XLIX. THE STAGE-COACH. IRVING. [Washington Irving, author of "The Sketch Book," Bracebridge Hall," "Astoria," "Life of Columbus," "Life of Washington," and various other wellknown works, was born in the city of New York, April 8, 1783, and died November 28, 1859. Of all our writers, no one is so generally popular; and the universal favor with which his works are received is due, not merely to their great literary merits, their graceful style, rich humor, and unaffected pathos, but also to the fact that they are so strongly marked by the genial and amiable traits of the writer, which were conspicuous in his life, and made him beloved by all who knew him. The following extract is a portion of a paper in the Sketch Book.] 1. In the course of a December tour in Yorkshire, I rode for a long distance in one of the public coaches, on the day preceding Christmas. I had three fine rosy-cheeked boys for my fellow-passengers, full of the buxom health and manly spirit which I have observed in the children of this country. They were returning home for the holidays in high glee, and promising themselves a world of enjoyment. It was delightful to hear the gigantic plans of the little rogues, and the impracticable feats they were to perform during their weeks' emancipation from the abhorred thraldom1 of book, birch, and pedagogue. 2. They were full of anticipations of the meeting with the family and household, down to the very cat and dog, and of the joy they were to give their little sisters by the presents with which their pockets were crammed; but the meeting to which they seemed to look forward with the greatest impatience was with Bantam, which I found to be a pony, and, according to their talk, possessed of more virtues than any steed since the days of Bucephalus. How he could trot! How he could run! And then such leaps as he would take! There was not a hedge in the whole country that he could not clear. 3. They were under the particular guardianship of the coachman, to whom, whenever an opportunity presented, they addressed a host of questions, and pronounced him one of the best fellows in the world. 4. Perhaps it might be owing to the pleasing serenity2 that reigned in my own mind, that I fancied I saw cheerfulness in every countenance throughout the journey. A stage-coach, however, carries animation always with it, and puts the world in motion as it whirls along. The born, sounded at the entrance of a village, produces a general bustle. Some hasten forth to meet friends; some with bundles and bandboxes to secure places, and in the hurry of the moment can hardly take leave of the group that accompanies them. As the coach rattles through the village, every one runs to the window, and you have glances on every side of fresh country faces and blooming, giggling girls. ་ 5. Perhaps the impending holiday might have given a more than usual animation to the country, for it seemed to me as if everybody was in good looks and good spirits. The housewives were stirring briskly about, putting their dwellings in order; and the glossy branches of holly, with their bright-red berries, began to appear at the windows. 6. I was roused from a fit of luxurious meditation by a shout from my little travelling companions. They had been looking out of the coach windows for the last few miles, recognizing every tree and cottage as they approached home; and now there was a general burst of joy. "There's John and there's old Carlo and there's Bantam!" cried the happy little rogues, clapping their hands. 4 7. At the end of a lane there was an old, soberlooking servant in livery, waiting for them; he was accompanied by a superannuated 3 pointer, and by the redoubtable Bantam, a little old rat of a pony, with a shaggy mane and long, rusty tail, who stood dozing quietly by the road-side, little dreaming of the bustling times that awaited him. 8. I was pleased to see the fondness with which the little fellows leaped about the steady old footman, and hugged the pointer, who wriggled his whole body for joy. But Bantam was the great object of interest; all wanted to mount at once, and it was with some difficulty that John arranged that they should ride by turns, and the eldest should ride first. 9. Off they set at last; one on the pony, with the dog bounding and barking before him, and the others. holding John's hands; both talking at once, and overpowering him with questions about home, and with school anecdotes. I looked after them with a feeling in which I do not know whether pleasure or melancholy predominated,5 for I was reminded of those days, when, like them, I had known neither care nor sorrow, and a holiday was the summit of earthly felicity. 10. We stopped a few moments afterwards to water the horses, and on resuming our route, a turn of the road brought us in sight of a neat countryseat. I could just distinguish the forms of a lady and two young girls in the portico, and I saw my little comrades, with Bantam, Carlo, and old John, trooping along the carriage-road. I leaned out of the coach window, in hopes of witnessing the happy meeting, but a grove of trees shut it from my sight. 1 THRÂL'DOM. Bondage; slavery. 4 RE-DOUBT/A-BLE. Formidable; ter rible. 2 SE-REN'I-TY. Calmness; peace. LA FOREST ON FIRE AUDUBON. [John James Audubon, more celebrated as an ornithologist and a painter than as a writer, was born of French parentage, in Louisiana, in May, 1780. He was educated in France, and was a pupil of the celebrated painter David. In 1839 he completed the publication of his celebrated "Birds of America,” a work issued in eighty-seven numbers, giving four hundred and thirty-five colored engravings, representing the objects the size of life. This work has been truly said to contain the most life-like and wonderful specimens of bird-painting that have ever been produced. He was also the author of an Ornithological Biography, a text-book accompanying his plates, and of an octavo edition of his Birds of America, in seven volumes, combining both text and plates. Assisted by the Rev. Dr. Bachman, of Charleston, S. C., he also published an illustrated work on the quadrupeds of North America. He died in 1851. The following narrative is taken from the Ornithological Biography.] 1. WE were sound asleep one night, when, about two hours before day, the snorting of horses and lowing of our cattle which were ranging in the woods, suddenly awoke us. I took my rifle, and went to the door to see what beast had caused the hubbub, when I was struck by the glare of light reflected on all the trees before me, as far as I could see through the woods. My horses were leaping about, snorting loudly, and the cattle ran among them in great consternation.1 2. On going to the back of the house, I plainly heard the crackling made by the burning brushwood, and saw the flames coming towards us in a far ex tended line. I ran to the house, I ran to the house, told my wife to dress herself and the child as quickly as possible, and take the little money we had, while I managed to catch and saddle two of the best horses. All this was done in a very short time, for I felt that every moment was precious to us. 3. We then mounted our horses, and made off from the fire. My wife, who is an excellent rider, stuck close to me; and my daughter, who was then a small child, I took in one arm. When making off, I looked back, and saw that the frightful blaze was close upon us, and had already laid hold of the house. By good luck there was a horn attached to my hunting clothes, and I blew it to bring after us, if possible, the remainder of my live stock, as well as the dogs. The cattle followed for a while; but before an hour had. elapsed, they all ran, as if mad, through the woods; and that was the last of them. My dogs, too, although at all other times extremely tractable,2 ran after the deer, that in great numbers sprang before us, as if fully aware of the death that was so rapidly approaching. 4. We heard blasts from the horns of our neighbors, as we proceeded, and knew that they were in the same predicament.3 Intent on striving to the utmost to preserve our lives, I thought of a large lake, some miles off, which might possibly check the flames; and, urging my wife to whip up her horse, we set off at full speed, making the best way we could over the fallen trees and the brush heaps, which lay like so many articles placed on purpose to keep up the terrific fires, that advanced with a broad front upon us. |