Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-07-22
F'rsm ne Fig efour Unio..
STRANGER HAS IrLErs.

We have often thought that TO person
who saw train Of cars in motion for the
nrst time, the sight must be the most mirac.
nlous and astounding. As Jack Downing
ence said, twas so queer to see hull lot
Of wagiaschock full Of people and things a.
goi4' of al that ere speed, and no boss to
draw 'em.n a genius Of the sort referred
to, lately made his experimental trip. He
was green horn, 4 genuine backwoodsman,
who feared nothing in the shape Of man or
beast, but anything that he could not under
stand puzzled him even more than it did,
perhaps, the ordinary runIof his fellows
Well, be came to Gainesville, short time
since, for the purpose Of taking hiassSat rail,
road trip. He'd heayn tell on EN-, but
didn't believe, he said half the nonsense
folks said about 'em. When the cars arri-
we'd at the place, our hero was there patient
~ waiting, and much excited and 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 the others, as soon
as tie cars stopped he hurried aboard, with
his saddle bags on lis arms, and seated him
self near the window Then looking around
at the passengers, manifestly much surpri.
sed, he put his head out at the window to
/ seet' the critter start While in this posi-
/ ton, watching with much axiety, the whistle
sounded Our hero, much surprised and
evidently little alarmed, drew back lis
head with a motion that might be called a
jerk, and turning to gentleman sitting near
him, said
Well, stranger, did you ever hear sucA
snort as that 2
The engine, suggested to other.
Well, I don't know what it is-but hol-
10 how she goes
Guess you are not acquainted with rail.
road travelling I
Hang it, no haint they runaway -
Creation how it Jerks 2
It's all safe enough, you may rely, the
cars. are starting
That's all well stranger, amt afeard,
you know, but kinder surprised like, that's
ALL said the mountain boy, half ashamed =
: l golly, stranger, did you hear that ere
snort 1t beats dads jackass, and he's
roaror, no mistake Whew, how it does
puff, somethin' Dustin I'm surel'
20, fudge, it's.all right, said the other,
settling himself for nap.
lswow | don't see how you sleep,
darned eff dop
Nothing like getting used to it, said the
other. You've heard Of cells that had been
skinned so many times they rather liked it,
and used to come ashore every few days to
get their hide taken off, haint your
You're gassin, stranger
The bell rang, the engine moved off, away
went the cars at rapid speed and before our
hero had recovered from the shock which
thadyes,a IT'S 7gdrri de popped his head out
at the window again, to see how itmoved,a
saw that he was some distance from tho
earth, and supposing the " critter," was fy-
ing, swooned, and fell from his seat speech
less. Several gentlemen sitting near, caught
hold of him, raised him up shook him and
rubbed him until he revived little.
This man is crazy suggested some of
the bystanders sagely.
No, he's not, answered he who had be-
fore spoken, he's frightened
Frightened p
Yes, scared half to death
about what n
The cars; he never was in train be
fore he told me So
A hearty laughrang through those about
the half fainting man, which had the effect
to arouse him to consciousness, or at least to
partially do SO, for his breath began to come
and go more regularly, and at last he open
cd his eyes, as large as sanccrs, and seeing
several gentlemen who had just come to his
assistance about lin, lie looked up mostib pc
seechingly in the face of one of them aid
said
Straager, has Rt lit p