8. "His sight and hearing were somewhat blunted by age, and he was
proceeding very slowly; for his horse was old and feeble, like his owner.
He was suddenly disturbed by loud hurrahs from behind, and by a furious
pelting of balls of snow and ice upon the top of his wagon.
9. "In his alarm he dropped his reins, and his horse began to run away. In
the midst of the old man's trouble, there rushed by him, with loud shouts,
a large party of boys, in a sleigh drawn by six horses. 'Turn out! turn
out, old fellow!' 'Give us the road!' 'What will you take for your pony?'
'What's the price of oats, old man?' were the various cries that met his
cars.
10. "'Pray, do not frighten my horse!' exclaimed the infirm driver. 'Turn
out, then! turn out!' was the answer, which was followed by repeated
cracks and blows from the long whip of the 'grand sleigh,' with showers of
snowballs, and three tremendous hurrahs from the boys.
11. "The terror of the old man and his horse was increased, and the latter
ran away with him, to the great danger of his life. He contrived, however,
to stop his horse just in season to prevent his being dashed against a
loaded wagon.
Pages:
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82