The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-08-16
WHAT THE ENGINEER TOLD.

day, or nearly every day, of my life.
For a good while I've had the same
engine in charge-the San Francisco
the prettiest engine on the road, and a;
well managed, if l say it, as the best
/ 1t was a south ives tern road, running
we'll say, from A to Z. At A. my good
old mother lived; at Z. 1 had the sweetest
little wife under the sun, and a baby OF
two; and also had a dollar or so put
by for rainy day was an odd kind
of a man. Being shut up with the engine
watching with ali your eyes and heart
and soul, inside and out, don't make q
I man talkative.
My wifes name was Josephine, and
called her 10. Some people thought me
/ unsociable, and couldn't understand
how man could feel friendly withou,
saying ten words an hour. SO, though
/ had few old friends-dear ones, too
i had not as many acpuaintances as
most people, and did not care to have.
The house that held my wife and babies
was the dearest place on earth to me,
except the other house that held my old
mother up at A.
I'd never belonged to club, or mixed
myself up with strangers in any such
way, and never should, il it hadn't been
for Granny. You see Granny was one OF
the share holders, handsome. snowy
fellow. l liked to talk to him, and we
were friends. He often rode from T. to
A, and back again, with me, and once
he said:
You ought to belong to the Scientific
Club, Guelden"
''Never heard of it, said l.
Il am a member said he. 1--WE
meet once fortnight, and have a jolly
good time. We want thinking men like
you. We have some amongst us now
I'll propose you, if you like"
was fond of such things, and had
ideas that fancied might be worth
But then an engineer don't
have too many nights or days to himself,
and the club would take one evening a
from 10. l said:
''I'll ask her. If she likes it, yes"
''Ask whom?" said he.
"Jo," said I.
eff every man had asked his wife, |
very mans wife would have said, Can't |
pare you, my DEAR and we should have |
lad no club at all,' said CRANKY
But l made no answer. At home 1
old 10. She said:
81 shall miss you, Ned; but you do |
owe such things, and then if Mr.. Gran
y belongs, they must be superior men,"
mo doubt" said 1.
1T isn't everybody who could be made
! member" said 10. "Why Of course
rou must say yes,
$50 l said yes and CRANKY pro-
,osed me. Thursday fortnight went
With him to the rooms. There were
ONE men with brains there, some with
ut, The real business of the. evening
vas the supper, and SO it was every
meeting.
always been temperate man. l
ctually did not know what effect wine
Tould have upon me; but coming to
rink more of it than 1 ever had before
1 the club table, 1 found it put the
team on. After SO many glasses +
1anted to talk; after so many more l
i'd
1t seemed like somebody else, the
Iords were SO ready. My little ideas
anne out and were listened to- l made
its, indulged in repartee; told stories;
even came to puns. / heard somebody
ay to CRANKY: BY George, that's
IAN worth knowing! 1 thought him
uIl at first. Yet l knew it was better
> ue quiet Ned Guelden, with his Ten
Tort.s an hour, than the wine made wit
was
| was sure of it when, three hours af-
er. stumbled up stairs at home to find /,
reast
You've been deceiving me" said 10.
I've suspected it, but l wasn't sure
+ .
! scientific club couldn't smell like
arroom.
w hich means do" said 1, waiving
4 the middle of the room like signal
ag at a station, and seeing two Jos.
..And look like one" said 10, and she
rent and locked herself and the baby in
he spare bed ROOM
One club night, as I was dressed to
o, 10. stood before me.
'sNed," said she, II never had fault
D find with you before, I'll say that
'ou've been kind. and good, and loving
ways. but l should be sorry we ever
let if you were to go on this way
,cnt ask NE what mean. You Enor. :
.sJo.,a said I, it IS only on club nights $
1T will grow" said She
Then she put her arms about my neck.
Med !. said She ss1o Won think thing