Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1852-12-11

First Ride on a Railrodd.-We have often
thought that, to aperson who saw train ofcarsin
motion, the sight must be most miraculous andas
founding. As Jack Downingpnce said, twas
queer to see a hull lot of wagons chuck full of
ofpeople, and things going offin thatere speed,
and no boss to draw en-" A genius of the sort
referred to, lately made his experimental trip.
He was a greenhorn, genuine backwoodsman,
who feared nothing in the shape of man or beast,
but any thing that he could not understand puz-
zled him even more than it did, perhaps, the or
dinary run of his fellows. Well, he came to
Cartersville short time since, for the purpose
of taking his first railroad trip.
He'd hearn tell on'em, but didn't believe he
said, half of the nonsense folks said about EN-.
When the cars arrived at the place, our hero was
elated in anticipating his intended ride. AS the
cars approached, he stood gazing with wonder
and awe at the engine, putting and smoking
Following the example of Others as soon as the
cars stopped he hurried aboard, with his saddle
bags upon his arms, and seated himself near a
window. Then looking around at the paSSen-
gers, manifesting much surprise, he put hishead
out of the window to see the "critter start;"
while in his position, watching with much anx-
iety, the whistle sounded. Our hero, much sur
prised, and evidently little alarmed, drew back
his head with motion that might be called a
jerk, and turning to a gentleman sitting near
him, said
"Well, stranger, did you ever hear suca a
snort as that?"
"The engine" suggested the other.
"Well, don't know what it is, but-hallow,
how she goes'
"GuesS you are not acquainted with railroad
traveling?'
"Hang it, no! haint they ran away? Creation
how it jerks!'
''It's all safe enough, you may rely, the cars
are starting"
THAT'S all; well stranger, amt afraid, you
know, but kinder surprised like, that's ALL" said
the mountain boy, half ashamed. II gOllv,
stranger, did YOU ever hear that ere snort? it
beats dads jackass, and he's roarer, no mis-
take. Whew, how it does puff; somethin' bus
tin, I'm sure
20, fudge! it's all right" said the other, set
Ting himself for a nap.
81 swow! / don't see how YOU can sleep. darn
ed if do!'
"Nothing like getting used to it." said the
other. You've heard of the GELS that had been
skinned so many times they rather liked it, and
used to come ashore every few days to get their
hides taken of, hav' MT vOu?"
"1oure gassin, stranger
The bell rang, the engines moved off, away
went the cars at rapid speed, and before our he
rO had recovered from the shock which the
snort produced the cars were moving slowly
over Etowa bridge. Discovering change in
its gait, he popped his head ont of the window
again, "to see how it moved" saw that it was
some distance from the ground, and supposng
the crittcr' was flying, swooned, and fell from
his seat speechless. Several gentlemen sitting
near caught hold of him, raised him up, shook
him and rubbed him until he revived little.
"The mans crazy" suggested some of the
bystanders, sagely.
No, he's not" answered he, who had before
spoken, ''he's frightened"
"Frightened?"
"Yes scared half to DEATH
"About what?"
"The cars; he never was in O train before; he
told me So"
A hearty laugh ran through those about the
halffanting man, which had the effect to arouse
him to consciousness, at least partially so, for his
breath began to come and go more regularly,
and at last he opened his eyes as saucers, and
seeing several of the gentlemen who had just
come to his assistance about him, he looked
up most beseechingly in the face of one them,
and said
Stranger, has it litl'-F1ag Of our Union.