The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-09-14
WHAT THE ENGINEER TOLD.

w Ax4A AAAS 49, SANA$1As ASASs
j am an engineer. Ever since tho
road was laid, I've travelled over il every
day, or nearly every day, Of my lifs. r,nr
For good while I've had the same en-
CINE in charge-the San Fnncisco-,he
pretties, engine on thei'rosd, and ss we'll
managed, il ! say Il, Is the best. .. ',r
II was a southwestern road, running,
we u say, from 4. to z. At A., my good
old mother lived, at 2. had the sweetes,
little wife under the sun, and q baby or two
and also had dollar or % put by for a
rainy day. ] was an odd kind Of man.
Being shut up with the engine, watching
with all your eyes and heart and soul, IN.
side and out, don't make man talkative.r
My wiies name was Josephine, and
called her 10. Some people thought me
unsociab'e, and couldn't understand how
a man could, feel friendly without spying
ten worls an hour. 30. though ! had a
few old ffiends-dcar ones, tool had moi
as many acQuaintances as most people, and
did not care to have. TIE house that beld
my wife and babies was the dearest place
on earth to me, except the other house that
held my old mother, up atA. ' -, ..
I'd never belonged to a club, or mixed
myself up with strangers in any such way
and never should il It hadn I been for Gran.
by. You see Ganby was one Of the share
holders, q handsome, snowy fellow. ! 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: It." ,,...,, .'.."
boz" You ought TO belong to the Scientific
Club, Guel.ien.' &C." '', ,
"Neyer heard Of IT," said !. .,-.
"imm a member" said he. ave mee
once fortnight, aud have jolly good
time. We want thinking ,nen like you
We have some amongst US now. Ill pro.
pose you ifyou like" "ts-. -" 80.
I wns fond of.such things, and ! had
ideas that ] fapcisd might bs worth some
thing. But then an engineer don't hav,
nights or. days to himself, and the clnt
would tnko ono evening a fortnight from
10. lsaid: .., ..'.. ~. ,,,.a w. I'D.
"l'll ask her Ifshe likes It, yes" ,'r''
aAsk whom ?" said he. ''' -. ... .,
"Jo," said I. 3a...r..
'" II every man had asked his wife. ever,
mans wife would have said, " Can't spare
you, my DEAR and wo should hate had n,
club n, all, ~ said Gunby.,,Y o. D., .a..,l..
But made no answer. At home tolt
Jo. She said: co.. =, g.. ......,..
.,"I shall ndss you Ned but you do low.
such things, and then If Mr., CRANKY be.
longy, they must be superior men,"
"No doubt" said ]. 80 ~ ~ ~ .,
,"lt isn't everybody who could bey rssds
q member" said Jo why ofcourse
you must say yes" .,,rr.,,.D -rr l-r,. %,
Sol said "ycs," and CRANKY proposed
me. Thursday fortnight Invent with him
to the rooms. There werc some men with
bruins there, some without. The real busi.
ness Of the evening wus the supper, and q
il was every meeting. rL ..''. To-. p" ....,.r
I'D always been temperate man.
actually did not know what effect wine
would have, upon nc ;4bpt coming TO drink
more Of II than ! ever had before at The
/ ~ = ~ A % % o.. u. a
club table, found !. put the steam on. AZ
ter so many glasses L wanted to talk afts'
30 many norc did. - ,r''' .riirr-I .n, .,ac,,
Il seemed like somsbody else, the words
Were 70 ready. Ny little ideas came ou'
and wsrs Listened 10. I,niade slisrp hits |;
indnlgsd III relaree; f.lof stories e even
cume 10, a,kppns.,,rl' heard souisbody say to
Grnnby :. BY. Gsors, tisstsa man worth
knewiag!. rIrtl'ousht him dull At first
Yea fknswit was bcttsr 20 be quiet Nod
GusIienn. with, his ,sn ''wt,prls an hour. than
the wine.msae wit Iwss. ~ 14 {
Twas sure Oft when, three hours afler.
stumbled up stairsat homo to find 10.
waiting, fSr me', with her babe on her
breast % lpiGrI' ,i,p t,n sr. .uir'p. "a"
"Yau'vs been deceivins me-" said ia,
I've suspected it but ! wasn't sure. A sci.
entiac club couldnt pmoll like 4 bar.room," +"
aiyhicl, means I do"', said ! waving 10
the middle Of Tho room Ikea signal flag
at a station, and seeing two JOS, -
.And look like ons."" .aid 10; and she
went and locked herself and the baby In
the sI,are.led room. Co.,. -. t.. HNf.r
One club night as ! was dressed to 30,
Jo. stood before me. ,. ....-r
ANed said she, "Inever had a huk to
fintl with you before, III say that. You're
becn kind. and loving always; but l should
he sorry we, ever met il you were to 60 on
this way. Don't ask ms what mean. 4
know" .. .'r $500 .'.'I
"Jo." said ,4i,'s only on club nights"
ut twiIl grow," said she. Dol d.
Then she put her arm about my neck.
aNed,' said she, +" do you think thing
% much like a bottled up aud Strapped.
down demon as steam isis fs 20 be pat
into the hands Of Of drunken man? And
some day, mark. my words, tho time will
conc when not only Thursday night but
all the days Of the week viii 10 tho same
I've ohen hcari you womlcr what tho feel.
isgs ofsn engineer who has about the samc
as numbered traln full Of people must
he, aai you'Il know u you don't sop
where you are. A stemiy hand and clcar
head have lecn your blessiuss al these
years. Don't throw tbem away Ned. n
you don't care for my love don't ruin
yourself" rsr .tHr s,Hi- s'.7ra, 'r 80
Ny leIJo! She spoke ftpm her hear