answer to some inquiries, one of the lads gave him an
account of their trip and its various incidents.

3. As he drew near the end of his story, he exclaimed: "Oh, sir! there was
one thing I had almost forgotten. As we were coming home, we saw ahead of
us a queer looking affair in the road. It proved to be a rusty old sleigh,
fastened behind a covered wagon, proceeding at a very slow rate, and
taking up the whole road.

4. "Finding that the owner was not disposed to turn out, we determined
upon a volley of snowballs and a good hurrah. They produced the right
effect, for the crazy machine turned out into the deep snow, and the
skinny old pony started on a full trot.

5. "As we passed, some one gave the horse a good crack, which made him run
faster than he ever did before, I'll warrant.

6. "With that, an old fellow in the wagon, who was buried up under an old
hat, bawled out, 'Why do you frighten my horse?' 'Why don't you turn out,
then?' says the driver. So we gave him three rousing cheers more. His
horse was frightened again, and ran up against a loaded wagon, and, I
believe, almost capsized the old creature--and so we left him."

7. "Well, boys," replied the teacher, "take your seat", and I will tell
you a story, and all about a sleigh ride, too. Yesterday afternoon a very
venerable old clergyman was on his way from Boston to Salem, to pass the
rest of the winter at the house of his son. That he might be prepared for
journeying in the following spring he took with him his wagon, and for the
winter his sleigh, which he fastened behind the wagon.

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,