The Van Buren press., 1873-08-12
MISCELLANY.
What an Engineer Told,

am an engineer. Ever since the {
road was laid, I've travelled over it every
day, or nearly every dav Of my life.
For a good while I've had the same
engine in charge-the San Francisco
the prettiest engine on the road, and as
well managed, if say it, as the best
1t was a southwestern road. running
we will say from A. to Il. At A. my
good old mother lived; at Il. l had the
sweetest little wife under the sun, and 6
baby; and | always had dollar or two
put by for rainy day | was an odd
kind Of man. Being shut up with the
engine, watching with all your eyes and
heart and soul, inside and out, don't
make a man talkatve.
My wifes name was Josephine, and
called her Joe. Some people called me
unsocable, and couldn't understand how
u man could feel friendly without saying
ten words an hour. SO, though | had a
few old friends-dear ones, tool did
no. have SO many acquaintance as most
people, and did not care to have. The
house which held nv wife and baby was
the dearest place on earth to me, except
the old house which held my mother, up
in a.
never belonged to club, or mixed
myself up with strangers in any such
way, and never should if it had not been
Cor Granby You SEQ CRANKY was one
of the shareholders, a handsome, SNOWY
fellow. liked to talk with him, and we
were friends lie often rode from Z. to
A and back again, and once he said
"You ought to belong to the Scientific
Club. Guclden.
"Nevcr heard of it, > said /.
IL am q member" )" said he. We
meet once n fortnight, and have a jolly
good time We want thinking men like
you We have some among us now. III
propose you, if you like.
was fond of such things, and | had
ideas that fancied might bo worth some
thing. Bat then an engineer don't have
nights and days to himself, and the club
would have one night in fortnig ght from
Joe. ! said
"ill ask Ger. If she likes 1t, yes. y
n SIX whom siiu lie.
"Joe. said /.
at every man had asked his wife, cv-
cry mans wife would have said, can
spare YOU, my dear and we should have
had no club at all, said CRANKY.
But | made no answer. AT homo i
told Joe. She said: Then if CRANKY
belongs to it they must be superior men y
No doubt, said |.
at isn't everybody who could be made
a member, " said Joe. "Why of course
you must say yes. "
SO | said yes, and CRANKY proposed
me. Thursday fortnight, went with
him to the rooms There were some
men there with brains, and some with
out. The real business of the evening
was the supper, and so it was every eve
ming.
I'd always been temperate man,
actually did not know what effect wine
would have upon me; but coming to
drink mora of it than ! ever did, at the
club table, found it put the steam on
After so many glasses I wanted to talk
after so many more ! did.
seemed like somebody else, the words
were so ready. My little ideas came out
and were listened to; ! made sharp hits
INDUCED in repartce; l told stories;
even camo to puns. ] heard one say 10
Cranky:
"By George, that's man worth know
ing. | thought him dull at first "
Yet knew it was better to be quiet
Ned Gueldon, with his ten words an hour.
than tho wine. made wit was.
was sure Of it, when thee hours ai-
ter, stumbled up stairs to find Joe, wait
ing for me- with her babe on her breast.
" You've been deceiving me, said
Joe. 81 suspected it, but wasn't sure.
A scientific club couldn't smell like bar
room"
(Which means do, y said ! waving
ia the middle Of the room like signal
flag at a station, and seeing two Joes.
SAnd look like one, said Joe, and
she went and locked herself and the by
BY up in the spare bedroom together,
Ned, " said she, "do you think
thing 80 much like bottled up and strap
ped down demon as steam Is, is fit to be
put into tn. hands Of drunken man
And some day, mark my words, tho time
will como when not only Thursday night
but all the days of the week will be the
same. I've heard you wonder what the
feelings of an engineer who has about
the same as murdered train full OF peo
pie. must be- and you will know if you
don't stop where you are. A steady
hand and clear head have been your
blessings all these years. Don't throw
them away, Ned lfyou don't care for
nv love, don't ruin yourself
Nv little Joe She sroko from her