Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-09-28
Miscellany.
THE ENGINEER'S STORY.

AM an engineer. Ever since --
road was laid, I've trav, led it every day,
or rea, ly every day, of my life.
For good while I've had the same en-
CINE 10 charge-the San Francie ecO-the
prettiest engine on the road, and as we'll
managed, if say it, as the best
1t was southwestern rod, running,
so we will say, from A to Z. at A my
good old mother lived: at L l had the
sweetest little wife un..er the sun, and
baby and Away had a dcl'ar or two
put by for rainy day. | was An odd kind
of man. Being shut up with an engine,
soul, inside ana out, don't make man
t,lkative.
My wife's name was josephine, and l
called her Joe. Some people call me un-
sociable sni uldnt understand how a
man could f.sl fri, ndly without saying
ten words an hour So, though had q
few trends-dear ones, tool did not
nave 80 many aCquaintances as most peO-
pie, and did not care to have. The house
which held my wife and baby was the
dearest spot on earth to me except tho old
house that held my mother up st A.
never belonged to a club, or mixed
myself up with strangers in sny such way
and never should, if it hadn't been for
CRANKY. You see CRANKY was one of the
share holders, a handsome, snowy fellow
l liked to talk with him aud we were
friend He often rode from Z to A, and
bAck again with me and once he sad:
You ou hit to belong 10 the Scientific
Club, Gue!ten"
II never b. ard of it," sid l.
Il am member" said he. "We meet
ono" rortngh', and have Jolly good
time We want thinking men like you
We have ssme among us now. I'll pro-
pose you if you like"
WIS fond Of such things, and I had
ideas that tancied might be worth some
thing. But the gineer don't have nights
or days to himself, and the club would
havs one evening fortnight from Joe. I
said:
Twill ask her. Ii she likes it, yes"
ASK whom?" said he.
"Joe,' So d I.
6 If every man had asked his wife, every
mans wife would have said, Cant spare
you my dear and we should have no club
at all" said CRANKY.
But I made no answer. At home I told
Joe. She said:
II shall miss you, Ned; but you do
love such thin. 8, and then if CRANKY be-
longs they must be superior men,"
No doubt" said l.
ut Isn't everybody who could be made
member" said Joe. "Why, of course
you must say yes.''
So said yes, and CRANKY proposed me.
Thursday fortnight went with him to
the rooms. The real business of the eve
ming was the supp,r, and 50 it was every
evening.
Ia always been temperate man. ac
'ua'ly did not know what effect VIM
would have on me; but coming TO drink
more OF 1t than tvcr had before, at 1n.
club table, found It put stcu:n on. After
SO many glasses wanted 10 talk; after 80
many more did.
l seemed like somehody else, the words
were 80 ready. My little ideas came out
ana ". re listened to- made sharp hits +;
lndnlyed in relmrtec; to d stories Itvtn
came to puns. heard somebody say to
CRANKY: BY George, that's a man worth
having. thought him dull at first" Yet
| knew it was better to be quiet Ned
Gu.lden, with his ten words an hour, than
the wine-made wit l was.
was snre Of it when three months af.
ter | stumbled up stairs to find Joe wait
ing for me with her baby on her breast.
"YLu've been dcceiving me-" said Joe.
l suspectel it, but wasn't sure A sci
entifc club couldn't smell like bar
room"
(Which means do," said I wavering
in 'hc mid lie Of the room like a signal
flag at a station, and seeing two Joes.
"And look like one" sa Joe; and went
and locked herself and the baby in the
spare bedroom.
One club night as was dressed to 60,
Joe stood before me.
Ned" said she, II never had fault to
.uJ "l.h y'M before. You've been kind,
1iu ha p"ou, aha l"ving always; but should
pe sorry we cV' INC, if YOU 90 on in this
know" 'i'e"n' Aoo
joe" s"il 1, its only on c,u,, ni,h+ ~
1T will grow" said she 'sA"
Then she put her arms around INV
neck IVY
Ned" said she, edo y, thi,. k a thing
so much like bpltcd up and strap, Cd
down demon as steam is, is fl, to nut into
the hands Of drunken man? And $ Inc
day, mark my words, not only Thursday
night, but all the days OF the week will be
the same. have often heard you wonder
mat the feelings of an engineer who has
ap 'oI Tie same as murdered q train full of
people must b., and youll know ii YOU
cont stop where you are. A stcidy hand
and clear head have teen yo,,r blessings
all these years. Don't throw tlr.m away.
N:d, If you don't care for MY love, don't
ruin yourself"
MY little Joe. She spoke from her
ne,rI, and l bent over and kissed her.
Don't he atrail, child. I'll never pain
you again" '
And meant it; but at twelve o'clock