The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-01-25
What an Engineer Told

am an engineer Ever since the
c. road was laid I've travelled over
it every day, or nearly every day, oi
my life.
For good while I've had the
same engine in charSe-the San
Francisco-the prettiest engine on
the road, and as well managed, If
say II, as the best.
1t was Southwestern road, run
ming we will say from A to Il. Al
A. my good old mother lived; at Z.
had the sweetest little wife under the
sun, and q baby; and l always had
dollar or two put by for a rainy day
was an odd kind of man. Being
shut up with the engine, watching
with all your eyes and heart ano
soul, inside and out, don't make
man talkative.
My wife's name was Josephine
and 1 called her 10. Some people
called me unsociable, and couidD
understand how a man could fee
friendly without saying ten words al
hour. So, though | had a few ole
friends-dear ones tool did no
have so many acquaintances as most
people, and did not care to have
rhe house which held my wife anC
baby was the dearest place on eartl
70 me, except the old house whicl
held my mother up in A.
| never belonged to club, oI
mixed myself up with any stranger
in any such way, and never should
it had not been for CRANKY Io'
see CRANKY was one OF the share
holders, u handsome snowy fellow -
| liked to talk with him, and we wer
friends. He often rode from u. Il
A. and back again, and once b
said:
you ought to belong to the Scien
| tItic Club, Guelden.
"Never heard OF it" said 4.
IL am member said he. "W
meet once a fortnight, and have
Jolly good time. We want thinkin
men like you. We have some anon
us now. I'll propose you, II yo
like. .
was fond of such things, and
had ideas that | fancled might b
worth something. But then an ell
gineer don't have nights and days
himself, and the club would have on
evening a fortnight from 10. ] sale
"I'll ask her. If she likes it. yes.
"Ask who?" said he.
$40" said /.
ali every man had asked his wifi
every mans wife would have salt
"cant spare you, my DEAR" and "
should have had no club at al, sal
CRANKY.
But I made no answer. At hon
| told DO. She said:
Il shall miss you, Ned, but yc
: love such things, and -thenif Grant
belongs to it, they must be superi'
men,.
; ''No doubt" said 1.
"It isn't, everybody who could
made a member said 10. "Wl
!, of course you must say yes"
. So l said yes, and CRANKY propo
g ed ne, Thurday fortnight, We
: with him to the rooms. There we
. some men with brains there and sor
without. The real business OF /
evening was the supper, and so
was every evening.
ir I'd always been temperate ms
/ actually did not know what etfC
wine would have upon me; but co
= ing to drink more OF it than l ey
O. had at the club table, found it 7
Y the steam on. After so many glass
5 | wanted to talk; after so many me
= / did. ......
X seemed like somebody else,
words were so ready. My little id'
come out and were listened to.
made sharp hits; I INDUCED in
ni partee; told stories; l even came
ts ps puns. l heard somebody say
Granby:-"By George, that's m
to worth knowing. ! thought him d
at first" Yet i knew it was bet
:, to be quiet Ned Guelden. with
ten words an hour, than the wi
ck made wit was. 3D9
was sure of 1t when, three no,
after, ] stumbled up stairs to find