36o HJGHIVAYS AND HORSES. 



First of November — the earthquake day — 

 There are traces of age in the one-hoss shay, 

 A general flavour of mild decay, 

 But nothing local, as one may say ; 

 There couldn't be, for the deacon's art 

 Had made it so like in every part, 

 That there wasn't a chance for one to start. 

 For the wheels were just as strong as the thills. 

 And the floor was just as strong as the sills, 

 And the panels just as strong as the floor, 

 And the whippletree neither less nor more, 

 And the back cross-bar as strong as the fore. 

 And spring, and axle, and hub encore. 

 And yet, as a whole, it is past a doubt, 

 In another hour it will be worn out ! 



First of November, " fifty-five," 

 This morning the parson takes a drive. 

 Now, small boys, get out of the way ! 

 Here comes the wonderful one-hoss shay, 

 Drawn by a rat-tailed, ewe-necked bay. 

 " Huddup ! " said the parson ; off went they. 

 The parson was working his Sunday's text, 

 Had got to fifthly, and stopped perplexed 

 At what the — Moses — was coming next. 

 All at once the horse stood still. 

 Close by the meet'n'-house on the hill. 

 First a shiver, and then a thrill, 

 Then something decidedly like a spill ; 

 And the parson was sitting upon a rock, 

 At half-past nine by the meet'n'-house clock. 

 Just the hour of the earthquake shock ! 

 What do you think the parson found. 

 When he got up and stared around ? 

 The poor old chaise in a heap or mound, 

 As if it had been to the mill and ground ! 

 You see, of course, if you're not a dunce, 

 How it went to pieces all at once ; 

 All at once, and nothing first, 

 Just as bubbles do when they burst. 



O. W. H. 



Having spoken so much about coaching, I do not 

 think it is out of place to make some remarks about 

 coach-building ; as there are some owners of carriages 

 and gentlemen who are fond of driving, who, I should 



