The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-02-21
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WHITING FOR THE MIDNIGHT
.sa3HTR4LN !

1t was cold winter night that I came
in sleigitto station in the interior of
Illinois for the purpose of awaiting the
midnight train.
The place was merely a point where
they stopped to obtain a supply of wood
and water, and being of no importance
rs point to take up or set down passen-
gers, there was neither ticket Office nor
depot provided. 3 -EEg -srfg =
About dozen miserable houses COM
posed the town, village or settlement,
{, bywhaterer term they dienifed It, and
the only spot where I could find shelter
was in a country store, one side of which
was devoted to dry goods and the other
to groceries /; while at the farther end
sundr2 bottles, demijohns, and huge
heavy stone pitcher proclaimed the bar
room ~ sa eSSE Pa - ;
The snow was falling silently and fast,
and the storm seemed likely to continue
all that night. 1t was ten O'Clock, and
around the stove, which was comfortably
warm, we're gathered motley set, tell
ing stories and smoking bad cigars
while ever and anon some thirsty loun-
ger would walk to the bar.and, swallow
ing hissinanons coaapsund, resume his
seat by the fire.
I had secured good seat and began
to study the different characters grouped
about me. They were a rough-looking
set, but there was a natural shrewdness
about them that compensated to a
great degree for their unattractive ap-
pearance. ......... 80 -,. .-
"How late do you keep open ?" In
quired Of thsstorekeepersa long, Why
felldS, VIC yss perched on hetop d
anemph 3Band. ASSG sz 81
Never close till the train comes in,
stranger. Guess It wouldn't do. BY
thunder, they'd batter the old door dow
if they found it closed. recollect," he
continued, addressing his customers,
zone night just before Christmas, i,
was showing awful, afnst like it now is.
The boys had all gone up to Widow
brakes to the, turkey rattle, and l felt
mighty sleepy, so 1 thought I'd close uT
andtuck in alongside the old woman and
get acomfortable rest. s'- ~ - 90
"By-and-by the train got in, but
was fast asleep. Ike Hood Was running
that night, and you know how thirsty
be always is. We'll, as said, r wa
fast asleep, and the old woman was, too
lreckon, when all at once ! was waken
ed by a crash that felt as if the trair
had run into the sl,anty. jumped ou
Of bed, and pulling my cowhides on
struck light and hurried down in th'
store. " -~zr 4
Il couldn't tell for the life of m,
vhat had happened, but from the wa.
the cold air rushed up the stairs knew
the door or windows were open. It wa
as much as could do to keep the, can
die from going out. Well, it WASH
many minutes, you may believe, befor
isa IN the store, when the first thint
mat struck my eyes was the door kicke,
clear off its hinges and an empty tumb
ler On the counter with dime beside ii
walked to the door and the cars wcr
poying away xbenI I ssg the,0rner
MSne coming osef the t.act skinI
ing his lantern. - S4s ssz~ ~ssT =
f, Asllor ! crded, e who in thunde
busted my door in?"
Dunno" he answered, "but spos
tsv.as.a sas y u RRlqqHa }|T hi8 aoit
as Is. Iksrnnnias tonight p. nasksd.
,niGeourse he, 10 yop fool L. 10
oushter rtnox thst,,' snsrled. the orner
cnss.
sad no more, but put the dime i
.ne al, and getting some nails soon ha
'he door in place. I've never gone