passengers, and all.

Our company consisted of seven males and two females. The coach was
small, and we filled it to the brim. The weather was by no means very
cold for the season; at least, it was not extreme. There was a sound of
rain,--the January thaw, perhaps, as we are wont to call it,--but as
yet, fortunately for us, the storm had not begun.

We had proceeded about ten miles, and the day had not yet dawned, when,
in passing around the point of a hill and winding our way among the deep
drifts, our driver and his charge missed the path, and we were
precipitated down a steep bank. The horses stopped immediately. Every
effort was made to rescue us from the stage-coach, which was lying on
its side, deeply embedded in the snow. I was so situated at the first
moment after the overturn, that most of the affrighted passengers made
use of me as a stepping-stone in their endeavors to reach the door
above, which was either opened or broken. At last we were all fairly
outside of the coach; no one appeared to be seriously injured.

As we were at a considerable distance from any dwelling-house, and as
the stage-coach was somewhat broken, and the harnesses torn, it required
a full hour to put things to rights, so as to enable us to proceed.
Meanwhile, though the weather was not very cold, it was quite chilly.
Some of the passengers stood still or sat still; others walked about.
The day had broken when we renewed our journey.

The sleighing here was better than at the place where we started. At the
next stage-office we exchanged our coach for a huge sleigh, which was
not only more commodious than the coach, but more easily drawn over the
ground, especially for a short time.

About noon it began to rain. Soon the travelling became worse again, and
our progress was slow and tedious. To me, the tediousness of the journey
was increased by a lame shoulder--the effect either of the overturn, or
of being used as a stair when the passengers made their sudden exit, or
of both. No bones were broken, nor joints dislocated; though there were
several considerable bruises.

Our other troubles were not yet over. In the midst of a violent rain,
and at a considerable distance from any public house, our sleigh broke
down, and we were obliged to send for a wagon. In making the exchange,
moreover, we were more or less exposed to the storm. I for one became
considerably wet, and did not get perfectly dry till we reached the
metropolis.

We