FOUNDER OF HIS RACE 119 



vorite hymn, but instead of singing, as Goss hoped they 

 would, an outburst of laugher greeted the suggestion, 

 and the crowd poured noisily out into the street once 

 more. 



Goss had a good time that day prancing to the music 

 and showing off. His enjoyment of such gay doings al- 

 ways made him popular with the men, yet so gentle 

 was he that women constantly borrowed him to ride to 

 meetings, quiltings, bees, or funerals. 



At Burlington in this same year, 1809, the launching 

 of the steamboat "Vermont" (of which they had talked 

 so long) took place. The ''Vermont" had been built 

 second to the "Clermont" (launched on the Hudson, 

 about two years before), but an unavoidable delay made 

 her the fifth steamboat to be launched. 



At great expense this passenger steamer had been built 

 and was to run from White Hall to St. Johns in twenty- 

 four hours ! It was almost too much to ask the people 

 to believe, said the newspapers ! One and all they pre- 

 dicted failure. Steamboats in those days occupied much 

 the same place in the estimation of the people as air- 

 ships did a hundred years later. Many called it a foolish 

 waste of money, and dangerous withal, but John Winans, 

 who made the boat, was confident it would mark an 

 epoch in history. 



Larger and finer than the "Clermont,'' the success of 

 the "Vermont" on Lake Champlain does not concern our 

 hero. 



The streets were crowded with passengers from the 

 mail coaches ; the Foote House was taxed to capacity ; 

 four-, six- and eight-horse teams, with now and then a 

 Canadian spike-team, blocked the thoroughfares. 



Into this atmosphere of excitement and interest David 

 and Goss cantered early that morning, and put up at the 

 house of Mr. Loomis. This historic house had sheltered 



