The true northerner., 1872-10-25
The Sick Baggageman.


The affection etertained by railroad
inen for each other is well known. Rude
as many of them are, when pain and
| sickness attack fellow, none are so
prompt and generous to assist him, and
hands accustomed to hold the grinding
brake with the strength of giant, sud-
denly become soft as the fingers of a
woman In works of charity toward the
helpless. A most touching instance Of
this nature il is the office of the re-
porter for the Democrat to chronicle
to-day.
From the window OF the Democrat
office all along Fourth street may be
seen numerous railroad offices, before
which constantly draw up huge transfer
busses, from each of which pours like
Noah's family out of the ark on wheels,
a long file of men in busters. and wo-
men with carpet sacks and ankles. Ex-
press wagons, too, abound-srom each
Of which is hurled, with a crush like
thunder, an avalanche of trunks. Yes.
terday, about 5 o'clock, just as the heat
of day had ceased, and slight breeze
played along the street, small express
wagon, containing three men, drove up
at c slow pace. One who got between,
and was supported by the other two,
had, it was evident from his pallor, only
recently recovered from illness. His
companions were in perfect health. All
three, ii was clear, from their boards,
and the cut of their clothes. were rail
road men. The express wagon stopped
and the men got out-the sick one with
80
by him, watching him with infinite
solicitude.
4" Well, Doc, old fellow" said one,
you'll be all right in day or two,
won't you? Feel better now? Looks
like old times, don't it? Here, Billy,
rattle them checks ., it's biz, it is,
you old son of thief?"
"Well, Ed," replied the sick man,
" it does seem good, after being in bed
for two months, to see the boys hustle
them old trunks around lively: but I'll
never be the man | was before the rheu-
matics took me. III never sling trunk
again, Ed"
eyes you will, too" replied his COM
rade, cheerfully. Before the next
change in the time tables you'll be wrest-
ling HI out of them Saratogas. The
doctor says SO, and he ought TO know.
Try now, Doc; he says it'll do you no
end OF good if you can only get up your
spirits again. Can't you watt this little
oil-skin carpet-bag?" he continued
pleadingly.
No go, Ed" answered the invalid,
with touch of dependency in his
voice, the Doc amt what he used to
was nohow."
"Well, but Doc, continued his friend,
"s'pose we get an AK and start that
little trunk there at the corner couldn't
you bust it? 1t might do you good"
Ere he could answer, a large express
wagon drew up before a whole pyramid
of mammoth Saratoga trunks. Two
men leaped lightly from il, one with
lamp and bundle of .jingling checks
the other pulled down with a crash and
a couple OF portmanteaus. The sight
and sound were TO the sick expressman
like the trumpet to blind old war
horse. Forgetting his illness and his
weakness he rose, and gained the heap
of baggage at bound, and seized large
Saratoga trunk, which three hall porters
could hardly move. Posing it in the
air, he hurled the huge mass through
the air as if it had been feather. Seized
with a perfect fury, he slung trunk after
trunk upon the wagon the pile melted
like a platter of 5eefsteaks before an
Indian chief; the atmosphere was per.
fectly black with carpet cks, and not
less than three portmanteaus were in
the air at once. But the effect was too
much for him, and as the last trunk was
landed with such force that it burst
asunder in mid.sir, and gushed forth
socks, collar boxes, shirts, petticoats,
hair brushes and things, as il bomb.
shell had exploded in a hosiery shop, he
fell fainting to the sidewalk. They
sprinkled him with water. forced whisky
down his throat, and did all that lay in
human power to bring him TO, but
vainly. At last, when every expedient
had failed, one slammed a trunk down
at his ear aud beloved, "Denverm
The fainting man awoke, shouted
"Show me your ticket and was borne
away by his faithful friends, who shed
tears Of Joy at his rccovery.-S. Louis