Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-04-24


Halo what are We stopping for now?
| wonder whether we're going to do an up
set or anything exciting of that kind" said
Davies, looking out of the window. Il
don't see a train anywhere that we can have
a friendly collision with
'sGet out here, gentlemen said the
guard, passing the window; the line is
showed up, and We shall have to wait till
1t is clear
The grumbiing which this pleasant an
nouncement caused was Immediately stopped
by our hearing the voice of our disag
bic companion III the next compartment.
Line showed up, is it ? said that GEN
tleman, trying to appear calm in his fury,
. and we get out here? Oh and do you
suppose | am quietly going to submit to
this? The line ought to have been cleared
ready for us. | shall bring an action
But sir :" | said, How on earth
could they
. Might | request TO know who spoke to
you, sir? | consider your remark an IN
reference excessively impertnent"
This was a little too bad, and | turned
to Jack and whispered that we would de-
wise some plan of giving our friend lesson
demonstrative of the evils attending bad
temper at Christmas time.
We were fortunately stopped at dis
tance of only two hundred yards from a
station; but very poor station il was,
without any waiting-room or refreshment-
rooms.
The station-master, who was Il pleasant
sort of Il fellow. said we should have to
wait a couple of hours, and gave Us a room.
where we made the best Of bad Job, and
having sent for some beer from the nearest
public" became, as Edwards mathemati-
eally observed, approximately happy The
old gentleman, however, had not vet vented
all his wrath, but kept on matchmaking
the snow and the railway people AT inter
vals After We had warmed ourselves
Streteher proposed that We should have
some songs but as no one volunteered. |
suggested that we should get on our way
sooner if we all went out and helped to
clear away the snow from the line To this
all agreed with the exception OF our ami
able friend Of course)
We had worked away merrily for about
an hour, and were congratulating ourselves
on being able to start again. when Jack
came running up with very pleased eX-
preston Of countenance and as he tapped
me on the shoulder | remember that he
had not been with me for the last half
hour.
Fred he said, :. I've an idea
Keep il then" | replied, '' for il is sc
rare commodity with YOU that | would
not deprive YOU it for the world
:. Don't chaff, and I'll tell YOU all about
it. | went up in the room at the station
Just now, and found our friend the old 10,
fast asleep i'll his chair, completely col
lapsed under the soporitic effects of the fir
and a glass Of brandy-and-water i'm
mediatey ran into the village and bough
these" he said, showing me handful o
screws. gimlet, and a screwdriver.
- V, hat in the name of everything ridic
ulous do you want these for" | asked
Don't YOU see? we shall be able t.
start directly. now that the line IS clear
we meanwhile run up stairs, and screw th'
old gentleman firmly in to the room-th
train goes On-we are revenged for hi
surly behavior to us, and he will then learl
that old gentleman should not be illtem-
pered at Christmas time
Capital - | said. always ready t'
fall in with practical Joke; - let Us be of
at once"
We certainly found the old gentlemen
in as Morphean a torpor as we could wish
His feet were proped up on a chair. willis
his boots were drying, and he was breath
inc with his mouth wide open in a rathe
apoplectic manner.
Shall put a SNOWFALL into each of hi
boots ," | said
No? that would be to much of a goo,
thing, but I'll tell you what you shall do
you're rather Il swell at drawing aren't
you =? " I'll just burn the end of that beer
: bottle cork, and YOU shall artisticallv ador
his face
That is splendid" he whispered, as
g finished off with giving him moustache
which turned up i'll tacetious manner
:. just move that looking-glass, and put
so that he may admire himself directly h
wakes: and now let us be off"
. We walked Oh tiptoe to the door. Th
hinges began to creak and cold as tn
weather was, a faint perspiration began t
:. develop itself OH my forehead as | notice
the old gentleman move in his chair
l. was. however, only to turn his head on I
the Otner SnOtllueT- anu We clo>cu inc uoC
in safety.
Give me the screws quick | sal,
and go to the bottom of the stairs al
I prevent any one coming up"
II | bored hole after hole az noiselessly
| could. and having made the door as fa>
= as eight good screws would make it, | ia
= down stairs and whispered ''All right (, "
Is there gentleman upstairs, sir
: said the station Master, walking towarc
l. us. He asked me to wake him in tin
for the train, and ii is just ready to go"
t ..Oh, he won't like to be disturbed ii
the last moment, you may be sure, sa
l. Jack. By-the-by L wish to talk to yc
'r of plan by which | think your static
might be much improved"
l, Now architecture happened to be one
q the station-master's hobbies, and they wei
le soon deep in discussion. [ beat hasty r
treat to the guard, and producing sove
eign, said:
l. 'If you get us off iii five minutes fro
I, now, waiting for no one, and ring your be
III at the very last minute, this is yours
u u All right, sir! the luggage is all
1t and most of the passengers. Take yo
e. seats. Going on" he shouted, whilst
stood with my watch in my hand.
ne "One minute left Ring the bell now
IL | said. If they undo those screws
one. or even five minutes, III eat them. y
We jumped into carriage. the qua
! gave the final whistle, and the train NOV
~ slowly on. We anxiously watch the rest
u of our plot, with our heads out of t