Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-09-12

am an engineer. Ever since G. road
was laid, I've travelled over it every day,
or nearly every day my life.
For good while have had the same
engine in charge-the San Francisco
the prettiest engine on the road, and as
well managed, if say it, as the best.
It was Southern road, running, we
say, frem A to z. At A. good old mo-
thcr lived; at T. [ had the sweetest little
wife under the sun, and baby; and [ al
ways had dollar or two put by for a raj
ny day. [ was an odd kind Of man
Being shut UP with the engine, watching
with all your eyes, and heart, and soul,
inside, and out, don't make a man talka-
tive
My wife's name was Josephine, and [
called her Joe. Some people called me
unsociable, and couldn't understand how
man could be friendly without saying ten
words an hour. So, tho I had a few old
friends-dear ones, tool did not have
SO many ac4uaintances as most people,
and did not care to have. The house that
held my wife and baby was the dearest
place on earth to me, except the old house
which held my mother up in A.
Inever belonged to club. or mixed my
self up with strangers in any such way,
and never should if it had not been for
CRANKY, who was one Of the shareholders,
handsome snowy fellow. [ liked to talk
with him, and We were good friends He
often rode from Z. to A. and back again,
and once he said:
"You ought to belong to the Scientific
Club, Gdeldon."
Never heard of it," said I.
Il am member" said he eve meet
once a fortnight, and have jolly good
time. We want thinking men like YOU
We want some among US now. I'll pro-
pose you, if you like"
[ was fond of such Things, and I had
ideas that fancied might be worth some
thing. But then an engineer don't have
days and nights to himself and the club
would have one evening in fortnig ht
from Joe. said:
iii ask her. IF she likes it, yes"
"Ask whom 2" said he
"My wife" said I.
eff every man had asked his wife, eve
ry mans would have said, cant spare
you, my dear" and we Should have had
no club at all" said Cranky.
But made no answer At home [
told Joe She said: ssThen if CRANKY
belongs to it they must be superior men %
"No doubt" said
cit isn't verybody who could be made
member" said Joe. "Why of course
you must say, yes"
So I said yes, and CRANKY proposed
me. Thursday night [ went with him to
the room. There were some men there
with brains and some without. The real
business of the evening was the supper,
and SO it was every evening.
I'd always been a temperate man. [
actually did not know what effect wine
would have upon me; but coming to drink
more of it than ever had, at the club ia
bic, found it put the steam on. After
so many glasses [ wanted to talk: after so
many more I did.
| seemed like somebody else, the words
were SO ready. My little ideas came out
and were listened to; made sharp hits; I
INDUCED in repartee; [ told stories; ev-
en- came to puns. I heard one say to
CRANKY:
"By George, that's MAJ worth know
ing. I thought him dull at first"
Yet | knew it was quiet Ned Gueldon,
with his ten words an hour, than the, wine
made wit [ was
I was sure of it, when three hours after,
I stumbled up stairs to find Joe waiting
for me, with her babe on her breast
"You've been deceiving me-" she said
She suspected it, but ! wasn't sure. A