Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 123
attend a Christmas party at Hyannis. He rode his gray
mare, which did him excellent service for twenty years,
and arrived at the place appointed soon after sunset.
There was an abundance of liquor oh the table, and the
doctor was frequently pressed to partake thereof. The
company had a jolly time, the doctor repeatedly sung
his favorite song, and told the story of his adventures in
Maine. It was twelve o'clock when the party separated,
and the doctor had to be helped on to his horse. It was
a clear, moonlight evening, the ground was covered with
snow and a north-west wind rendered the air cold and
piercing. He had to pass four miles through woods,
and along a narrow road on which no inhabitants resided.
The horse knew the way better than the master, and if
the animal could have had its own way the rider would
have escaped the perils he soon after encountered. Riding
about a mile he left the direct road and turned into
the way that leads to Half-Way Pond. He had not
travelled far before he caught sight of a rotten stump
which reflected a phosphorescent light. The doctor
imagined it was a fire, and as his feet were very cold, he
dismounted, pulled ofi" his boots and placed his feet on
the stump. When sufficiently warm, he remounted
but unfortunately omitted to put on his boots. He wandered
about the woods till morning, when he found his
way out. On arriving at the main i-oad, instead of turning
westerly towards his own house, he turned in an
opposite direction, and urged his beast into a gallop. He
had not rode far, when he met Abner Davis, Esq., and
several gentlemen of his acquaintance. He suddenly
reined up his horse, and accosted them thus : "Gentlemen,"
said he, "can you tell me whether I am in this
town or the next?" Mr. Davis replied, "You are in
this town now, but if you drive on you will soon be in
the next." The company perceiving that he had no
boots, and that he was wild and excited, invited him to
a house where he was furnished with a warm breakfast
and a pair of boots. After resting a few hours he rode
home ; but it was several days before he entirely recovered
from the excitement and fatigue of his Christmas
frolic.
Often when waiting for the mails in the doctor's parlor