Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-07-06
Z. ss.sir, Mr. Jos.aompkins, ofKentOn-


Just so, and as yo1Eae his brother, it viii
afford me inexpressible pleasure to ckGsk
your hat. sir, by which SD viii not only
escape the payment of.fare kpt all accidents.
so long as you sSayel on thi<raad.'
| Astonishing = replied<9he Hoosier,
who gladly gave over his heisd piece to re.
.ceise an application of chalk.
ne 1.ctc.1ced 1rreSfe sssssisce-xs4tts=
chalk, in large letters, the following upon the
crown of his hat-Free paid-to III
Reubea Iompkins-eUeryJody take notics.
The hat was returned to his head with due
ceremony and all the passengers in the cans
who by this time understood the joke, burst
into laugh, as Mr.. Tompkins, eyeing him
self in glass, declared with emphasis, that
he was now Some Punkins.
About this time, the conductor who had
been informed of the joke. and had received
Tompkins' fare from third person. approach
ed the man with the chalked hat, and asked.
Your ticket, SIR.
Ticketl Lookeyhere, Colonel, grea
You don't know who you are talking tof'
No, sir, and it is not my business-I
want your ticket or your fare, sir, and that,
too, without CEREMONY
Now look sharp, Colonel, or there will
De fuss. | amt SO green as You might take
me to be. Now, don't you see notlinT
see neither ticket or money, and
Just look at my hat-what do you think
of that, eh
Chalked, BY heaven : exclaimed the con.
ductor. beg your pardon. Sir, forif had
have known that your hat was chalked, +
would not have intimated anything about
pay. You have the freedom Of the cars, sir.
Please make yourself at home'
Lord won't have heap to tell all
on EN- when get home" exclaimed Reu-
ben, ovegoyed at the change in tie behavior
Of the conductor towards him, when the
chalk was observed. Really il is suprisin',
and are some punkins, sure, wav down
here away. What aciH the old cal saywhen
| tell her all about it?
1t is needless for us to say that Tompkins'
end OF the car was soon crowded with passen.
! gers, whose merry faces and boisterous laugh.
ter indicated the amusement Reuben's con-
duct afforded them. He took it all in right
down earnest, and laughed with the rest of
them, and SO much delighted was he with the
cbalked hat that he passed around a pound
Of butter crackers which he had laid in at
Urbana. He considered Mr.. Brown genuine
friend. and freely communicated to him all
hls secrets, with the history Of his family
from his grandfoks on both sides down to his
one year DID, The continual roar Of laugh.
ter, by the conversation, particularly as Mr..
TomPkins fully appreciated the iR1portancs
of chalked nat, and acted accordingly.
When within ten miles of Kenton, Mr..
Brown, the self constituted railroad Presi
dent, jumped up as if astonislIed, gave sud-
den glance out of the window, looked at
Reuben, and Their, clapping bis hands, said,
1t amt possible-yes it is it is too bad
I-yon have been deceived, Mr. Tompkins.'
Thunder the hoss aint runnin' of, is itr
shouted Tompkins, as he jumped 10 bis feet.
No, sir 1t is far worse. The conductor
failed to notify you when we were at Kentos.
We are now twenty miles beyond it.
j Sugar and salvation = shouted Reuben.
tell him TO turn back Wo Stop the
: team ! Whatll Josh say to all this =
, This is bad business. Mr.. Tompkins. but
} | will see the conductor, and try to get him
to turn around If he can't DO it, you must
go on to the Worlds Fair
Mr. Brown then stepped into another car,
while Tompkins raved, stamped and swore.
to the no little amusement of his fellow. pas
sengers. Matters passed on thus, until the
train stopped at Kenton
In moment the man with chaked hat
espied the conductor walking near the cars
by the passengers. The conductor endeavor-
pH tn l,,,4 L
1t. Reuben chased him around the cars till
he overlook him, and then in the fercest
manner demanded that the team should
be turned round The good people Of
henton, attracted by the confusion, could
not imagine what Was the matter, and gath
cred around the cars in large numbers
Some laughed without knowing what thew
were laughing about-others gaped without
stlrrinp rnnSnln anA ,,raosaI
the rescue of the conductor, and taking Tomp-
kins aside, privately advised him TO run up
to a magistrates Office and get an Injunction
against the Railroad.
lie pointed ont house short distance up
the street, which he said was the Office Of
the administrator of the law. Reuben started
for the house on full run, but he had pro-
lceeded but snort distance before the iron
, horse gave a significant whistle He knew
it was the signal for starting, and fearing
that the train would be Of before he could
t get back, he changed his course and sped
, for the cars. He reached the platform of
, the last car just as the train commenced
4 moving, and cutchiDg it with a firm grasp
endeavored to stop its P ogra<s Finding
his puny strength availed nothing, he yelled,
d while he still held on:
e Stop her! Tell the driver that I've got
], an iunctiOn-stop, or III tell the Squirrel
r, The iron horse hadno ears, and therefore
d the screams Of Mr.. Reuben Tompkins had
no other effect than to create killing laugh.
o ter among those who heard him. The speed
u Of the locomotive was gradually increased
and at last Tompkins' legs gave out. and ht
$ and the train was forced to part company
D, He let 90, as be did SO, turned a half som
lg erset, which sent the chalked hat whizzinI
O. into mud puddle. As soon as he regaine
C. his feet, be shook bis fist terribly at the car
as at which act he vas engaged in when th
4 II l..