The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-08-29
GUELDEN'S LAST DRINK.

avetraveled thisroad everyday ofmy
life, ever since it was laid, in charge of
the San Francisco, the prettiest and
best engine on the line. Itwasa south
western road, running, as we viii say,
from A. to z. Ala. my mother lived,
and at 2. I had the sweetest little wife
in the world, and baby the very image
of its pa. I had always had dollar or
two put by for rainy day, and the boys
spoke of me as an odd kind of man. To
be shut up with an engine, watching
with all your eyes and heart and soul,
don't make a conscientious man talka-
tive, and l never squandersd nay leisure
spinning yarns and listening to railway
jokes in the round-house. My wife's
name was Josephine, and I called her
"Joe." -
I never had belonged to any of the
railway clubs or other organizations,
and never should if it hadn't been for
CRANKY. CRANKY was q nephew of our
division superintendent, and it's fail
ing of we men of the road that we like
to be noticed by the fellows at head
quarters, if only permitted to touch the
hem of their garments. CRANKY was a
snowy fellow, and often rode with me
from A. to q. He had good opinion
of me, and as far as I know we were
good friends. Once he said to me
You ought to belong to the Railway
Scientific Club, Guelden."
= "Never heard of it," said L
"We meet once fortnight" " he re-
piled, "and have jolly good time.
We want practical, thinking men of
your sort, and I'll propose you if you
like" .4
Twas 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 a
fortnight from Joe. I said:
II win ask. her. If she likes it,
yes." .g1s eos
"Ask whom ?" he said.
"Joe," said L
eff every man had asked his wife,
every mans wife would have said
Can't spare You, my dear, and we
should have no club at all, said
CRANKY. -s1 ~
But 1 made no answer. At home
s told Joe. She said:
shall miss you, Ned; but You do
love such things, and if CRANKY belongs
to it they must be superior men"
80 1 said "yes,'' and CRANKY pro.
posed me. Thursday fortnight went
with him to the rooms. The real bust.
ness of the evening was the supper.
I had always been temperate man.
did not know what effect wine could
have on me, but coming to drink more
Of it than 1 had ever before at the club
table, found it put steam on. After
SO many glasses, I wanted to talk, and
after 80 many I did
I seemed like somebody else, the
words were 80 ready. My ideas came
ont and were listened to. I made SHARP
hts and indulged in repartee, told
stories, and even came to puns. I heard
somebody say: CRANKY, by George,
that's man worth having. thought
him dull at first" Yet I knew it was
better to be quiet Ned Guelden, with
| his ten words an hour, than the wine.
made wit I was.
/ was sure of it when three hours
after I stumbled upstairs to find Joe
waiting for me, with her baby on hel
breast.
You've been deceiving me-" sale
Joe; II suspected it, but wasn't sure
A scientific club couldn't smell like 1
bar-room."
(Which means that do" said I.
And look like one, said Joe, as sht
locked herself and baby in the spare
bedroom.
One night was dressed in my Sun
day suit, ready to go back to the club
when Joe stood before me.
Ned" said she, 81 never had Z