The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-09-27
SELECTIONS FROM
vacations i'm the Woods. -
BY w. A. GOODWIN.
THE STAGE DRIVER,


and for pair OF thick buckskin gloves.
He asked if this was Mr.. Allston, and being
assured on this point, introduced, himself as
Mr.. Sykes, better known as Dave Sykes, and
stated that he had been commissioned by
Ben Human 20 take him in charge, give him
the best seat and set him down safely in
Norhtown, in default of any of which, the
said Ben had promised him an "awful lick
ing"
Fright round this way gentlemen-Pl
take your baggage. Give me your bandbox.
madam" and hands seemed to come out ali
over him, be took SO many things at once
and managed them so deflly in spite OF the
gloves. He had an open wagon with three
seats and pair of as handsome horses as
you would wish to see.
Mr.. Aston and the boys took the middle
seat, the aforesaid madam and a man the
binder seat, and u very cOmely damsel who
had waited till the last Notwithstanding a
cordial invitation to occupy the hinder seat
and polite offer from Frank of his place,
chose TO accept Mr.. Sykes proposal that she
should sit with him, as she sad it would
kind O'balance, which did duty as reason.
though, :nasmuch as she was about Franks
weight, it was not strictly logical, unless she
meant that it would balance her incinations
and here l may as well remark that have
heard i stated, on good authority, that Dave
Syke was never seen 20 drive up or down
there was not one on the seat with him, eX-
cept once, and that was the first time be
drove after having the small pox, when there
was solitary old woman on the back seat
He set off now with a sbiill Shrek, a very
good imitation of a steam whistle, which
seem to put the very old Nick into the horses,
and away they went over an excellent road
along table land with the river and broad
rich lntervaies on one hand, and a range of
mountainous hills on the other, past farm
houses, through fiocks OF Kissing geese, up
hill and down dale, the first dash being full
fast enough and far enough for warm morn
ing in July. But Dave said they would 90
and knew better than he did when they had
had enough of it; and so they went on
rapidly and pleasantly for two hours, when
turn ct the road around point of woods re-
vealed village close at hand.
BEN HINMAN
There is Northtown," said Mr.. Allston to
The boys, as much excited as they were, sand
now hurrah for Ben Human and Howeps
Pond;' and as they whired through the
street and up to the old fashioned tavern,
Dave gave one Of his most unearthIy shrieks
TO let the whole region in general, and Ben
Human in particular, know that that train
at least had got in all right and on time.
But Ben wanted no special intimaticn 10 that
effect, having been waiting for the last half
hour; and there he was as large as life, con-
siderably larger indeed than Mr.. Allston had
ever seen him. He came forward with
good deal of natural grace, welcomed Mr..
Allston, saying he would have known him
anywhere, shook hands with the boys and
then gathered up their valises and told them
he had made all arrangements for them at
5 home, and that they must 60 with him, He
was little shy at first, but had straight
forward, convincing way in all he said or did,
which was very winning ana would not
take no for answer. He nodded to the land
lord who looked resignedly at this infringe
ment of his rights. ''All right, Squire"
said he, this is nv meat and 1 guess we'll
stop to The Human House. You see, Mr..
Allston, I've got things all fixed for YOU at
home; dinner will be ready by the time we
get there, and we can talk things over better
there than we can anywhere else, and the
boys will have better chance to kind o. Law
round than they would down here, so if you
are all ready we'll be gong.''
Meanwhile Frank and Eddie had been
watching him with the greatest interest. He
was over six feet high and stout in propor-
ton. with very pleasant sunburnt face, light
curly hair, blue eyes, wide mouth full of
great strong looking teeth, and smile as
pleasant and laugh as hearty as ever
gladdened mans soul, whether his own or
anybody's else, and as he led off with their
father, the boys followed and compared
notes.
"By Jove! Ed-sn't he perfect sumner?
l guess he knows he looks better in that red
shirt than he would in anything else:" and
there Frank hit it, for Ben was Just saving
that his wife wanted him to rig up a little,
"but," said be, 81 told her l was going into
the woods with Mr.. Allston, and didn't
want to disguise myself to any man that
had any respect for"
His gait was magnificent, sort of lone,
one foot straight before The other, coming up
with springy promptness which promised
wonderful speed and endurance in case of
need.
HOW BEN GOT HIS WIFE
You remember Be sey Beach twenty years
ago. There want smarter girl nor a better
hearted girl in the State; right on her taps.
always ready tor good time, and so kind
oelever to everybody that twas hard telling
who bad the inside ring. or, fact, whether
there was any inside 10 it
Slah Evans down to the Hollow where she
lived, thought he d got camped Oh her tract,
and the fellows round there rather stepped
back and give him his swing. He was big.
stout, dark Completed fellow, as ugly as sin
and wickedness, when be bad mind to be.
and they all got afraid of him. Soon after
we got through on the survey, bought
little piece OF land With the start of house
on 1t TO be continued. as the story tellers saw,
where live now. and made my mind that
when Betsey Beach was ready to move in she
could come right along, and till that time
come, IT it was thousand year. her place
should be kept tor all ONE; so borrowed
sister Jane OF mother who knew all about it,
and kept every thing along first-rate.
Betsey knew how it was well enough. I'd
said everything that any body could say
'thout coming right square out, and that I
could mt hardly make up my mind to do. 1t
always seemed too much like beavin' myself
I'D neF race. shed set and not understand
me. and say why Ben,' and look down list as
innocent as could be while was talking all
ROUND her and making regular lummax of
myself, till l couldn't tell whether I was
afoot or horseback
We used to have all sorts of applet and
husking parties and quilting scrapes, and
every two weeks, singing school, and every
other week, dancing. school, and SO 1 used
to see her often enough, but mos. everything
was down to the Hollow and there was Slab
Evans always on hand as keen as
brlar, and he always fixed it SOS to 90 home
with her. She hadn't no special call to ask
me and didn't seem to make out to ask her.
and SO he did the most OF the going home,
but old Mr. Beach was down on him and he
didn't get into the house ne'er time.
There wouldn't anybody say l was 'fraid
OF Slah Evans, but was most plaguey 'frad
OF Betsey Beach and she knew it,
just ABOUT thls time got letter from you
saying you was going on 10 the West Branch
line pretty soon and offering me chance
wanted to 60 the worst kind but / hadn't
darst to and when 1 wrote you that was
going and couldn't go, I told you the first
and last thing that wasn't on the square. and
was sorry then and Pm sorry now, and am
glad of the chance to set it right and tell YOU
was all up in fluster and hadn't darst TO
60 away, and about then was the hardest
time 1 ever had in my life, boys, ana SO
that's my story about it.
COB, don't stop now, tell us all about it.''
eyes, Ben," said Mr.. Aston, 81 think you
ought 10 60 on and let us know how you got
out ofyour troubles"
''Well, don't mind telling of it. 1 picked
up pretty rapid come to get to going, and
here's how it was:
There was going to be ball down to the
Hollow, and l and Jane went down together.
There was lot from Northtown and good
nany from down river, besides all of the Hol
low soiks. got dance out of Betsy along
ire nrss OF the evening. Just as we went on
70 Ine moor, Slab Evans took out Jane for
pai'ner ~ me next set to us, and as we came
ID.