Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-09-19
THE ENGINEER WAS DRUNK.
BY W. 8. WALLACE.

ed over it every day. for good many
years. For long while l have had
the same engine in charge, the Sar
Francisco, and it is as we'll managed
if say it myself-as the best.
1t was on southwestern road, run
ming from A to z. At A my good old
mother lived, and at z l had the sw eet
est little wife under the sun and coup.
lie of babies. I had also few. dollars
laid up for rainy day. l was an odd
sort of man, and some people though,
me unsociable, as | wasn't great talk
er; but then being shut up with the
engine, watching intently outside and
in, don't make man talkative.
| | had never belonged to any society
or mixed much with strangers any way
and never should if it had not been fol
Farley. You see Farley was young,
handsome, snowy fellow, and one of the
shareholders. l liked to talk with him
and admired his society. He often rode
from z to A and back with me, and
once he said
"You ought to belong to the Scien
ti6c Club. am a member. We meet
once fortnight, and have Jolly good
time. I'll propose you, if you like"
l was fond of such amusements, and
had ideas, | fancied might be worth
something, but an engineer don't have
too many days and nights to himself
and that would take one evening a fort
night from Joe, | thought.
| made no answer but at home
told Joe, and she said
"I'll miss you Wort; but l know
you love such amusement. As Farley
is a member of the Club, it must be
composed of superior men,"
"No doubt of it, said l.
'It is not everybody that could be-
come a member, and of course you say
yes"
So l told Farley, and he proposed me-
Thursday fortnight l went to the
rooms. There were some men with
brains and some without any but the
real business of the evening was the
supper, and SO it was every meeting.
| had always been temperate man,
and actually did not know what effect
liquor would Lave upon me. | drank
more of it at the Club table than l ever
did before. l found it put on steam
After a number of glasses | wanted tc
talk after few more | did 1t seem.
ed like some one else, the words were
so ready. My little ideas came out and
were listened to. told stories; l ever
came to puns. heard somebody say
to Farley, "By George! that fellow il
worth having. Thought him dull at6rst
"Yet KNEW it was better to be qui
ct Wort Smith, with his ten words ar
hoar, than the wine-mad wit | was.
| was sure of it three hours after
when umbled up stairs at home, tt
, find Joe waiting for me with the baby
in her arms
. "You have deceived me-" said Joe
ga Scientific Club would not smell like
bar room"
(Which means do," said I, waver
ing in the middle of the room like 8
signal flag at station, and seeing two
Joes.
"And look like one,' said Joe, and
went and locked herself and the baby in
the spare bedroom.
One Club night, as 1 was dressed te
90, Joe stood before me.
"Wort," said she. 81 never had 9
fault to find with you before, I'll say
that. You've always been kind, good
and loving ; but l should be sorry We
. ever met, if you 60 on in this way -
Don't ask me what l mean-you knoao.
",Joe," said I, "it's only on Clut
nights"
; at will grow on you," said she. Their
she put her arms around my neck
"Wort," she continued, edo you think
that thing so much like bottled up
strapped-down demon as steam is fit tt
be put into the hands of drunken
man ! Some day the time will come
when not only Thursday nights, but al
the nights and days of the week will be
the same. I've often heard you wonder
, what the feelings of an engineer who
has the same as murdered train full o.
people must be J; and you'll kno,o if yor
don t stop where you are. A steady
; hand, a clear head have been youl
blessings all your years. Don't throw
yours away now, Wort. If you don't
| care for my love, don't ruin yourself ,
My little Joe spoke from her heart
!, and l bent over and kissed herr
. "Don't be afraid, my child; 1 will
J never pain you again"
/ And | meant.it; but at twelve tha
, night 1 felt that 1 had forgotten my
promise and my resolutions.
l could not 90 home that night.
made up my mind to sleep on the Clut
, sofa and leave the place for good next
day. Already 1 felt my brain reel az
it never had before. In an hour l wa,
in kind of stupor.
It was morning. A waiter stooc
ready to brush my coat. I saw the
grin on his black face. My head seem
ed ready to burst; my hands trembled
looked at my watch had just five
minutes to reach the depot.
Joe's words came into my mind Wa.
l fit to take charge of the engine?
was not FL to answer. | ought to have
asked some sober an to take my place
for the run. As it was, 1 ouly caugh
} up my hat and rushed away. 1 was JUS
in time.