Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1869-01-07
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,
of my life.
For good while I've had the same
engine in charge San Francisco
the prettiest engine on the road, and
as well managed, if say it, as the
best.
Itwas aSouthwestern road, running
we will say from A. to q. had the
sweetest little wife under the sun, and
baby; and I always had a dollar or
two put by for a rainy day. 1 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 talkative.
My wife's name was Josephine, and
/ called her Joe. Some people called
me unsOciable, and couldn't see how
a man could feel friendly without say
ing ten words an hour. So, though I
had few old friends-dear ones, tOO-I
did not have so many acquaintances
as most people, and did not care to
have. The house which held my wife
and baby was the dearest 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 strangers in any such
way, and never should if it had not
been for CRANKY. You see CRANKY
was one of the share holders, q hand
some, showy fellow. I liked to talk
with him, and we were friends. He
often rode from 2. to A. and back
again, and once he said:
"You ought to belong to the Scien-
tific Club, Gueldon."
"Never heard of it," said I.
81 am a member said he. "We
meet once fortnight, and have a jolly
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 1 fancied might be worth
something. But then an engineer
don't have night and days to himself,
and the club would have one evening
in fortnight from 10. said
III ask her. If she likes it, yes.N
tfAsk WhOm?n said he.
"Joe," said I.
eff 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 al" said
CRANKY.
But made no answer. At home 1
told 10. She said:
'I shall miss you, Ned but you
love such things, and then if CRANKY
belongs to it they must be superior
men.
"No doubt" said I.
''It isn't everybody who could be
made member" said 10. "Why, of
course you must say yes"
So said yes, and CRANKY proposed
me. Thursday fortnight, went with
him to the rooms. There were some
men there with brains, and some with
out. The real business of the evening
was the supper, and so it was every
evening.
I'd always been a temperate man. 1
actually did not know what effect wine
would have upon me; but coming to
drink more of it than I ever had, at
the club table, I found it put the steam
on. After so many glasses l wanted
to talk; after so many more did.
I seemed like somebody else, words
were so ready. My little ideas came
out and were listened to, made sharp
hits; I indulged in repartee; told
stories; / even came to puns. heard
some one say to CRANKY:
"By George, that's a man worth
knowing. Thought him dull at first.
Yet I knew it was better to be quiet
Ned Guelden, with his ten words an
hour, than the wine made wit 1 was.
I was sure of it when, three hours
II ufr III Iolr tel 70, G3r.1 To
waiting for me, with her babe on her
breast.
"YOu've been deceiving me-" said
10. 81 suspected it, but wasn't sure.
A scientific club couldn't smell like a
bar room"
(which means I do" said I, wav-
ing in the middle of the room like a
signal flag at station, and seeing two
JOes.
"And look like one, +" said Joe; and
she went and locked herself and the
baby up in the spare bed room to-
gether.
Med" said she, do you think a
thing so much like a bOttled-up and
strapped-down deamon as steam is, is
fit to be put into the hands Of a drum
ken man? And some day, mark my
words, the time will come when not
only Thursday night, but all the days
of the week will be the same. I've
often heard you wonder what the feel
ings of an engineer who has about the
same as murdered train full of peO-
| pie, must be, and you will know If
you don't stop where you are. A
steady hand and a clear head have
heen vOur blessings all these years.
Don't throw them away, Ned. If you
don't care for my love, don't ruin
yourself"
MY little Jol She spoke from her
heart, and I bent over and kissed her.
One club night, as was dressed to
go, 10. stood before me.
"Ned,n said she, 81 never had a
fauIt m find with vou before. You've