The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-12-20
MY NIGHT IN A STAGE-COACH
A True Story of Christmas Eve.

True Story OF Christmas Eve.
The year was lS56-the month Deem
berthe place Tamaqua. was young
man then, and a strong one. | did a
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 1t was pleasant
business enough, for there was less rail
reading to be done than now, and more
staging, and not infrequent long rides on
canal-boats in the summer time. | was
not often hurried on my trips and took
my own time. My exact business at 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 a good deal about the
topography of Pennsylvania, and good
deal that, at the time, was worth know
ing about its roads and its inns All Of
the latter were bad, but some were better
than others One of the worst of them
was at Tamaqua, and possibly it is there
yet, though when | last slept under its
roof it was in altogether such lament
able condition of decay, and its roof was
such very leaky roof indeed, that
doubt not it long ago disappeared out of
memories also-Tamaqu having achiev-
ed railroad since, and of course, grown
as only railroad towns do grow.
arrived there in that December of
1856, on a Monday afternoon, which was
quite as cold and disagreeable day as l
remember ever to have known, though,
when compared with the Tuesday that
followed it, it might be considered rather
warm than otherwise. ! was half
frozen when | got there and | was not
quite thawed out when | left, for | had
yielded to burning curiosity to visit a
coal mine, and fancy that Tamaqua is
nothing but a coal mine with thousand
mouths that every morning swallow SO
many thousand miners and disgorge
them every night. 1t was then, and !
believe it is now, a very black and sooty
place, with canal in front of it, and a
Hill behind it, and the huge mine | have
spoken of under it. 1t was not only
black and sooty itself, but its people
were similarly sooty; and 50 were its
to have few of the former and a great
many of the latter. Even its dogs and
cats partook of the general sootiness, and
were evidently greatly depressed by it
| was very cold when | went down into
the nIine-which had its shaft Just be-
hind the hotel-and | was colder still
when | came out of it. went to bed
cold, and | got up cold, so cold indeed
that | thought | would never be warm
any more. When | went down into the
frozen breakfast-room, | glanced out OF
the window, and saw that the ground
was covered deep with snow, and that il
was still showing as if it meant to ex
haust the whole winters supply in five
minutes or SO, being very greatly pressed
to do it Immediately. | drank my COLI
coffee, and ate my cold, tough beefsteac
in gloomy silence, thinking more than
had done for long time before of home
Of its pleasant cheer and warmth, and o.
the loving boys and girls in it who wer,
even then, no doubt, expecting my speedy
coming, for this was already the morn
ing of Tuesday, and Thursday would b,
Christmas Day. In that home | was st
Nicholas himself, for it was | tha
brought home in the night the brav,
tree with its spreading green branches
it was | that planted it firmly in the
middle of a wide parlor; it was / wht
found the infinite variety of toys, cakes
bon-bons and glittering baubles which
covered it; it was | that placed the eve
beautiful image of the Christ-child OF
the topmost Dough; who lighted tn,
many colored tapers, aud | who, at tn,
suspicious moment, suddenly threw oper
the folding-doors and let in the children
to behold the glory of that wondrou.
Christmas miracle.
In my frequent journeyings through
the state had seen many places which
wanted to get awayI from quickly, but
never saw another that | wanted to turI
my back upon so much as Tamaqua. |
was not in any manner pleasant place
and besides, if those nephews and niece
of mine were to have Christmas tire,
at all this year, 1856, | thought | mus
go home as fast as l could travel | haC
come to 1, maqua in stage, and | mus
go away from il in stage, not TO Phila
delphia, exactly, but to the next railroad
town, and that was distant | knew no
how far.
arose shivering from the drear,
breakfast, and hunted up the landlord o
the inn. He was easily found, and wa
no better or warmer-lookiug a man thai
his accommodations promised him TO be
paid him eNtravagant charges, and thel
Informed him that | wished 10 reach a
quickly as possible the nearest railroat
station, and TO take the first train for tn
east.
The nearest station is at Ilium; Iliun
is twenty-five miles distant; YOU canno
get there tonight, if at all. Think vol
won't get there at all"
All this was said refectively, and witt
elaboration.
If can get there by 10 o'clock to
night, can make the Eastern Express q
"You can, but doubtif you get Their
at all"
why" asked.
He was not man TO waste words. H
only said:
"The stage won't go-on account o
Storm
Are you sure of thatg' I venture,
to ask.
"Quite sure" and he closed his lin
with a snap, as if he knew all about it
"Who owns the stage?'