THE WAY THAT AMERICANS GO DOWN HILL. 303 



The drivers of our different " changes," all seemed 

 to be made upon the go-ahead principle, and looked upon 

 nothing as really disgraceful, but being behind the stage 

 that so perseveringly pursued us. Unfortunately too, 

 for our safety, we went in an " extra," and managed, by 

 a freak of fortune, to arrive at the different stations, 

 where drivers and horses were changed, just as the former 

 had got comfortably to bed ; and it was not the least 

 interesting portion of my thoughts, that every one of 

 these Jehus made the most solemn protestations, that 

 he would '' upset us over some precipice not less than 

 three hundred and sixty-five feet high, and knock us into 

 such a perfect nonenity, that it would save the coroner 

 the trouble of calling a jury to sit upon our remains." 



It is nine years since, and if the winter of that year 

 is not set down as " remarkably cold " in the almanacs, 

 it shows a want of care in those useful annuals. 



We say it is nine years since we crossed the Alle- 

 ganies. At the particular time to which we allude, 

 the " oldest inhabitant " of the country (and we met 

 him on the road side) informed us that he had no recol- 

 lection of such a severe season. That we could live 

 through such a night would have been deemed impos- 

 sible, could its perils have been anticipated, before they 

 were experienced. 



The fire in every house we passed smoked like a fur- 

 nace, and around its genial warmth were crowded groups 



