Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-11-22
1 R0AD.sLDE POsTOFELcE
zone Of Susan Fenuimcre Coorer's "Otseyu Leaves
-Appleton's journal for Decembcrl

zone Of Susan Fenuimcre Coorer's "Otseyo Leaves"
-ApVleton's journal for Decemhcrl
1t was i'll the days of the old-fashioned
stage o-coach-perLaps dozen years since.
We were slowly climbing very indifferent
and very hilly road. This siage-coach, "A mud
dy, creaking conveyance, had long since seen
its best days but, with the aid of four good
horses and clever driver it was expected to
accomplish days journey safely. 1t was
expected TO do more than this. There was
supposed to be the legal number of passon-
gers this antiquatod coach was entitled to car
ry on its three benches, but one by one SOW
enteen were slowed away, within and with
out. There were twelve inside, including
two children and baby, to say nothing of
bird-cage and lap-dog. OF course, nobody
was surprised. Everybody came prepared to
be imposed on in this way. long precedent
having established the fact that the old stage
coach should-if it suited the driver-carry
double the legal number, or even more on
especial occasions. Warm as the afternoon
was, no one was cross. Everybody laughed
at the absurd positions, the odd contortions,
required to dispose of so many arms and legs
in the space allotted to them. We set out
with sixteen, but we had not gone half mile
before there was n pause. Il guess we can
manage it," said the driver with something
like grin, as the seventeenth traveller APP
pGtttu, bIu-Cubc III manu-. puc lOllN Olu
farmer with a comical twist of his mouth,
took a little girl on his lap two lads squeezed
themselves into the smallest possible space,
and number seventeen was seated. Assured
ly, Americans are good-natured race, n most
uucomplaining set OF travellers. They were
so, ut least, in old times-a dozen years ago,
in the days of the Old stage-coach. We rus
tics hear nowadays of changes in these mat
tiers. Car-life is said to be less good-natured
than the old stage-cOach life, especially street
car life, filled with polished citizens of large
towns. We country-folk are unwilling to be-
lieye this however, unless on the very best
authority.
At noon of warm summers day we had
left the historic village of Fort Plain, on the
Mohawk, and began slowly toling onward in
a southern direction toward the highland re-
gion about the headwaters of the Susquchan-
ma. We were, in fact climbing divide"
not Great Divide" but one less aspir-
ing, which separates the streams flowing
northward into the Mohawk from those flow
ing Inward into Chesapeake Bay.
OF course, there was good deal OF talk GO
ing on. Your old stage-coach was favorable
to conyersation-much more SO than the
modern car. A couple of well-to-do old fur
mers had great deal to say about the crops.
Politics and business had their turn. But
these different subjects had been little more
than broached when we received an addition
to our numbers, which for a time silenced
old farmers and business men alike. AT the
gate of farmhouse three very gayly- dressed
young girls were standing, evidently awaiting
our approach. shrill shrek of dismay
burst from each of the three as they saw ey-
cry seat more than filled already. Even the
| experienced and remorseless driver was at q
loss for half minute. Taking of an enorm-
| GUS and much battered straw hat, and airing
a very red head, he paused for reflection.
| There were sundry looks of anxiety and
amazement exchanged among our party
"Three more-impossible :" cried the ner-
vous lady with the bird-cage. But our driver
| was one of those Americans for whom the
word impossible has no meaning, Airing his
! head appeared to have frightened his ideas
| Advancing to the coach-doOr, the bToad, flap
| ping straw hat again crOwning his red locks
| his rubicund, sunburned face wearing calm,
business-like aspect, he solved the problem.
Gentlemen, will any three of you ride
outside, and make room for these ere young
ladies they're going to wedding
There was a second of absolute silence the
passengers looked at the young girls the
| young girls, flushing and smiling, and frown-
ing little, looked imploringly at the passen-
gers, as puch as to say, 'Oh, yes, you'll
| come outside-won't you, please z"
"A wedding, is it2 Why, TO be sure, and
l guess know the folks" said one jolly far
mer with kindly old laugh, beginning to
extTieate his right arm preparatory to move; !;