The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-11-06
A RUN r r LIFE
A Railroad Adventure.

My father was an extremely clever and
capable artisan, who possessed be aides abil-
ity considerable prudence and no small
share Of ambition
With such qualities il was only natural
that he should rise in lie and he did so -
Batore was sixteen years OF age he held
lucrative and responsible position in the To-
comouve department on one of the great
north country lines, and had he lived think
be might have made himself a name in the
world was his only son, and he gave
me good education, deeply tinged with
mechanical coloring, in The hope tha,
should improve on his success In this
hope, II he were alive, he would not per
haps be altogether disappointed but al
:Eongh have no reason TO plain of
want OF present prosperity and social posi-
ton It is none the less true that the spare
hours and holidays of my school lite were
spent chiefly among workshops, mechanics
and eugine-drivers. In those young days
had passion for The locomotive. and my
bOyish ambition was TO become a master Of
all the mysteries aud du,ies connected
herewith Thus was forever loafing about
the engine house aCd getting an occasional
trip with good natured drivers more ready
to please an inquiring youngoter than care
fol to obey the Compsoy's regulations In
this way | early gained tolerably complete
insight into The management OF the locOmo-
tive, aud being a shrewd, self confident lad
soon acquired profound belief in my ca
pasity for discharCiug all the duties CT
driver. had, besides, an insepsrable com
panion named Mark Hibberd. whose faith
er followed the calling | thought should so
much adorn, and VINO delighted equally
with me in poilering about among the en-
glnes and men, or riding short distances
whenever the opportunity occurred. The
elder Hbberd was an extremely daring
and clever driver, first rate workman but
unfortunately like too many of our very best
arGisaEs, given 10 occasional fits OF drunken
ness This pecuIarity had go, him into
trouble once or twice before the time of
which am speaking, but as on each occa-
sion his escapes had been productive Of no
actual harm and he was in other respects
a very valuable man, he was retained, but
cautioned. Mark was quite as great pro-
feienl as myself in knowledge o. the craft,
and The dearest wish OF hoth was TO have
our abilities properly recognized among the
workmen who were our companions. In
all our little enterprises ard adventures
Mark hotravar ha faaIar. no i'll
ted his fathers skill and courage, and soon
acquired even among Tie men, good rep
ntalion tor steady pluck and shrewdness -
Such were young Hibberd and myself at
abont the age of fifteen but in order that
you may clearly understand The whole of
my story, il will be necessary for me now
TO explain the situation and pecuiari;ies of
our station and the neighboring line =
Coulston is a large town Oh the - Rail-
way, standing midway between AlIonby,
which is ten miles below, and Casteon,
which is ten miles above it,
Attached to the s,a,ion are the locomo-
tive works already mentioned, and a very
large engine house. Ia lhesla,ter, the num-
Der of engines was generally considerable,
and this was our favorite haunt, where we
lurked at all hours, hoping for the chance
OF run with some complaisant comrade
Gown to AIlonby, whence we trusted to the
chapter of accidents and "Shank's mare u
for a return journey The engine house
stood al a distance OF about 200 yards below
Couiston station, with which il was con.
nected by siding joining the main line,