94 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



Stockton, wliicli holds a higher jurisdiction than 

 your bench, coachman. I think you've liad a 

 yery narrow escape of parting with £10 and 

 costs." 



The guard has a few parcels to take out of 

 the boot at the " King's Head," and a fcAV new 

 ones to put in, and then we're off for Hushyford 

 Bridge, where the coach takes tea, and Avhere we 

 leaye the amateur coachee at the " Wheatsheaf." 



Durham and the coal country open out on 

 leaving secluded Rushyford. Durham Cathedral, 

 although itself standing on a height, has the 

 appearance of being in a profound hollow as the 

 coach, with the skid on, slowly creaks and groans 

 down the long hill into the city. Changing at 

 the "Three Tuns," the new team toils painfully 

 up the atrociously steep streets to Framwellgate 

 Bridf?e, where the river Wear and the stern 

 grandeur of the Norman Cathedral, Avitli the bold 

 rocks and soft woods around it, blend luider the 

 Avestering sun-rays of a July evening into a lovely 

 mellowed picture. 



Chester-le-Street and Gateshead are ill ex- 

 changes for the picturesqueness of Durham, but 

 they serve to bring us nearer our journey's end, 

 and, truth to tell, we are very weary ; so that, 

 comins" down the breakneck streets of Gateshead 

 in the gathering darkness to the coaly Tyne 

 and dear dirty Newcastle, with the hum of its 

 great population and the hooting of its steairers 

 in our ears, we are tilled with a great content. 

 " Give 'em a tune," says the coachman; and, the 



