The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-12-11
GUELDEN.S LAST DRINK.

my life, ever since 1t was laid. III charge
of the San Francisco. the prettiest and
best engine on the line. 1t was south
western road running, as we will say,
from A. to Il. At A. my mother lived,
at u. | had the sweetest little wife in the
world, and baby the very image OF Its
pa. | had always had dollar or two
put by for rainy day. and the boys
spoke Of me as an odd kind man. To
be shut up with an engine, watching with
all your eyes and heart and soul, don t
make Conscientious man laxative, and
| never squandered my leisure time spin
ming yarns and listening to railway-jokes
in the round house. My wife s name was
Josephine, and | called her 'Joe.
| never had belonged to any OF the
railway clubs or other organizations. and
never'should, if it hadn't been for Gran
by. Granny was nephew of our dlvls-
ION superintendent, and its failing of
we men of the road that we like to be
noticed by the fellows at headquarters, If
only permitted TO touch the hem of their
garments. CRANKY was snowy fellow
and often rode with me from A. to u.
He had good opinion of me, and as far
as | know we were good friends. Once
he caid to me:
"You ought to belong to the Railway
Scientific Club, Guelden.
Meyer heard of it, said [.
1--WE meet once fortnight" he re-
piled, 'and have a jolly good time. We
want practical thinking men of your sort,
and I'll propose you if you like.
I was fond of such things, and | had
ideas that I fancied might be worth
something. But the engineer don't have
many nights or days to himself, and the
club would have one evening fortnight
from Joe," | said.
II will ask her, and if she likes it,
yes"
''Ask whom?' he said.
joe" said |.
'If every man had asked his wife,
every mans wife would have said
Can't spare you my DEAR and we
would never have no club at ALL said
CRANKY.
But | made no answer. At home I
told Joe
Il shall miss you, Ned: but you love
such things, and if CRANKY belongs to it
they must be superior men,"
So l said yes, and CRANKY proposed
me. Thursday fortnight, | went with
him to the rooms. The real business was
the supper.
| had always been temperate man.
I did not know what effect wine could
have on me, but coming to drink more
of it than | had ever before at the club
table, found it put steam on. After so
many glasses, l wanted to talk, and after
so many | did.
seemed like somebody else, the words
were so ready. My ideas came out and
were listened to. | made sharp hits and
INDUCED II repartee, told stories. and
even came to puns. | heard some one
say:
Granny, by George that's a man
worth having | thought him very dull
at first"
Yet | knew it was better to be quiet
Ned Guelden, with his ten words an hour
than the wine-made wit that was.
was sure OF it when three hours af-
forwards | stumbled up stairs to find j oe
waiting for me, with the baby on her
breast.
You've been deceiving me, said
Joe; II suspected it, but wasn't sure.
A scientific club couldn't smell like a
bar room.''
(which means that l do" said l,
quickly.
And look like one" said Joe, as she
locked herself and tie baby in the spare
bed room.
One night was dressed in my Sunday
suit. ready to go back to the club, when
Joe stood before me.
Ned said she, II never had fault
to end with you before You've been
kind and loving always but ] should
be sorry we ever met if you go on in
this way. Don't ask what | mean-you
know"
sits only club night" l said.
1T will grow" said she.
Then she put her arms around my
neck.
Ned said she, do you think
thing SO much like belted and strap
ped down demon as steam is fit to put
into the hands of drunken man? And
some day. mark my words, not only
Thursday night, but all the days of the
week, you will be the same. l have
often heard you wonder what the feelings