Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-12
VOICES OF THE NIGHT.
Perhaps You Know How IL Is Your
self


Everybody likes fun-real live fun, but
1t depends upon whether you make the fun
yourself, or some other party makes it for
you. In the latter case, the frog story is
often brought TO mind, and you don't care
TO be frog while the stones are flying
about so plentifally.
A few days since stopped at the charm
ing city Of Harrisburg, the capital Of the
Keystone State. Owing 70 my patriotism,
l can never be induced to 90 back on our
country, so a small darkey, with XII feet,
got me to go into the United States Hotel
where | registered MY name and then went
up TO my room. The clerk Of the house
gave me front room with a splendid view.
l gazed from the window. Bright
shone the moOn-'rah for Bright.
The comet recognized me and wig
gled its appendage-''Thereby hangs
a taleh-I mean it hangs there by tail.
Beneath the window shOne a score of gilt
tering lines stretching away to the right
and to the left. These were railroad tracks.
heard the dOg-star bark, and the great
Boar growl. l yawned, and pulling off
my stOre-clOthes, put on single long gar
ment of purest white, and after gazing
blushingly into the cracked mirror, with
gentle sigh, turned off the gas and re-
tired.
How long l slept 1 know not, but
when next collected my five senses, was
IN the middle Of the floor, with the harass-
ing knowledge that my hair was standing
on end. An unearthly din was going ON
outside. l cTept to the window. Bright
was still shining the moon. About twenty
locomotives were racing up and down the
track. Whistles, bells and the rattling of
switches were making noise equal to that
of the Boston Jubilee. There stole into
our thoughts those noble lines of Byron:
"There was a sound Of deviltry by night;
The Keystone capital had gathered there
Her smOkiest engines and her greasiest men;
A thOusa nd hearts beat crafty, and when
The whistles rose with their tempestuOus yell,
Wild eyes winked wild to eyes which winkd
again,
And ali seem'dvery like some blasted sell"
The locomotives would race up the track
a few hundred yards, then stop and whistle
about twenty-fOur times apiece, then ring
their bells and come grandly backing down
the track, squirting water and blowing off
steam. Now singly, now in squads; then
with a combined company front, they kept
up their cheerful music. At last with
grand chorus of whistles, shrieks, spirits,
and thunderoUs roar of escaping steam, the
whole squad stopped directly in front of the
hotel.
leaned out of the window and glanced
along the wall of the building. From
twenty-seveu windows tWenty-seven red
and angry faces and twenty-seyen savagely
clenched fists were projected in the direc-
tiOn of the engines, but not a word Of com
plant was heard. From sixteen windows
a torrent of boots, boot jacks and pitchers
streamed forth in the direction Of the en-
gines. Still not a word of complaint was
heard.
Patiently the red faces shone, patiently
the fists vibrated, and patiently the stream
of iRpedimeHtG jOurneyed from the win
dOws. Still no word Of complaint was
heard. Only the tender Ginning of bells;
only the soft music Of gentle-tOned whis-
ties; only the velyety blowing oil Of steam;
only the subdued squirt Of water could be
heard.
The comet wagged its tail lazily, the
dog-star snOred and the great Bear looked
bored. Suddenly, all the engines be
came silent. Twenty stalwart engineers
leaned calmly from their cabs and sleepily
took twenty chews OftObaccO. They gaZed
upwards. FOuy-three windows gave egreSs
to fOrty-three grades, classes and quail
tiles Of profanity. Eleven said ''d-n.' Six
pre6xed the sd-n" with something strong.
Pour said Oh" and one Helen Fury
supposed 10 be a cousin Of Helen Blazes.
About twenty uttered a variety of expires
siOnslwithregard to the engineers, that were
the reverse Of complimentary, and one in
dividual blandly wondered why there
.'wasn't law agin it, )" and why they didn't
20 to tine country to make their internal
noise.
There was a sudden disappearance Of the
bland faces of the engineers, and some Of
them g, .-oested that the bOarders had bet
ter goto sleen- md then the whole phalanx
Of engines moved on - storm OF PuIs'
squifts. screams and rOars ana theh-the
curtain drops. kALEIDUCC