Over the Rocky Mountains: Wandering Will in the Land of the Redskin

It was late on a winter evening when our hero, William Osten, arrived in England, in company with his two friends and former messmates, Bunco and Larry O?Hale. When a youth returns to his native land, after a long absence which commenced with his running away to sea, he may perhaps experience some anxieties on nearing the old home; but our hero was not thus troubled, because, his father having died during his absence, and his mother having always been tender-hearted and forgiving, he felt sure of a warm reception. Our hero was so anxious to see his mother, that he resolved to travel by the night-coach to his native town of B?, leaving his companions to follow by the mail in the morning. Railways, although in use throughout the country, had not at that time cut their way to the town of B?. Travellers who undertook to visit that part of the land did so with feelings somewhat akin to those of discoverers about to set out on a distant voyage. They laid in a stock of provisions for the journey, and provided great supply of wraps for all weathers. When Will Osten reached the coach-office, he found that all the inside places were taken. ?You?ll have to go aloft, sir,? said the coachman, a stout and somewhat facetiously inclined individual, who, observing something of the sailor in Will?s costume and gait, suited his language to his supposed character; ?there?s only one berth left vacant, on the fogs?l ?longside o? myself.?