The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-02-22
a TRAVELLERS STORY.

the conductor made his appearance collecting
theitickets. Reaching US, be detached the ap-
propriate coupons from our tickets, handing
back the remainder with the usual "checEs."
"Pardon me-" said my companion, but !
perceive you place your ticket IN your wallet
:, !, :, s'It IS nnwise, unsafe.
"Why do you consider it SOL? inquired,
with curiosity returning the wallet to my
pocket. -
s'Suppose through carelessness, or we may
saw accident, your wallet is lost-your pocket
may be picked, for instance
sYour money and ticket are both gone:
Probably you do not appreciate the manifold
beauties of such q position. do not think it
possible except by experience"
att would certainly be an undesirable sit
uation. can see that clearly enough. Par
don the question naturally suggested-were
you ever SO placed?"
"Once-only, once" -,r,
f.How is that y 4 Il
We'll, don't know that mind telling you the
story. 1t may serve to amuse you, II nothing
more. ~
ait occurred number Of years ago, and Of
no consequence had taken the early express
LIZA
er sleepy, had stretched myself upon seat for
as comfortable nap as circumstances would
permit Il slept soundly, for could in those
days sleep well almost anywhere, and did not
awaken until the conductor came for my tick
/ ct. The essential piece of pasteboard could
not be found. ] was positive had purchased
ticket indeed Z remembered distinctly hav-
ing shown it to the baggage clerk at the time
of checking my trunk.
'eThe conductor grew impatient, passed to the
other end of the car and returned to me. /
had made the discovery that my pocketrbook
had been picked, and in proof Of my story
showed him my baggage check.
at was useless. If you have Travelled much
you are aware that virtuous conductor takes
no mans word ;; in fact, all men have designs
upon the company's dividends except himself.
It was perfectly natural, therefore, that the
faithful steward in question should say: : /
1.-THE check is all right; but how do know
that ieIbelongsto your will take the money
for your fare, or stop the train and put you of,
just as you choose" !,
aWhat could doH Protestations amounted
to nothing, and my fellow-passengers, with the
usual tendency of humanity to trample upon a
fallen man, showed clearly by their looks and
expressions they thought me sneaking rogue,
who would steal 8 passage if he could. They
paid money, why should not 1 pay mine? Few
men would ever see heaven if judgment was
rendered by jury-except themselves.
a.My search for the lost ticket had brought to
flight about a dollar and eighty cents. This i
told the conductor was every cent I had about
me. He said it was about fifty cents short of
the usual fare to Lauderdale city, but he would
pass me through for it rather than stop the
train. From Lauderdale, a city of much i'm
portance, could write to my partner for mon
ey. Ii would certainly be as well as to tramp
ten or twelve miles back to the city had left,
and where I should be no better of, being
equally stranger there.
"In due time found myself at Lauderdale );
went to the best hotel telegraphed for money,
and wrote an explanatory letter to my partner.
This business attended to, | sailed out to see;
what sort of place: Lauderdale city might be.
There was nothing to do but amuse myself as
best I could until the money should come; So
I determined to make the most of my inyolun-
tary holiday. AS I otrolled leisurely MP the
main street a. newshoy darted out of . paper
Office, crying. - ta srf.,..e
"Daily Banner-extra edition-all about the
| murder-great accident on the E. road,
etc., etc. Have an extra"
II took the sheet and thrust my hand in my
pocket for the money without moments
thought. You may imagine my feelings when
compelled to return that two penny bit of pa
per TO the boy, with the muttered excuse that
IL had no change, and the utter contemptuous
expression on the boys face as he received it ]
1 Immediately stepped into the Office of the
"Daily Banner and wrote paragraph of my
recent mishap, taking care to make it as ANU
sing as possible When complete / handed it
to the clerk. He read it, laughed, and took it
into the private Office. Coming back few
minutes after, he told the book-keeper to give
me fifty cents. It was not much, but more
until finally reached the end of the street
which terminates at the S. river, here
spanned by long covered bridge. I crossed
| the bridge and was surprised to see upon reach
ing the opposite side that would be required
to pay toll. A young girl came to the door of
the little Office as / stepped up and inquired
how much should pay, drawing forth my
solitary shinplaster.
"Oh," said she, with a smile and slight
blush, 1--WE do not charge ministers anything"
ait was not bad Joke, but suppressed the
laugh that rose to my lips and thanking her
for the consideration shown to the cleNgy,
turned about and retraced my steps to the ho-
TEL not without slight twinges of conscience
for allowing the mistake to pass and taking the
advantage of it.
My hrst Quty ne4t morning was W sSeA
some knight of the razor. l had noticed q
pleasant little shop at no great distance from
the hotel in my walk the previous day
Thinking that 1 should do no better by looking
further, repaired to that. There was in at
tendance boy about twelve years of age, who
stated that his father, the proprietor of the
shop, had gone to neighboring city, and
would not return before noon. Without hesi-
tation asked for the loan of razor, and pro-
ceeded to operate on myself While thus occu-
pied, the customers began to present them
selves expressing great dissatisfaction on learn.
ing how it stood Now, although am proud
man, am not, thank God, cursed with that
species of vanity which prevents man s doing
certain kinds of honest labor simply because
they are not genteel. Here was an opportuni-
ty afforded me to at least earn the price of my
breakfast. l took advantage of it. Told the