Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-14
SGlGftGA Vale.
SHOWED UP.

IT Is now some twenty years since,
after spending my Christmas holt
days with the old folks down in
Northshire, found myself one fine
morning in early January at our near
est railway station, waiting the ar
rival of the train that was to bear me
back to London and business. Soon
it came in sight, and the CHEEKY face
of our old servant Bob, transformed
through the influence of my father
(who was a large shareholder in the
line) into chief guard, was thrust out
of the window of the break carriage,
giving me an assurance of having a
pleasant companion during my jour
ney to town. The train became tex
press" after passing our station, so
nothing occurred to disturb Bob and
myself, as we sat in his box smoking,
until the whistle called my compan-
ion to his break as we neared Kirton
Bridge, some thirty miles on the road.
Here two ladies were waiting our ar
rival. The younger, lively girl of
seventeen, was, with many cautions
and solemn injunctions on the part of
her elderly companion, consigned to
Bob's special care and keeping for
delivery in due course to whomsoev-
er might be in waiting to receive her
at HeXtOn, station twenty miles
nearer to London. Bob was we'll
known on the line as a steady, civil
fellow, to whom manageable articles,
whether in brown paper or petit
coats, might be safely intrusted and
the halfcrown slipped into his all
unconscious palm, noticed by no one
but myself and the hungry, jealous
eyed porter, who had hoped for, but
did not receive, "tip" for his as
sistance, would not be lost on an old
serving g-man if his fidelity ever came
to be put to the test. Up to this mo-
ment the sky had been clear, the air
crisp and invigorating, and nothing
had indicated any untoward incident
on our southwark course, though it
puzzled Bob to account for the non.
of the London down train,
that should have passed US soon aft
er we had quilted Kirton Bridge
Looking out to discover any signs of
its approach, Bob drew his head in
again with "Change in the weather,
Master Arthur (he had always called
me Master Arthur, and would now,
poor fellow | suppose, if he could call
me anything). Snow yonder, sir" he
said, pointing to the hills in a west
erly direction, that were already be-
ing rapidly hid from US by the com
ing storm. Hardly had he spoken
when the sun disappeared behind the
driving clouds, and first slowly, then
faster and faster, the snow was upon
US in right earnest. Reminds me,
Bob, of old school days." l said, look
ing out at the wintry sight, when
the mail was showed up, and we got
an extra fortnight at home in conse-
quence." "Ah, Master Arthur, there's
no extra holidays for snow now," he
said, shaking his head as though he
me of wishing that trains
were as amenabIe to weather as
stage-coaches. "Slow pace this" he
added, rising and looking out ; "not
short of water, surely? Why, fde-
clare, Master Arthur, Z is the snO,o
after all, my late saying notwith-
Pm blessed if it amt thick,
and drifting, too across this open to
the westward as though It would
bury you and me, and train and all,
before we reach Borton, let alone
where we stop in good-rights,
Master Arthur" 1t was evident that
the snow had commenced falling in
these regions long before we had en-
it here it was, indeed,
falling and drifting with pitiless Sc
verify, and though our engine pulled
and painted and labored, our progress
became slower and slower until, Just
within sight Of the little shanty dig
nifed with the title of Borton Station,
we finally stuck fast. The second
class passengers--the young lady