Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-05-21
.1FyA. GAZETTE & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
LENR TIE COUNTRY,l
Amt this Stewart'S Crossing.
Ky 4 BAY STREET DRUMMER.

and CLERKS we uUuCISlduu 1t III OuI cluel
day> and can readily see how contact with all
sorts of people naturally bringing awkward
positions to those frequently brought in contact
with all nanuer of characters. Gradually the
good things are now falling to conductors rail
way travel having almost brought steamers to
the banks. Aud of the conductors on the
Georgia railroads. it seems that those on the
S. w. t. r., while they have possibly, the
most pleasant general run, suffer more from out
andish folks, travelling southwark to see kin
folk, than any class which l have noticed
Some days since, just before the train ran out
from the car-shed in Macon, [ was disturbed
while reading the morning paper By the en
trance of an old lady, who was slightly deaf,
wondrously fusSy, and teariuly made; In fact,
very feariully made for an old lady. Chignou,
paunier founceS, and all those indescribable
things which the younger of Fashion S deVotees
so patiently bear, were hung around her iu pro-
fusion rare. After the train moved out the
conductor appeared at The door. and Tickets
came rcyerhcratiug adown the aisle. | took
advantage of the occasion to find out for what
oint Mrs. Joiner was bound, aud saw that the
iicxet she handed the conductor was from
Macon TO Amercus," but she requested the
conductor to let her know when the train ar
rived at Stewards Crossing, which is about
four miles above Amcricus. This be OF course
readily agreed to do.
[ engaged the old lady in conversation and
found that she had been married to MIR. JulRer
about two mouths; that she was his second
wife and he her second husband Furthermore,
found that she had some relations in one of
the lower counties, and that a visit to them
was the object OF her journey, She seemed
anxious to make as good an impression on them
as possible, as she told me in the innocence Of
her heart, because they were not as we'll pleas
eu as they should have been at his third mar
rage, especially as he married rather an old
lads. We chatted pleasantly, until We reached
Jackson--about the third station from Macon,
,hiuk, when | left the old lady to her medi
t1tious The next station was Powersville, and
when the train reached that point she called
the conductor TO her and asked him if that was
Stewart Crossing. Lie replied that it was
not aud told her to give herself 20 trouble as
he would tell her when they reached Stewart's
Crossing. Iu fact, that as it was not regular
station, he would come to her before they got
there and let her get ready 10 time. could
see, however, that she was nervous, restless
and excited The train stopped at Fort Valley
when She grabbed her rcticule, aud, calling the
conductor, wanted to know if that was Stew
arts Crossing. His reply was very brief, but
10 the point: =
y 1t is not, madame.
Off went the train again, and as the whistle
sounded for Marshavic the old lady again
grabbed the precious re.icule and called the
conductor
MIR. Conductor. is this Stewards Cross
ing?
no, ma am, / will tell you when we get
there?" was the amused conductors reply.
Away we sped, and Marshavie vanished
only to bring US, somewhat behind time how
Nontt,,p,, Tho ratioula rah
bed again, and again the conductor called. ln
he came.
SIS this Stewards Crossing Mr.. Conduc-
tor9'
1t is not, if you please, madame, [ will Ger
tainly let you know when We get there; so you
need not ask me-, said the irritated conductor.
Oglethorpe was passed without the annoy
ancc, but when Andersonville was sounded the
old lad, was in the highest pitch Of excitement,
and as the conductor was assisting lady with
three babies through the car, she grasped his
sleeve with one nervous hand and her reticule
with the other and asked with all the earnest
ness of her eXcitab!e nature:
Mr.. Conductor, amt this Stewards Cross
mg?'
The usually good natured public functionary
was vcxcd you could see it all over his smooth
ly-Shavcn face.
no ma am, this is not Stewards Crossing.
have told you | would let you know when We
got there. so be quiet and give yourself no un-
eaSlncSs y
The old lady was twitchiug all over with ex-
element as we steamed away and lett Ander-
@nylAc vanishing behind. The conductor came
.hN an, took seat by me and while discourslng on
,nc comparative merits Of broad guagei and
"s".iro~-sGaye railroads, forgot everything else:
;,g'h ;a' plg'h he looked out of the window, and
''"nnsi'lae'y ..ni grabbing the bellline exclaimed
least mile S' We ~ p'''0
oloppng the train, however, he had motion
Sts,eIScu' aud we ran over mile back to
lady. 7' "N'n ~ "0A' ~
stewart Crossing, ma amp" +
are We there?' she asked.
eS, ma am; hurry up and get off as soon.
s,I ~ pGS>1lc; We are behind time, and had to
'0Ir ~, pack nearly two miles for you,
Inc OLD lady seemed wondrously calmed and
""'" ", win the greatest simplicity
10 Amcricus.'' =
ION want to get off here ?'' thundered the
ronuuctor; what in the thunder did you want
Us TO stop here tor?''
she replied.
"hat dld you want to know when we got
mere tor then?'
,.. because, simply said the old girl, ''my old
man ,lah Told me when | got TO Stewards Crossing
''i;tt 1t would be time to put in my teeth"
II you never heard roar you ought to have
ocen on that train. Amid the fuss the bell
oof rCra had the most violent pulls that it had ex
teFenced in some time The old lady reached
hmercus and was met by some kin, who took
her Oft the conductors hands. He, however.
hondered ovcrit we'll, aud | overheard him tell
Inc Inc conductor of the up train when they met
lnat he never could treat toothess woman
Wltc thatveneration which they deserved again,
especially If she had "a reticule and wanted to
.Anow when he passed a way station "