The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-11-07

~ 4 = ~ " Ia i 0O1
| The Sick nagsaseman,
The affection entertained by rail-
road men for each other, is well
known. Rude as many of them are,
when pain and sickness attack fell
low, none are so prompt and generous
ta. assist a fellow, and hands accustom-
cd 10 hold the grinding brake with the
strength Of giant, suddenly become
rs soft as the fingers of woman in
works OF charity toward the helpless.
A most touching instance Of this ma
ture il is tire Office of the reporter of
the Democrat TO chronicle.
. From the window of the Democrat
Office, all alongsFourth street may be
seen numerous railroad offices, before
| which constantly draw up huge trans
fer, from which constantly pour fourth
like Noah's family out of the ark ON
| wheels, a long file of men in busters,
and women with carpet-sacks and an
kles. Express wagons, too abound
from each OF which is hurled, with q
crush like thunder, an avalanche of
trunks. Yesterday about o'clock, just
as the heat of the day had ceased, and
a slight breeze played along the street,
q small express wagon containing
three men, drove up alta slow pace.
One who got between, was supported
by. the other two, had, It was evident
from his pallor, only recently recover
ed from an illness. His companions
were In perfect health. All three, it
was clear from their beard and cut of
their clothes, were railroad men. The
express wagon stopped and the men
got Out--the sick one with great diff
fculty. His companions stood by him
watching him with infinite solici-
tude.
"Well Doc, old fellow" says one
you'll be ~ right in a day or two !?
won't you? Feel better now? Looks
like old times, don't it? Here Billy,
rattle them checks. Oh its biz it is you
old son of thief.
"Well Ed" replied the sick man, sit
does seem good, after being in bed two
months, to see the boys hustle them
trunks around lively; but I'll never be
the man ! was before the rheumatics
took me. Ill never Sling trunk
again Ed."s
"Yes you will too, replied his COM
rad. "Before the next change in the
time tables you'll be wrestling hell out
ofthose Saratoga trunks. The doctor
says so, and he ought to know. Try
now Doc; he says it will do You no
end of good if you can only get your
spirits up again. Can't yom watt this
little oil-skin carpet bag ?" he continu.
cd pleadingly.
"No go, Ed" answered the invalid
with atouch of dependency i'm his
voice, '1the Doc amt what he use to
was nohow.
ta.Well, but Doc" continued his conf
rade, pose Va go aud get an ak and
start that little trunk - the corner !;
couldn't you bust it9 Itmight do you
good"
Before he could answer, large ex-
press wagon drew ZIP before a perfect
pyramid of mammoth Saratoga trunks.
Two men leapcd from it, one with q
lamp and q bunch of jingling
checks. The other pulled down with
a crash the immense Saratogas. The
sight and sound were too much for the
sick expressman. Forgetting his ILL
uSsS uHu MS WcukuESs, uC IOSc uuu
gained the heap of baggage at u bound,
and seized huge Saratoga trunk,
whiLh three hall porters could hardly
move. aud poising the hugh mass in
the air, he hurled from him as ii it had
been feather. Seized with perfect
fury, he slung trunk after trunk upon
the wagon the pile melted like plat
ter of beetsteak before an Indian chief.
The atmosphere was perfectly black
with carpet-sacks, and not less than
three portmanteans were in the air ut
once. But the effect was too much for
him, and the last trunk landed with
such force that it burst in mid air, and
gushed forth socks, collars, shirts. pet
tycoats, hair brushes, and all things, as
if bomb.shell had burst in a hosiery
shop, and he fell fainting to the side
walk. They sprinkled him with water,
forced whiskey down his throat, and
did all that lay in human power to
bring him to, but in vain. AT last when
all other expedients had failed. one of
them slamed trunk down by his ear
and beloved "Denverw The fainting
man awoke and shouted, "show me
your ticket" and was born away by
his friends, who shed tears Of Joy at
his rccovery.-MO. Dem.