The Osceola times., 1876-01-22
u NIGHT IN A STAGE.
A True story Of Christmas.

The year was l756-the month Of De-
cember-the place Tamaqua. ! was a
young man then, and n strong one.
did good deal of travelling through the
State Of Pennsylvania, going from county
town to county town from the beginning
Of the year to the close. It was pleasant
business enough, for there was less rail
roading 10 be done then than now, and
more staging, and not unfrequently long
rides on canal boats in the summer time
I was not often hurried on my trips, and
took my own time. My exact business
mt the county seats consisted Of hunting
up. titles TO obscure, wild lands, paying
taxes upon them, and getting them in
good condition for immediate sale.
In consequence Of the nature Of this
business, knew good deal about the
Topography of Pennsylvania, and good
deal that,a that time, was worth knowing
about its roads aud its inns. All of the
latter were had, but some were better
than Others. One Of the worst Of them
were at Tamaqua, and possibly II is
there yet, though when last slept
under It's roof ii was in altogether such
a lamentable condition Of decay, and its
roof was such very leaky roof indeed,
that l doubt not II long ago disappeared
out Of the sight Of men and possibly out
Of their memories also-Tamaqua having
achieved railroad since, and, Of course,
grown as only railroad towns do grow.
l arrived there that December Of 1856,
on Monday afternoon, which was quite
as cold and diagrecable Monday after
noon ss | remember ever to have known,
though, when compared with the Tues
day that followed, Il might he considered
rather warm than otherwise. was half
frozen when got thcre. and ] was not
quite thawed out when I left, for I had
yielded TO burning curiosity TO visit a
coal mine, and fancy that Tamaqua is
rothing but coal mine, with thousand
mouths that every morning swallow 40
many thousand miners and disgorge
them every night. II was then, and !
think II Is now, very black and sooty
place, with canal i'm front of it, and a
hill behind II, md huge mine l have
spoken of under it.. II was not only
black and sooty itelf but its people were
similarly black and sooty; and 80 were
Its horses, or rather its mules, for IL
seemed 70 have few of the former and y
great many of the latter. Even its dogs
and cats partook Of the general sootiness,
aud were evidently greatly depressed by
IL. / was very cold when / went down
into the mine-which had its shaft just
behind. the hotel-and was colder still
when came out of it, went TO bed
cold, and got up cold, 40 cold indeed
that thought I would never be warm
any more. When ] went down into the
frozen breakfast-room, looked out Of
the window, and saw that the ground
was covered deep with snow, and that il
was still showing as If IL meant to ex.
haust the whole winters supply in five
or 70, being very greatly pressed
TO do IL Immediately. drank my cold,
black coffee and ate my cold, tough beef
steak in gloomy silence, thinking more
than had done for long time before
Of home, of its pleasant cheer and warmth,
and of the loving boys and girls in il who
were even then, no doubt, expecting my
speedy coming, for this was already the
morning of Tuesday, and Thursday
would be Christmas day. In that home
] was 81. Nicholas himself, for il was
that brought home in the night the
brave tree with its spreading green
branches; it was I that planted II firmly
in the middle of the wide parlor it was
that found the infinite variety Of toys,
cakes, bon-bons, and glittering baubles
which covered II it was l that placed
the ever-beautiful image of the Christ
Child on the topmost bough; that
lighted the many-colored tapers, and
that, at the auspicious moment, suddenly
threw open the folding-doors and let in
the children to behold the glory Of tha,
wondrous Christmas miracle.
In my frequent journeys through the
State, had seen many places which |
wanted to get away from quickly, but
never saw another that wanted TO turn
my back upon 50 much ss Tamaqua. II
was not in any manner a pleasant place
and besides, il these nephews and niece.
Of mine were 10 have Christmas tree at
all in this year, 1856, l thought, / must
go home Ms fast as could travel. had
come to Tamaqua in stage, and must
20 away from II in a stage-not to Phila
delphia, exactly, but to the next rail
road town, and that was distant, knew
not how far.
I arose shivcring from the dreary
breakfast, and hunted up the landlord o.
the inn. He was easily found, and wa,
no better or warmer looking man thar
his accommodations promised him to be
I paid his extravagant charges, and then
informed him that wished to reach n,
quickly q poEible the nearest railroad
station, and to take the first train for the
east.
"The nearest station is at Ilium
Ilium is % miles distant; you can no,
get there before night, If at all. thinl
you won't get there at all"
All this was spoken reAectively, and
with deliberation.
"If can get there by 10 O'Clock to
night, can ! make the eastern express 2
You can, but ! doubt If you can gel
there At all"
"wby ?" asked.
He was not q man TO waste woids
He only sid:
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