Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-10-23
"a sUllaNeouS.
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The Engine.r was Drunk.
DY W 5 WALLACE.
DY W. 5 WALLACE.

| have been an engineer ever since the
- road was laid. haze travelled over
1t every day. or very nearly every day, for ii
good many Years Fra long uhtle have
nad tn- sain. engine in charg,. the San
Francisco, and it Is rs we'll managed ii l
say II inyselt-as the best.
1t was VI !, south Western road. running
froM \ to L. At A uy good old mother
hvrd. and atZ had the sweetest little
"Iie under the sua and a couple OF babies.
| had ais. few dollars laid up Tor
Il ,aiur day. Mas an odd sort Of man.
aud so.ic people Thought me unsncishle, as
| wash a great talkrr: but then being
shut ~ with the engine. watchin5 Intcntly
outside and in. dJut make l.iau talka-
tive.
had never belonged to any society or
mixed much with strangers IN any way
and never shoiid if it had not been for
Farley. You see Farley was young.
handsome, showy fellow, and oac of the
shareholders. | liked to talk with him and
admired his society. He oiten rode f:om
\ to Z and back with me, and once he
said:
.You orght to belong to the Scientific
Club. Ian member. We meet once II
| fortnight, aud have n jolly good time. III
propose yun if You like.
was fond of such amusements, and had
ideas | tancird might be worth something
but an engineer don't have too many days
and niSht- to himself. and that wouli t'Ge
one evening q fortnight FROM Joe,
thought
made no answer; but at home told
Joe, and she said:
III miss YOU. Wort but know you
love such a,nusements. AS Farley Is a
member of the Club, it must be composed
of superior men.
M doubt OF it, said l.
1T is not everybody that could become a
member and of course Won say yes.
Sol told Farley, and he proposed me.
Thursday fortnight went to the rooms:
There were some men with brains ana
some without any but the real business OF
The evening was the supper, and so Il was
every meeting.
had ALWAYS been a temperate man. and
actually did not know what effect liquor
would have upon me. drank more OF 1t
at the Club table than ever did before.
found it put on steam. AZ fier 4 number OF
glasses wanted % talk ; after lew NOR"
/ did. II seemed like some one else. the
words were 80 ready. My little ideas came
out and were listened To. l made sharp
hits; indulged in repartee told stories;
| even came to pnns. l heard somebody
say to Farley: BY Gesrge! that man is
worth knowing. thought hin dull at
first.
Yet I knew it was better to he quiet
| nth i,ia tan wards upllr
than the wine mad wit was.
Twas sure of it three hours after. when
| stumbled up stairs ut home, to find Joe
waiting for me with the baby in her hr"..
You have deceived me. said Joe "A
Scientific Club would not smell like bar
room
(which means Ido. said /, wavering in
tha middle oi the rnom like signal flag
at a station, and seeing two Joes.
And took like 0ne said Joe, and she
went aud locked herself and the baby in
the spar. bedroom.
One Club night. as l was dressed to so.
joe stot d befors re.
Wort said she, Il never had fault to
find with YOU before. I'll say that You've
aiways been kind, good and loving; but
should be sorry we ever met; If you 60 on
in this way. Don't ask me what | mean
, -you know.
joe said I. it's only on Club nights
1T will grow on you, said she. Then
she put her arms around my neck
Wort. she continued, do you think that
a thing so much like a bottled up. strap
ped down demon as steam is fit to be put
into the hands of drunken man! Some
day the time will come when not only