villagers
who were unwilling to bide the law, de
lay constituted themselves court aud inrv
and brought in a verdict that the next
time Hamilton gave his wife beating he
should have \ rough ride They had not
long to wait; the shrieks Of the poor wo-
man gave notice 4 few evenings after
wards that he was at his devils-work. lIe
was thereupon seized, placed astride a
split cedar rail taken from fence near
by, and treated with free but rather
rough ride through the principal streets
in the village and back to the starting
point. The rail was found the next morn
ing in conspicuous place near his house
with card nailed to it bearing the follow
ing inscription:
"Hamiltons horse is long ana thin
When he beats his wife he'll ride him lsin.
1t proved to be his last experience In
'ridng on the rail"