Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-02-03

fense, cir, replied the man in that half-obse-
quous, half-impudent manner so well known
to the European traveller, but gentleman (eni-
phasizing the word) as have boxes usually make
it practice to remember the porter sir"
"Oh; do they" said l, drawing out another
sixpence and handing it to him, which he had no
sooner received than stepping back he signal
lied the cabby who, true to his instinctsat once
drove off, and as rode away it occurred to me
that it was far more difficult to forget than to
remember so obtrusive an individual as the
''porter."
Arriving at the depot the cab-door was im-
mediately opened by another of the fraternity,
a smlring fawning individual, who bowling low,
and otherwise distorting his ungainly body by
the most extraordinary antics, partially intend
ed by him for politeness and paitaly,no doubt,
in anticipation of tho coming gratuity, COM
1nenced his inquiries with almost breathless rap
idity, aud in kind of running commentary
sail
"Where for, sr-Dow, sir--oh, yes sir-- leave
it to me, sir-ll put you right, sir easy to go
wrong sir-look ont for you on the platform, sir
lin sure to sec you, cir.
I" Sure to see me- thought ] 'yes on that
subject have no earthly doubt, for [ was by
this time becoming somewhat Initiated into the
meaning OF these mysterious remarks.
True to his prophecy. short time be fore the
train started, my friend, the porter, tapped me
OH the shoulder, and rubbing his hands togeth-
er, smlngly assured me that it was All right,
SIR" 'Of course you know, sir, continued he,
traveller when we take little tr. uble for him,
but don't mention it. sir we never think it any
trouble to work for gentleman, sir" L never
had mentioned it, but being anxious to get rid
of the fellows cringng opportunities gave him
u shilling, glad enough to see the back of this
eeryile specimen of railroad humanity.
As the train moved ont of the station | began
to congratulate myself on having entered ON the
last stage OF my journey-there was but one
more porter to pass and | should be FREQ for that
day at least, yet the thought of meeting even
that one caused shudaer ut the possible inilic-
tion, and l secretly determined to have his
gratuity ready for bestowal at sight. but in this
resolution was doomed to be disappointed for
ON arriving at my final stopping place but one of
| my two trunks were to be found.
AZ was anxious to get away at the time,
| merely telegraphed along the line describing the
box, leaving the matter with the station master
| to trace it up for me, and proceeded with my
| lonely trunk that had cost me many % tips,
| to take my departure. For this purpose, how
| ever it was necessary to ask a porter to convey
it outside, where l hired hack to drive it home.
Placing the luggage down by the sido OF the
| cab my noble porter made himself excessively,
and as it appeared to me unnecessarily busy, III
seeing, lie said,' that the fastenings were all
right" Evidently he was only killing time while
| he gathered up courage to say something OF
| which lie was half ashamed.
"Well, you see sir" raid he at last, I'm very
| sorry you lost your trunk, sir, and have no doub
you'll soon find it again; but az was going tc
say, BIZ, We pOflofs are nOb elppoScu 10 tdht
anything from passengers, not il it was known
sir; but God bless you, sir, our pays next tC
nothing and gentlemen usually
"Why confound it, said lyon don't surely
expect anything till you've found my trunk.'
II don't hardly expect, sir, of course, replied
he. "but we only get eighteen shillings weel
and if it wasn't for the triiles we pick up, W,
should nearer starye than live, assure you
sir.
Thinking there might be some truth in thu
statement, and that the fault lay possibly more
with the companies than the men, parted witt
another "tip," supremely happy in the conscious
ness that had at last fairly run my first gaunt
let of the London railroad porter.
Some ten days afterwards, and when l had re
celved and dispatched almost nnumerable letter.
and kilograms on the subject, my wandering trunl
came safely home, having as | learned, beei
shifted at an intermediate station on my journey
| and sent on a little excursion to Southend, abou
forty miles away, for which place it had beei
wrongly labelled by my smirking friend, the por
ter of shilling memory, who 20 positively assur'
me, when ho - looked ont for me OH the plat
form, that it was "all right sir"