National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-11-30
WHAT TsIE ENGINEER
TOLD.

1t every day, or nearly every day of
my life.
For IA good while I've had the
same engine in c!argc-the San
Francisco--the prettiest engine on
the road, and rs well managed, if |
do say it. as the best.
1t was a southwestern road. run
ming, we'll say, from A. tn Il. At A.
my good old mother lived /: at Y.
ha! the sweetest little wife under
the sun, and a baby or two: and /
had also a dollar or so put by for a
rainy day. | was an odd kind of a
man. Being shut up with an engine,
Watching with all your eyes and
heart and soul, inside and ont. don't
tend to make IA man talhative.
My wite's name was Josephine
and | called her 10. Some people
thought me unsociable and couldn't
understand how man could feel
friendly without saving ten words
al hour. SO. though | had few
old fliends-good ones. tool had
not as many acquaintances as most
people. and did not care tn have
The house that held my wife and ba-
bieS was the dearest place olksRarth
to me, except the other honse that
held my old mother. up to A.
I'd never been to a club. or mixel
myself up with strangers in any suc'l
way, and never should if it hadn't
been for CRANKY. Iou see Gyapby
was one OF the share holders. hand
some, snowy fellow. | liked to tsslk
with him and we were friends. He
often rode from y. to a. and back
again. aud once he said:
lou ought TO belong to the Sci
cntitic Club. Guollon."
Never heard of it," said /.
am member" said he. /" We
meet once a fortnight and haze n
Jolly good time. We have some
amongst us now. I'll propose You il
you ike
was fond of Such things and
had ideas thst | fancied might he
worth something. Bnt then an en-
gfneer don't have nights or days to
himself. and the club would take one
evening n fortnight from 10. said .
III aSk ler. If she likes it, yes =
Ask whom ?" said he.
"Jo." said |.
"lt every man llad asked his wife.
every. mans wife would haze said,
Z = can snare IAn,, tnI ~
,l' nd have had no club at ALL" sail
lGranhv.
But ! made no answer. .At home
told 10. She said:
= shall miss you. Ned: buts Won
10 love such things. and then if Mr..
Grluby belongs. they must be supe-
riur men.
" No Doubt said |.
IT isn't every body that could b.
made Il mctuher." said 10. Why.
oi' course, Nou must SLY vcs.'
81 said "yes." and Granny pro.
posed me. Thursday fortnight
went with him to the rooms. There
! were some men with brains thpr-.
some without. The real business o.
the evening was the supper, and So
! II was every meeting.
( Id always been a temperate man.
| actually did hot know what ciicci
wine would have upon me: comih :.
to drink more of it than | ever had
before at the club table. found il
put the steam on. After so man,
glasses | wanted to talk. after sc
many more did.
seemed like somebody else. the
words were So ready. My little ideas
came out and were listened to.
made sharp hits: | indulgcd in re-
paitcc; | told stories even came
to puns. | heard somebody say t,
Graahy: BY George. that's MAJ,
worth knowing thought him dul
at first Yet knew that it wa,
better to be quiet Ned Gueldon. Will
his Ten words an hour, than til,
w.ne.made wit was.
| was sure of it when. three hour,
after stumb ed up stairs at lom,
to find .lo waiting for me, with he
baby on her breast
You've been decciving me-" sait
she. " Eve suspected it. hut | wa
not sure. a scientific club couldn'
smell like a bar-room."
Which means | do" said |. way
ing in the middle of the room like
signal flag at Il station and secini
two JOS.
And look like one" said .Io: an,
she went and locked herself aud tn
baby in the spare bed droom.
One club night as | was dressed (
60. 10 stood before me.
Ned" said She, II never had
fault to find with you before. I'll 81
that You've been kind and goo
and loving always; but | should h
sorry we ever met if you were to 9
on IN this way. Don't ask me win
,, | mean. You know"
,, "Jo,' said |; its only on clu
nights"
1t will grow said she.
Then she put her arms about IN
neck.
" Ned,' said she, "do you think
thing so nncl, like u bottled up an
strapped down demon rs steam is,
mt to- bc put iutc the hands of
drunken man E! Aud some da,
, marx my words, the time will CON
when not only Thursday night, bl
all the days of the week will he I'll
same. I've often heard you wond,
,.J,.t th. E..,l;,.s., ~ 80.