The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-01-17
what an Engineer ToId

am an engineer. Ever since the
G. road was laid I've Travelled over
it every day, or nearly every day, Of
my life
For good while I've had the same
engine ihcharge-the San Francisco
the prettiest engine on the road, and
as well managed if | say it, as the
best.
1t was Southwestern road, run.
ming We will say from A. to q. At A
my good old mother lived; at q | had
the sweetest little wife under tho sun
and baby; and i always had a dol,
lar or two put by for rainy 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 talk
alive.
My wife'sname was Josephine, and
| called her 10. Some people called
me unsociablc, and couldn't under
stand how man could feel friendly
without saying ten words an hour
So, though | had few old friends
dear ones tool did not have so ma
ny acquaintances as most people, and
did not care to have. The house which
held my wife and baby was the dear
est place on earth to me, except the
old house which held my mother up in
A.
| never belonged to club, or mixed
myself up with any strangers in any
such way, and never should if it had
not been forGranby. You see CRANKY
was one of the share holders, a hand
sumo. snowy fellow. | liked to talk
with him, and we were friends. He
often rode from Y. to A. and back
again, and once he said.
"You ought to belong TO the Scien-
tifc Club, Guelden "
Never heard of it, said l.
81 am member" said he. I'VE
meet once Il fortnight, and have iol.
ly good time. We want thinking men
like you. We have some among us
now. I'll propose you, if you like.
| was fond of such things and | had
IDEAS that fancied might be worth
something. But then an engineer don't
have nights and days tc himself, and
the club would have one evening a
fortnight from 10. / said:
"Ill ask her. If she likes it, yes"
"Ask whom ?" said he.
"Jo," said L,
"1f every man had asked his wife
every mans wife 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 Jo. She said:
~ shall miss you, Ned, but you love
such things, and then if CRANKY be.
longs to it, they must be superior
men,"
"No doubt" said 1.
1T isn't everybody who could be
madea member said Jo. why Of
course you must say yes,
So | said yes, and CRANKY proposed
me. Thursday fortnight, l went with
him to the rooms. There were some
men with brains there, and some with
out. The real business of the evening
was the supper, and SO it was every
evening,
I'd always been temperate man.
| actually did not know what effect
wine would have upon me; but com
ing to drink more of it than l evel
had at the club table, l found it put
the steam on. Alter so many glasses
| wanted 10 talk after so many more
| did.
/ seemed like somebody else, tht
words were 50 ready. My little idea'
come out and were listened to. lmad,
sharp hits; INDUCED in repartee;
told stories; even came to puns
heard somebody say to GraDby By
George, that's man worth knowing
thought him dull at first" Yet
knew it was better to be QUOT Nee
Guelden, with his ten words an hour
than the wine made wit | was.
i ! was sure of it when, three hours
after, | stumbled up stairs to find 10
waiting for me, with her babe on hel
breast
you've been deceiving me-" saC
10. Il suspected it, but wasn't sure
A scientific club couldn't smell like 1
bar room"
(Which means | do, said | waving
in the middle OF tho room like o sig
nal flag at " station, and seeing 1--WE
Joes, '
"And look like one" said Jo,; an(
she went and locked herself and tn,
baby up in the spare bedroom.
Ned" said she, "do you think
thing SO much like bottled-up ant
stamped. .downsdemon as steam is, i
fit to be put into the hands of u drunk
en- manY And some day, mark m.
words, the time will come when no
only Thursday night but all the.day
of the week will be the same. I've OF
ten heard you wonder what the feel
, ings of an engineer who has about th
, same as murdered train full OF pee
pie must be, and you will know if yo
don't stop where you are A stead.
hand and clear head have been you
blessings all these years. Don't thro'
them away, Ned, II you don't car
for my love, don't un yourself"
My little 10 She spoke from he
heart and l bent over and kissed hel
: One dub night, as | was dressed 7
2 go, 10 stood before mo.