Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-01-17

rand we get out hereI Oh, and do you
suppose | am quietly going to submit to
this? The line ought to have been cleared
Eready for US. shall bring ar action. y :
''}ut, sir" | said, sHow on earth
could they"
Y "Might Irequest to know who spoke to
I you, sir? | consider your remark an in
reference and excessive inlpertinencc.' y
: This was little too bad. and [ turned
to jack and whispered that we would de-
wise some plan Of giving our friend a les
son demonstrating the evils attend ngbad
! temper at Christmas time.
We were fortunately stopped alta dis
! lance of only two hundred yards from
station; but very poor station it was,
Eithout any waltlng-room or refreshments
9oms.
The station master, whe was pleasant
D sort of IL fellow, said we should have to
wait but couple of hours, and gave us
room, where we made the best of Il bad
h job, and having sent for some beer from
the nearest public" became, as Edwards
automatically observed, approximately
happy. The old gentleman, however, had
not yet vented all his wrath, but kept on
matchmaking the SHOW and the railway
people at intervals After we had warm
ed ourselves, Stretcher 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 the snow from the line
To this all agreed with the exception Of
our amiablc friend of course).
We had worked away mcrrily for about
an hour, and we congratulated ourselves
on being able 10 start again, when Jack
came running up with a very pleased ex-
preston Of countenance, and as he tapped
me on the shoulder remembered that he
had not been with me for the last half-hour.
Erred" he said, I've IN idea"
keep it, then" [ replied, ''for it is 50
rare comMolity with you that I would
not deprive you of it for the world''
Don't chatf, and I'll tell you all about
it. I went up in the room i'll the station
just now, and found our friend, the old
boy, fast asleep in his chair, completely
collapsed under the soporific influence Of
the fire and glass Of brandy-and- water.
I Immediately ran into the village and
bought these" he said. and showing me
a handful Of screws, gimlet and Il screw
driver.
''What in the name Of every thing re-
diculous do you want these for p | asked.
Don't YOU see? we shall be able to
start directly, now that the line is clear;
we meanwhile run up stairs, and screw the
old gentleman firmly into the roon-the
train goes on-we are rcvcnged for his
suriy behavior to US, and he Will then learn
that odd gentlemen should not be i'll tenn
pcrcd at Christmas time"
"Capital.' | said, always ready to fall
in with ;. practical joke ''lct us be OF at
once"
We certainly found the old gentleman
in as Morphcan torpor as we could wish.
His feet were proppcd up OH Il chair, whilst
bis boots were drying, and he was breath
ing with his mouth wide open i'll a rather
apoplectc manner
Shall put a now-ball into each of
his boots!" | said.
"No, that would be too much of good
thing, but I'll tell you what you shall do;
you're rather a swell at drawing. aren't
you!'' I'll just burn the end of
that berr-bottle cork, and you shall artist
ically adorn his face
That is Splendid" he whispered. as |
finished off with giving him moustache,
which turned up i'll Il facctious manner.
just move that looking glass, and place
it so that he may admire himself directly
he wakes; and now let us b" off. :"
We walked OH tiptoc to the door. The
hinges began to cr"ak; and cold as the
weather was, a faint perspiration began to
develope itself Oh my forehead, as Noticed
the old gentleman move in his, chair; it
was however, only to turn his head on to
tie other shoulder, and we closed the door
lu safety.
Give me the screws quick | said,
''and go to the bottom of the stairs and
prevent amy one coming up"
| bored hole after hole us nois!cssly as
could and having made the door as fast
as eight good screws would make it, | ran
down stairs, and viii spercd ''.All right
is there a gentleman up stairs, sir?'
said the station master, walking towards
US. He asked HE to wakcn him III
time for the train, and it is just ready to
60"
'.Oh, he Won't like to be disturbed till
the last minute, you may be sure" said
Jack. By-the7by, | wish to talk to you
Of a plan by which | think your station
might be much improved"
New architecture happened to be one of
the station masters hobbies. and they were
soon deep in discussion. beat hasty
retreat to the guard, and producing SOW
ign, said:
"Ifyou get us off in FIVE minutes from
now, waiting for no one, and ring your
bell at the very last minute, this is yours. :"
"All right, sir. the luggage is all in,
and most OF the passengers. Take your
seats. Going on.'' he shouted, whilst |
stood with my watch in my hand
s.D LA IL HILL p;