The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-05-01
IoE 40 T.

,paHug, aBd Joe knew / was making
biscuits. ioo, fer DC saw me moulding
tbgm ullea lhe trsla wout by, aud look-
"a up to catch she familiar saIate from
lbe engine, lou see ! used TO time my
WaIk m8fe b. the trains than by The
clock. Ser though tre O'Clock was cur tea
hour. ihen was not magh u.e Ia getting
. IL ready, when Joe might De fi0y miles
up ihe road "in the ditch, As bo used to
say when he went od the track.
So used To put ou the iea-keitIe
when the up train went past, At four o.
clock, then when Joe began to ring. com.
ing into the yard. ! knew Il was time to
set the table As I said. tea was ready,
and the biscuits were spelling; SO | vi
braied between the oven and the win
dow which looked toward the engine
house, TO catch the first glimpse Of Joe's
blue oycralls and glazed cap.
/ knew as well as wanted to know
that he was chatting comfortably away
With Dick or Tom, about the new style
OF .moke-stAcks, or the merits OF pump
iujeciors That was always his way;
get him started Oh the suhiec, Of steam,
aud hc never knew when to come home.
Bat at last be came swinging up the track
stepping from tie to tie with the long
stride and slight stoop usually as charae-
tcislic Of railroad man as dinner pail
aud lantern
lie came in, set down his pail, aud
when Eddie ra,t to be taken mp, display
ed 10 him pair OF hands which would
have done justice to ooal-heaver aud
which cfIectualiy frightened the child
away. ......
What in the world made YOU 50 late,
Joe said !, transferring the biscuit 10
the table, and pouring the boiling water
upon the tea in the tin teapot.
a hot journal, said Joe, aconically,
tuning to the sink.
/ was about as wise as before, bat
was nsed 10 hearing about broken rocker
arms aud crank-pins, slipped eecentrcs,
or valve stems and ,hrottles that needed
packing, though I couldn't have told one
from the other If had seen them.
Well, hurry up, your supper is spelling
now, waiting; and if we are going to
mothers tonight, we must make haste;
and hustled about, putting Eddie up in
bis high chair, aud pouring out the tea.
I'll risk the supper, said Joe, turning
round from the sink and holding ont his
arm that might unbutton his wristband,
thing he always forgot to do. We
can't go tonight, as | see, he went on in
his moderate way, holding up the other
wrist
That was the climax. | sat down in a
chair and stared at him while be went on
wiping his hands and brushing his hair,
and | never said a word when he gave
the towel a toss on the nail, instead of
hanging 1t up properly by the loop.
Not go to mothers when | had been
waiting for tonight to install Eddie IN
bis first knickerbockers and belted blouse
and had gored my black alpaca dress,
trimming the remnants into rufiies to
trim the skirt, and converted my plaid
bonnet string into stylish bow to wear
with it, Joe drew up chair to the table,
buttered biscuit, stirred his tea, and
proceeded TO explain.
You see, Matte, Ilenderson's wife is
sick and ] promised would 90 up for him
tonight We arc rather short of spare
engineers since Elliot got hurt, and Mar
shall went on to the branch He got
leave to stay down If any one would 90
mp for him, 50 | said would go, Just for
accommodation sake, and Joe passed
his cup to be repIenished,
That wa. little too much TO be borne
patiently. II II had been an extra
should have resigned myself to the inev-
table, aud wasted few regrets upon it.
But TO think he conld disappont me to
accommodate Jack Henderson, who laid
of ofener than any other man on the
line, aud whose wife, for every ailmeut
real or tanced, must needs keep him
at home to pet and coddIe her. And go
ing up for Henderson involved leaving me
alone all night, and doubling the road"
settled back iu my chair, dlsappoin-
ted aud provoked Little Eddie began
to perceive that we were not going to
grandma's. and set mp childish wall,
which sileneed with sharp stearn words,
causing Joe 10 look up with astonish.
mcnt. e.
Ireplied 70 his unspokeu accusation 10y
saying the child was quite old enough to
learn he could not have everything be
wanted. Joe did not answer, but finish
ed bis supper ia silence, pushed back his
chair, and began to make ready for III,
trip.
did not offer, a. usual, 10 help him,
but be did not appear TO mind. lie
whistled soflly 10 himself while be
changed the boots be had worn al day
for an easier pair, hunted up a coat from
the depths of closet, found q collar aud
handkerchief aud supplied bis west
pocket with malehe. enough TO ereatc
respectable eonasgrsliou
Then be- came aud stood by the stove
while be filled his pipe tIiow did wish
be would leave Of smukiug), aud veri-
ly believe IL just dawucd upon toe man,
a. hi. uew position gave him d view Of
my face, that was taking ms diaap-
paimmeut 10 heart, aud INDUCING ia 4
G1 Of the .nik. too,
Don't iook 70 blue MAuie, .aid he we