The Van Buren press., 1894-09-01

ally at mysterious white objects-as II
ne mad not entirely abandoned an
early belief in ghosts, and he utterly
refused to be friendly with railway
locomotive. He would look 1t full in
the face, but at q distance which
showed great eoldness OF feeling.
what right had it-a one-eyed thing
10 go snorting contemptuously along
regardless OF everybody? Why he
would travel half mile around-if
necessary-rather than even frighten
children at play!
speak OF Ponces well-known good
ness OF heart that you may understand
now 1T was that he was so implicitly
trusted to carry precious and perisha-
bic family treasure to and from Mrs.
Birds.
The saddle went on, John followed,
and pleasant trot along q level coun
Try road soon ended at farm-yard
gate. John stated his errand, and,
utter some alarmed cackling died
away, he found himself in the possess
sion OF four fat pullets, half dead with
fright A happy thought occurred to
him. He would make balance of his
load by tying pair of chickens to
eheh side Of the bridle-rein. This he
did, to his own satisfaction, aud to the
intense admiration of Tommy Bird-a
bit OF color perahed, on the fence like
COCK Robin come to life again-and
then, with gay flourish Of horseman-
ship, he turned honeward. Ponce
picked up his ears and trotted down
the lane at brisk pace. By the time
he had reached the main road his gait
was lively-very lively, indecd!-but a
hose going home to good meal OF on is
was known to travel well, SO John
wasn't surprised. Ponce, however,
was confounded. He was accustomed
to the tapping against his Hanks
OF saddle-bags weighted with cleanli-
ness on one hand, and godliness on the
other-that is to say, with fresh linen
and religious literature-but what
could be the meaning OF these dread
full neckbags2 He stopped, shook his
head, and paved the ground. These
proceedings did not help matters-as
he evidently hoped they might-for
down the bridle-rein began to slide
the terminated and hapless pullets.
What were these monstrous things ily-
ing across his vision and cnclxling un.
der his very nostrils? He tried to
jump seven-railed fence, while John
clung to saddle and name like barna.
Gle to the hull OF ship; he puffed like
a leviathan-if anyone knows what
that is like; and then he dashed mad
ly down the country road. There were
no travellers on the highway, which
was fortunate circumstance, as Ponce
in his temporary insanity would have
been quite as regardless of human life
as the most despicable Of steam
engines. Not soul was in sight to
watch the mad ride. Indian corn
stared tall and green from both sides OF
the fence, and sparrows looked out from
the hedgcs-these were the only living
things to see the weight -carryin <
race of my dear little John Gilpin. Of
flew his hat, but no matter-he had q
better one at home! On went his
steed, the affrighted missionary
There was wild satisfaction in going
SO fast-it was like flying, and he had
always wished to fly. Mr.. Wales farm
was passed. And could that vision OF
white and green be Mr.. Stron's-so
soon? Really, this was going as fast
as he cared to go!-a pleasure from
which he had hitherto been debarred
by his parents and the parish. He felt
very much exilarated and somewhat
startled. l think II he had known
that, IN addition to the linear flight
Ponce was treating him to, the earth
was whirling him around its axis, and
sweeping him around the sun, and
carrying him around some wonderful
center, the compound multiplication
of motion would have seriously
alarmed him; but as he knew nothing
of the wheels within wheels, and
the sturdy spirit of the west was
in his veins he was not dis.
mayed. That red blur must be Mrs.
Perkins barn! "Only half mile,
Ponce SO! Sol" he said, soothing
ly. But Ponce would listen to no ca.
jolcment, even though friendly lit
tie voice poured it directly into his
car. What! with those unheard-ot
things tapping into his very face9 He
gave an indignant heave, and John,
realizing that his ride was over, loos-
encd his feet from the stirrups and
slipped deftly otf-with the saddle.
Onward plunged Ponce, and, in few
minytes the exhausted animal halted
at the parsonage gate to beg, with al
most human cries, for deliverence
from the unaccountablc burden swing
ing under his dilated nostrils. Az
may be supposed, the arrival OF the
riderless and frenzied horse plunged
the parsonage and it's neighbors into
an agony of fright; but John was soon
met trudging buoyantly homeward
md then came tears and laughter
chiding and thanksgiving. What ar
excitement for everything and every
body-pullcts, Ponce, parsonage and
parish--all because of an innocent ex
pertinent in physics!
To this history one item alone re-
mains to be added. In the years that
have followed hard upon the sunny
morning of this story, my hero has
taken many a merry gallop, but he has
never repeated the ride Of John Gilpin'
Jr.-Interior.
Pat Proverbs.