Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1872-03-16
THE CONDUCTORS STORY.
~ RrsrcoA HARDING PAWS.

Good arabic Yes, sir and if you look at II
in the way Of scenery, it's as pretty BIT 81
land as you'll find in Kent county. That stretch
now ahead. By the way, there was queer
thing happened on the track just three years
ago come Thanksgiving queer as ever came
in my way since I've been railroading. II occur
red in this way. I'll have time to tell 1t, reck-
on. We have to switch OF for the express at
the next station, and lay by awhile.
This branch road you see was built for the
local peach business. was put on as conduo-
tor of the first train that was run. By GEORGE
how the engine woke the country up Inc sta
tons were crowded with young fellows in nashy
pecktes and their sweethearts, nice, modest little
girls, loaded with cheap hnery, who had made up
parties and came down from the interior to see
the train go by. Every old farmer on the route
thought he owned the engine (the General jack
son it was and knew each separate car as we'll
as heidi his own bulls and sheep. They'd treat
their wives to few miles ride as youtown people
would run over to Europe with yours.
OF course sir, l was at home here on the road
in two weeks. Everybody called me Dick There
were scores Of places where could drop in for
an odd meal. began to doubt whether they
were my uncles or cousins or not All the old
fellows got free passes over the road, and for
sock their corners by the tavern fire for the
baggage car. There thoy smoked day after day,
and told queer stories of their neighbors FAINT
lies for the benefit of anybody that chose to
listen. l knew all the gossip by heart directly.
1t was Just when the peaches were in bloom,
too, when went on the road, and was soon
punching open buds with my thumb nail and
talking learnedy of Early Blush and Morris
Whites with the rest. It's curious sight to see
that pink flush, above the early spring bud, from
one end OF the State to the other, and to think
that crop is the one matter of life and death to
the people.
The peaches had come and gone though, when
one day, about month before Thanksgiving,an
old fellow came on board with his family, who
had pass for two down to st. Georges. saw
at glance he was none OF my usual dead-head
squad. A thin wiry old man. white headed, but
as active as a b y OF sixteen, and with the true
Delawarean knack of finding friends and show
ing himself friendly He was reporter on
some Philadelphia penny paper, anu had his note
book ont every minute, pumping me about the
Wilmington whipping post Sloan's hsh-breeding
experiment, and the condition Of the feed ne
groes.
Makes items. makes itemsl" he said
:Pushes the paper wonderfully into local circula-
ton"
he had been a doctor or a lawyer, l forget
which, in New York, and was starved out he
told me, so took up journalizing. He did not
impress me as a man of ability and besides the
poor old fellow was worn out. 1t was high time
for him to lie by and loaf with the others in the
baggage car.
Newspaper work, he said, 'pays handsomely,
compared to my own profession. We get on
quite comfortably on my salary quite comfort
ably"
Inoticed, however, that both he and his women
folks were thinly and shabbily dressed. did
pay much attention to the women, but there was
boy, Dan, the old mans grandson--a little
chap of four-that took fancy to from the
first. He had an ugly face, but think one Of
the most honest and oveable ever saw.
Tanner-that was the old mans name = told
me he had brought his wife and daughter down
| to keep Thanksgiving in his village, where they
| had lived years before.
1--WE were all younger and cheerfuller then
than now" he said, land thought, maybe with
| the old place would come back some of the old
feeling. There are other ways Of keeping the
feasts than with stuffng the stomach, you
know
thought to myself it would be as well il the
| stomach had its share of rejoicing. Tanner,
| cheerful and chlrrupy as he was, looked meagre
and hunger-bitten. -Four people could not get
fat on eight dollars week, which l found was
his salary. He hired vacant house for a month.
There it is-that one beyond the hill. The fam
lily went to housekeeping in some sort Of way in
1t, and he used to run on Friday evenings to
stay with them over Saturdays, which is the
newspaper mems Sunday as you know. We
grew to be very friendly. / fell into the habit of
watching with him for Dan. who always came out
on the porch to wait for him, his mother holding
him by the hand. l used to wonder if the poor
little widow ever let go her hold Of the child day
or night and once | remember thinking what
she would do it the child should die. One has
I
mother was one of those women who seem t.
have no life outside of tn enc or two people
they love
Well, Thanksgiving eve came, and Tanner was
aboard going home, but had no time to talk tC
him, as the train was crowded with people who
had been up to Wilmington, laying in supplies
for the holiday. Even the passenger cars were
heaped with baskets and bundles. Tanner had
his littls package, too-something for Dan.
| saw him peeping into it with his eyes twinkng
| / ramamber how "a Wa
when brought him monster turkey for Mrs.
Tanner. The old lady, although she had only
seen me on the train as it whisked by, had Ia
ken an anxious interest 10 a sore throat had,
and sent me a bottle of myrrh tea by the old
gentleman.
don't know whether it was because l had
come from part Of the country where they
don't keep Thanksgiving, or because of the hor.
ror that followed, but remember that afternoon
| as one of the brightest and cheerfullest of nv
life. The air was cold and crisp. There was a
red mist over the hills ; in the cars and the sta
tons there was nothing but good humor and
friendly good wishes. | don't think much OF
serious things, yet seemed to me that day that
the people came with one accord nearer to God
because Of Thanksgiving. One old gentleman
on board had the idea, l suppose, for as | sal
down behind him to count my change, saw him
watching the passengers and houses we pass,
with an amused smile, and, turning to his con-
panion, he said -
There's something very wholesome in the
effect OF these holidays, Colonel. They awakeI
men to a sense of dependence and gratitude al
years sermons cannot do
The other was so long in replying that look
ed up at him.
when man has home or home ties to Civ
thanks for, the holiday is useful, no doubt"
1t was so queer and cold an answer that fel
a curiosity about the man. He went back to hi
newspaper (Which was an English one i noticed
! and began to talk Immediately about the dutie
I on silks aud linens. ! soon found that he wa
largely interested in both had travelled over
8 good part Of the world, traded in China and ia
9 pan, and, as | guessed successfully. He had tn
: air of a man accustomed to command, aud to
: life of ease. He was a middle-aged, stout
4 built man, with a clean shaved, powerful face
" and shrewd, pleasant eyes l noticed this
through all his conversation he tried to avoi
seeing the happy groups of people who were il
, cessantly getting on or off the train and onct
u when child in passing pulled at his cane, L
= turned his back roughly ON it, Yet had fame
+ -Idont know why-that the people and Thank
: giving mattered more to him than any of us.
! His friend said to him presently, You're mt
+ well, Colonel :"
Q Never was better but the truth is, veni
y this country is all familiar to me, and anythiu
y which recalls old times makes me nervous al
: irritable. Its weakness which will odtgro
10 probably. If you will excuse me I'll go 70
y ward" He saw me just then, and touching
y hat asked leave to ride on the engine in order
10 see the scenery.
Now the rules Of the road are slipshod enoug
but that was thing never had allowed. Hol
ever, had taken a curious interest in the mi
, and liked his courteous manner, so l mold
L.