Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01
The Story of California Stage Driver.

The stage changes horses every Is miles
or so; 60 miles out, and we got new
driver. These stage drivers are usually
study. tried for 10 miles to get some
thing besides yes or no out of my first driver.
He was splendid looking fellow, with
head that very few congressman might not
envy, and used the choicest language in
what little he said. | knew there was some.
thing behind, but couldn't get at it. My
second driver was communicative, and |
learned from him that Mr.. A. was once very
wealthy, the sole owner Of u stage line, and
had a proud, handsome and aristocratlc wife.
Moving in the fashionable circles, Mr.. A.
became enamored of the wine cup, and soon
reverse succeeded reverse. Mrs. A. knew
nothing of poverty and work, obtained a di-
vorce, keeping all the children with her but
the eldest, a lovely girl about Il, who chung
to her father. But shall go no further.
You know the rest-the old, sad story But
Mr.. b. was another man, posted me up on
the country, occasionally assuring me that
| would never settle East, even it | went
back for season. | sung for him some col
lege songs, and after while happened to
hum "MoIlie Darling" | had struck a
tender chord. lie opened his heart to me-
Told me that she had sung that to him first,
"and oh sir" said he, in a tone beside which
the words were tame indeed. ooh! sir, |
thought it was beautiful" He told me that
he had been married something over a year
that she was only II The must be nearly
4O)-that she was from the city, aud her
parents told her that they had rather hear
| that she was dead than married to n stage
driver. He told me how he loved her, and
how she loved him, what she had sacrificed
for him. 81 was wild boy, he said Every
wicked, have been roughiug it on the from
tier good many years, used to drink, and f,
worse, swear on the road, but sho
never heard me say bad word. Hadn't
been in n meetin'- house for years, but | 60
with her now every Sunday. I'm a.tryin'
to be better man. I've saved several hun
dred, this year, and I'm hopin' to get a lit
tic house by and by, and somethn' laid up,
too, so she wouldn't suffer, if should go on
a sudden. I've father back East He's
been very kind to me; wrote me, the other
day, he would help me. But don't want
no help-lm too proud for that. married
her and I'll support her." shall never
forget the pathos as he added, "When l
can't reach this brake, then I'll send for
somethin', but it'll be for her then, not for
me-" After that, we rode in silence. |
doubt if his feelings were as deep us mine.
Finally, as though for his wies sake, to rep.
resent his position at its best, he abruptly
asked, stranger, to whom in the United
States do you feel most bound to lift your
hat ?" | wondered what was coming and
evaded the question, bat confess to have
in no degree anticipated his solution: "Well,
sir, there are three you ought to lift your
hat-drst, to captain Of boat, to an en-
gineer and to a stage driver. You put your
life in the hands OF these three whenever
you come under their charge, and, if polite
ness is ever Of any use, believe it is when
your life is at stake" The manner in which
he said this caused me to scratch my head
inside to remember whether l had performed
that ceremony in the present case, and, won
dering if he meditated breaking my neck in
a barranca, resolved, with my hand on my
seven-shooter, that If he made any ap.
proaches to them, | would inform him that
two could play at the game of life. But
was needlessly startled, My driver had no
evil intentions, and soon Gained down
again. -Erchange Correspondence.
Deacon Brown took occasion TO admins.