The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-12-11
A Memorable Ride.

1W6Hby.uv6 years ago the favOr1te
social festiyity Of the autumn months in
the Delaware valley was the 'sapple-cut. "
The dried apple entered largely into the
store of things laid up for winter, and
from time out Of mind, the custom of
inviting party OF young persons to
come on certain evening and aid in
{ preparing the fruit, had prevailed
among the farmers of the valley There
was one rule at the apple. e.cuts which aet
the warm approval of every country
beau, The girl who ''pared and quar-
tered the smallest quantity of apples in
q given time was bound to give kiss
| to every swain present. The s'old
folks used to say that the rule was bad
one because every girl seemed to strive
to see how little she could do. After the
evening task was ended came the feast.
and after that the fiddler. Then was
| merriment till the small hours. to the
lively measure of the Arkansas Tray
eler, Money Musk" 'tFisher's Horn
pipe" Downfall OF Water Street"
''McLeofs Reed, and kindred fayorites.
It was seldom that these rural routs
ended before the cocks were Growing in
the barn and daylight came admonish-
ingly over the eastern hills. Once, in
the rare age referred to, grand apple
! cut was to be given by rich farmer,
| who lived eight miles down the valley
| from Milford. He had several charm
| ing daughters, and his house was at all
| times center of attraction Among those
invited to the apple-cut were Frank and
Bud Wells, of Milford. Bob was
afterward prominent member of the
Pennsylvania Legislature. Both laid
out" to attend. The day came, and when
the boys began to make their prepare
tion to start, they were unable to obtain
horse or wagon in the village. Every
horse and wagon was engaged. Frank
and Bub were in q dilemma. Eight
miles over hilly road was o long way
| to walk, and to miss the apple-cut would
be something they would never cease to
regret. The father of the boys was an
undertaken who had one-horse hearse
with seat in front with just room
| enough for one, and room inside suffi-
cient to receive coffin snugly. The
horse that the old gentleman drove to
! this vehicle was out of town.
There was only one horse in the vii
lage that was available, and that was o
gray mare belonging to neighbor. This
mare was known as 'The Tearer." She
| had the reputation of being the highest
and strongest kicker in that region. To
harness her it was necessary to get in the
haymow above her and drop the harness
on her with pitchfork. The harness
once on her, it was comparatively safe
for person to climb over the manager
and buckle it. Then the mare would
submit to being hitched to the wagon.
But there was no telling at what moment
she woald think it incumbent ON her to
lift her heels in the air.
Frank, said Bob, we've got to
hook the Tearer to our hearse, or stay
home"
Clearer and hearse it is, then" said
Frank, ''for TN going to that apple
cutr'
BY back door they got into the barn
where the Tearer was kept. Before they
reached the NOV with the harness she
had kicked several boards off the side of
| the barn. After they dropped the har-
ness on her back she cooled down.
They led her around to the shed where
! the hearse was kept and hitched her in
safely.
''I'll drive" said Bob,
| There was no place left for Frank ex-
! cept inside the hearse. There was room
only for him to lie at full length. Away
they started for the apple-cut. AS they
| drove out of town people wondered who
was dead, that took Bub Wells and the
hearse out Of town at that time of day.
The old mare WAS a good "goer," and
she ratified the hearse along the Ding
man road at lively pace. When they
reached the Raymondskill bridge, three
miles from Milford, Frank, unable to
change his position inside the hearse,
called out:
"Bu-u-u-ub, amt you tired O. driv-
in'?"
''Not bit," Bub shouted back. I
tell you the Tearer is a ripper. G'lang!"
I And away she went, faster than ever.
Frank was iolted up and down with every
motion of the hearse, until he hardly had
breath OF strength to make Bub hear him
as he called out mile further on:
"S-a-a-a-ay, Bu-u-u-b, amt you fraid
the marell k-i-i-i-ck you? Better let me
drive while, ha-a-a-dn't your.
''There amt no danger replied Bub.
Don't feel anxious about me, for un-
derstand the Tearer. Besides, it's
chilly out here, and you'd better stay
where you're comfortable. Get out o
this, .Tearerw
And she did. Up hill and down,
smooth stretches of highway and rocky
places, were all the same to her. By the
time they reached the foot OF the long
hill this side of Dingman's ferry, two
miles from their destination, Frank was
almost in the last stages of suffocation,
and nearly pummeled to o jelly.
"B-u-u-u-b,' said he, through the
front window of the hearse, ''it's-too-
cussed-mean-to-le that h-o-o-rse
pull I-want-
to--walk Let-me-o-u-u-ut."
But the mare went up the hill like o
shot. Seeing that Bub didn't intend to
stop, Frank began to kick the door of
the hearse out, so that he could back
himself out and drop to the ground.
When Bub heard the work of demolition
going on behind, he thought it would be
best to stop and give Frank O rest A
half mile or SO this side of Dingman's,
where the apple-cut was to be held, the
road begins very decided down grade
going toward that village. When Frank
began to kick at the hearse door the
Tearer was rapidly approaching this hill.
Bob began to pull up on her and cry
age kick, without lessening her speed
particle.
Bang" went Franks heels against
tiiS IiCuloC uOOE.
"Wh o a-a, Tearer," said Bub, beseech-
ingly.
"Spat p came the Tearer's heels
against the dashboard of the hearse.
By the time the horse had reached the
top of the hill Frank had burst the door
open and had got his legs out of the
hearse. The mare was going so fast that
he was afraid to drop to the ground, and
he was unable to draw himself back into
the hearse.
whoa" shouted Bub, fercely, as
though to frighten the mare into obedi-
ence.
"Whizl bang!' she replied with her
heels, and the dashboard cracked. Bub
crept up on the roof OF the hearse, and
got astride Of the narrow vehicle. Half
way down the hill the mare gave kick
and put both hind feet through the dash
board of the hearse. But she went right |
ahead on two feet, and Bub refined her |
up in that condition before the farmers |
door. The girls and boys came running
out. The lights from the house were full |
upon the new corners. Frank dropped |
from the inside of the hearse and Bub |