Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-05-27
The Rampaxlou. brakeman.

,oSoon after the opening of the East
Tennessee and Georgia Railroad, there
CHANGED to be travelling over the line, in
car where there were but few passen-
gers, gentleman who was seated oppo-
site the stove, wrapped up in his shawl
and meditations. Night came on. Pres
emily in BOUNDED brakeman, loudly
slamming the door behind .him-one of
those country geniuses, who with laud-
able ambition had a day or two ago
abandoned the girls, the fiddle, and the
ploughtail, to "climb in the world" and
became a brakeman. He had been the
king-bee at all the neighborhood frolics,
at the house raisings, at the corn shuck-
ings, and at the crossroads doggery
fighting ground, and now he felt sure
that he was king-bee on railroads.
Strutting up to the stove he slammed
down his lantern, kicked the mud from
his huge boots, on the foot-board of the
seat. spit tobacco juice copiously and
noisify on the Kissing stove, crossed his
muscular thighs, took survey of the
aforesaid boots, with harness leather
straps, and then bethought himself of
the customer" sitting opsosite, on whom
he proceeded to bestow heightened and
saucy. look, as though he doubted the
customers" right to be in the coach at
all. At length he sought knowledge:
as"Whar ar you gwuine, Misterq''
"To Dalton, sir,'' responded the gem
tleman, quietly.
Preacher, amt you p
.No, sir, l am not but why do you
ask ?''
AZ "Oh nothing, only thought I saw
Hark from the tombs' sticking out all
over you like the measils. You know
me, I reckonl" ~ l5l9
IL am sorry to say that I do not"
e9st'Well; I'll jist be dam; why whar tn 9
devil were you raisedl'' ..---.-a-s 900
sS''At Maryyille, East Tennessee"
"Oh! that excuses you, for if ever I
hearn tell owe that settlement before, I
wish may be burned, and knows ey-
cry place, I dus.' .''s7,a sio'4 ai
You seem to bewell acquainted with
the place you are now occupying" re-
marked the stranger, almost choking
with efforts to suppress his laughter. sg
What place do you mean, Mister2
This ere red bainch covered with the,
dried skins of cows tongues, or my Of
fceF' o .bsni8tsHs E'i'ii- -slei-g i1ie 'acaag
ar allude to your Office, and by the
way, what is your position on this
road ~ ....-...... ..,-.-g-.-sr -ss... ..-.-4
Brakeman, by the jumpin' geminy.
/ Thought everybody know'd that; brake
hanover the Yeast Tennessey and Geor-
gia Railroad"
Unfortunately did not know it,
"Well, you'd dam soon foun' the fac
out if you'd cut up any shines round
yere, huggin' wimmin or cussin, or try
ing to steal anybody's carpet bag. or
talkin' sassy to the conductor or sich.-
Why, I'd chuck you butt foremost
thru that winder, like dartin' clap
boards through the cracks ov barn, for
I mean to run this ere train on high
morril principles, I dus. And you didn't
know was the brakeman on this yere
railroad p
"Indeed, sir. I did not"
"Well, old Slideeasy, all has cot to
say is that for a man of your looks, YOU
know less than any man I ever saw
How do you manage to make livin,'
eny howl"
Il receive salary; I am President of
this road; Wallace is my name; but
have not the pleasure of knowing yours;
will you be kind enough to inform mel"
All symptoms of "king-bee" disap-
peared at this thunderbolt announce
ment, and in their stead were seen timid
humility, crushed pride of place, a strong
get up and git" expression, and most
,onfounded hang-dog "done up and
'dog-goned" appearance generally. The
slid.