Chapter 55
The Mail-Coach PassengersIT was bitterly cold, the sky glittered with stars, and
not a breeze stirred. "Bump"—an old pot was thrown at a neighbor's
door; and "bang, bang," went the guns; for they were greeting the
New Year. It was New Year's Eve, and the church clock was striking
twelve. "Tan-ta-ra-ra, tan-ta-ra-ra," sounded the horn, and the
mail-coach came lumbering up. The clumsy vehicle stopped at the
gate of the town; all the places had been taken, for there were
twelve passengers in the coach.
"Hurrah! hurrah!" cried the people in the town; for in
every house the New Year was being welcomed; and as the clock
struck, they stood up, the full glasses in their hands, to drink
success to the new comer. "A happy New Year," was the cry; "a
pretty wife, plenty of mone
