Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-13

The stage was clumsy, with low,
| heavy running gear and a tunnel like
| top of canvas. Upon the wagon box
hardly decipherable through disfigure
ment of weather and soil appeared
| the name of the nimblest race horse
of the day-EclipSe; for every time
the vehicle received a new coat of
| paint it was. with no idea of any joke,
| renamed for the race horse once 50
| famous. At the back. just above a
| pair of steps by which passengers
climbed in or out. appeared the let
| ters ~. S, NJ"
| The drivers seat was high, and Tom
| felt lifted up in more senses tl:an one
| when. on the morning of his entry into
| the mail service Mr.. Wright, store
keeper. postmaster. stage driver. and
mail carrier all in one-though giving
TO others the duties of the last two of
tceS-tossed up to him the mail bag
with its imposing combination of iron
staples and lock and leathern pouch
! that as the story runs. made an old
sailors iacknife laugh.
As it fell rafting before him. Tom
put a foot upon it. gathered up his
reins and started off. feeling himself
y public official.
His route lay past Riggs Corners. .
tavern stand, thence to the station. a
drive of two miles by the regular route
or old road or a much longer drive II.
as often the case, he had to 90 by the
hill road.
On each of his trips he was obliged
to connect with a train for his passen
gers convenience as well as to deliver
the mail bag to the tranman. Then he
must wait a half hour for return trains
for which he received the mail and gen
orally u few passengers.
our hero had been stage driver about
a month. when, upon his morning trip,
he was signaled from the home e Far
mer CuShman--a fine old house, StanG :
ing 50 feet from the road The farmer
had beer kind to Tom. The lad had a
grateful heart. and saw with pleasure
that the passenger coming out from the
greenery of trees and shrubs that al
most hid the house was his old friend.
Room up there for me. Tom he
asked, indicating the drivers seat.
Certainly, sir. certainly. rom
blirked with satisfaction, as he slipped
to one side. making room.
A few rods before them was Riggs
Corners. Early as it was, the idieTs or
the place were lounging upon the long.
narrow piazza. Mr.. Cushnan scanned
the group narrowly.
Il suppose it's too early for Bates TO
be around yet" he said Hes fei-
low that's teen buying up horses about
here. Have you seen him. Tom? He
drives a bay and flashy little buggy with
yellow gear He puts up at Riggs, NC
MahOn 1.-THE constable) hoonObS with
him a good deal--is treated by him. L
suppose, and. of course, thinks Bates IS
lust right I offered him my old gray
Yesterday for SIS; but I regretted it
afterwards. and l really hope he won't
take me up. The old fellows been too
good a servant to be sold to strangers
who may rot treat him kindly"
Tom agreed with him-somenow, he
and Mr.. Cushman agreed on most sub
iects they talked about-and the trip
to the station was a pleasure to both.
In the afternoon Tom left Wrights.
as usual, to connect with the o'clock
train AS he approached the Cushman
place his face lighted up with very
lively curiosity, for something answer
ing the description Of Bates rig stood
at the gate, with Cushman's little black
mare Dinah tied behind.