Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-12-27
JOE AND L.
BY MIRA L. Z. rooLB.

to catch the familiar salute from the en-
gine. You see used to time my work
more by the trains than by the clock, for
though Ave o'clock was our tea hour, there
when Joe might be fifty miles up the
road ''in the ditch" as he used to say
when he went off the track.
So used to put on the tea-kettle when
the up train went past at four O'Clock,
then when Joe began to ring, coming into
the yard, l knew 1t was time to set the
table. AS said, tea was ready, and the
biscuits we're spelling; SO l vibrated be-
tween the oven and the window which
looked toward the engine house, to catch
the first glimpse of Joe's blue overalls and
glazed cap.
knew as well as l wanted to know
that he was chatting comfortably away
with Dick or Tom, about the new style of
smoke stacks, or the merits of pump in
iectors. That was always his way; once
get him started on the subject of steam,
and henever knew when to come home
But at last he came swinging up the track,
stepping from tie to tie with the long
stride and slight stoop, usually as charac-
teristio.of a'railroad man as dinner-pail
and lantern.
He came in, set down his pail, and
when Eddie ran to be taken mp; displayed
to him pair of hands which would have
done honor to a coal HEAVIER, and which
effectually frightened the child away.
"What In the world made you so late,
Joe2" said 1, transferring the biscuit to
the table, and pouring the boiling water
upon the tea in the tin teapot.
"a hot journal" said Joe, la2onically,
turning to the sink.
l was about as wise as before, but was
used to hearing about broken rocker arms
and crankpins,. slipped eccentrics, or
valve stems and throttles that needed
packing, though couldn't have told one
from the other If had seen them.
"Well, hurry up; your supper is spoil.
ing now, waiting; and if we are going to
mothers tonight, we must make haste;"
and hustled about, putting Eddie up in
his high chair, and pouring out the tea.
"I'll risk the supper" said Joe, turning
round from the sink and holding out his
arm, that l might unbutton his wristband.
a thing he always forgot to do. 1--WE
can't go tonight, as see," he went on
in his moderate way, holding up the
other wrist.
That acas the climax. l sat down in a
chair and stared at him while he went
on wiping his hands and brushing his
hair, and never said word when he
gave the towel toss on the nail, instead
of hanging it up properly by the loop.
Not 60 to mothers when 1 had been
waiting until tonight to install Eddie in
his first knickerbockers and belted blouse,
and had gored my black alpaca dress,
trimming the remnants into ruffles to trim
the skirt, and had converted my plaid
bonnet-strings into stylish bow to wear
with it. Joe drew up a chair to the
table, buttered a biscuit, stirred his tea,
and proceeded to explain
"You see, Matte, Henderson's wife is
sick, and promised would go up for
him tonight. We are rather short of
spare engineers since Elliott got hurt and
Marshal went on to the branch. He got
leave to stay down If any one would go
up for him, so said would go, just for
Accommodations sake," and Joe passed
his cup to be replenished.
That was little too much to be borne
patiently. If it had been an extra
should have resigned myself to the inev-
liable, and wasted few regrets upon it.
But to think he could disappoint me to
accommodate Jack Henderson, who laid
off oftener than any other man on the
line, and whose wife, for every little all.
ment, real or fancied, must needs keep
him at home to pet and codGle her. And
going up for Henderson involved leaving
me alone all night and doubling the
road" q s3:H
settled back in my chair, disappointed
and provoked. Little; Eddie began. to
perceive that we were not going to grand
silenced with sharp, stern words, causing
Joe to look up with astonishment.
l replied to his unspoken accusation by
saying the child was quite old enough to
learn he could not have everything he
wanted. Joe did not answer, but finish
ed his supper in silence, pushed back his
chair, and began to make ready for his
trip.
did not offer, as usual, to help him,
but he did not appear to mind. He whis-
tied softly to himself, while he changed
the boots he had worn all day for an
easier pair, hunted up coat from the
depths of a closet, found clean collar
and handkerchief, and supplied his vest
pocket with matches enough to create
respectable confagration.
Then he came and stood by the stove
while he flied his pipe (how cid wish
he would leave off smoking), and verify
believe it just dawned upon the man, as
his new position gave him a view Of my
face, that was taking my disappoint-
ment to heart, and indulging in fit of
the sulks.
Don't look so blue, Matte" said he
"We can go to mothers tomorrow night,
perhaps; thereis time enough. She will
stay several weeks, presume, and you
viii see enough of her before she goes. "
By this time he had succeeded in max
ing his pipe draw to his satisfaction, and,
shouldering his coat, was ready for a
start He kissed Eddie, and bent his lips
the supper table in very dignified fash
ion. D.
Joe did not appear to notice, and let
him depart, hardly vouchsating a reply 10
the good.by, without which he never left
the house. did not run out to the
gate, as did sometimes, to see what
weather he was going to have for his trip;
or to watch him by the moonlight on his
way to the engine house.
But Irattled The dishes and shook out
the table cloth in an angry mood that did
not soften as l proceeded to undress
Eddie, aAi1 put him to bed. did not
linger as usual over the task, nor yield to
his entreaties to be cuddled for a few
moments in rlg- arms before l laid him
d6FTlff, but hurled him into his crib, with
- no fond N5ards to send him happily to his
childish slunDers
Joe's trai1lYent whizzing by lust then.
The soundSof the wheels, and the knowl-
edge that he was really gone, increased
my bitter moodiand 1 sat down to my
sewing that never, ending patching
which wives of mechanics and mothers
of smalrchildreh know all about--feeling
as if were. about the most ill.used wO.
man I'M the whole world. AS l darned
Joe's stockings, and patched the elbow OF
Eddie's RpEon, my thoughts went back
over the WHOLE five years l haa been Joe's
wife. :;~ <sT g
You sse.I might have done better, as
far as money. was concerned, Than to
marry joe" we were not ricffat home,
but Ws'managed-to 70 live comfortably, and
Sue and / contrived to get pretty, new
suit in the Nevaiing new. style, often
enough to keep up appearances. j earn
ed mine by teaching in one of the public
schools, FOX I had fair education, and
was fond Of childreni while Sue got hers