The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-10
THE ENGINEER's LAST DRINK
A Reformed Mans Confession.

have travelled this road every day of its
lfe-ever since it was lsid-in charge of
the "San Francisco" the prettest and best
engine on the line, 1t was q southwestern
road, running, as we will say, from A to
u. had the sweetest little wife in the
world, and baby the very lmsgo Of its
pa. / bad always dollar or two to put
By for a rainy day, and the bays spoke OF
mo as an odd kind Of man. To be shut up
with an engine, Watching with all your
eyes and heart and soul, doesn't make n
conscientious man takaivc, and ! never
equaudered my time spinning yarns and lis
tenng 10 railroad joE,sin the round-house.
My wife's name was Josephine, and called
her "Joe."
never had belonged 60 any Of the rail
WY Clubs or organizations, and never
should if it hadn't been for CRANKY. Gran
BY was nephew Of our division superin-
iendent, and its a falling with us men of
the road that we like To be noticed by the
fellows at headquarters, if only to touch
The hem Of their garments. CRANKY was a
SNOWY fellow and often rode with me from
A 10 Z. He had q good opinion of mo
and, AS far as | 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 !.
ave meet once fortnight he replied,
''and have jolly good time. We want
prac'Ical thinking men of your sort, and
I'll propose you if YIN like"
| was fond OF such things, and / had
ideas that ] fancied might be worth some
thing. But the engineer doesn't have many
nights or daye to himself, aud the CLUB
would have one evening Il fortnight from
Joe. | said :
81 will ask her. Ii she likes it. yes
'lf every man had asked his wife, every
mans wife would have said cant spare
YOU, my dear said Cranky,
But | made no answer. AT home | told
s.s's.i ' St yvu, 4'eu. nue you do love
such things, and if CRANKY belongs to it
they must be superior men
So said yes, and Cranky proposed me-
Thursday fortnight l went with HIM to the
rooms. The real business Of the evening
was the supper.
/ had always been a temperate man.
did not know what effect wine would have
on me But coming to d ink more of 1t
than had ever done before at the club
table, | found it put steam on. After so
many glasses | wanted to talk; and after
so many more | did.
| seemed like somebody else, the words
we're so ready. My ideas came out, and
they were listened to. | made sharp hits,
and INDUCED in repartee, told stories, and
even came to puus. / heard somebody
say "Gfauby, by George that's man
worth having | thought him dull at first"
Yet | knew it as better to keep quiet n ed
Guelden, with his ten words an hour, than
The wiue-made Wit ! was.
was sure Of it, when three months
later stumbled up stairs 10 find Joe wait
ing for me, with her baby on her breast
"You have been deceiving me-" said
Joe. II suspected it, but wasn't sure. A
scientific club couldn't smell like bar
room"
(which means that do, said l.
'And look like one" said Joe, as she
locked herself and baby in spare bed
room.
One night was dressed in my Sunday
suit, ready to go to Tie club, when Joe
stood before me.
"Ned," said she, 81 never had g fault
to fiud with you before. You've been kind,
good, and loving always; but should be
sorry we ever met if you go on in this
way. DON'T ask What | mean--you know"
"It's only club nish., SAID l.
alt will grow" said she.
L nru sue pun lel trllls GiOuuu my Dtth.
"Ned," said she, edo you think q thing
so Ike bolted and strapped down demon
as steam is, is III 10 be put in the hands of
drunken man? And some day, mark my
word, not only Thursday night, Lut all
days of the week, will be the same.
have often heard you wonder what the feel
Ing OF an engineer who has about the same
rs murdered train full of people, must
be, and you'll know ii You don't stop where
you are. A steady hand and q clear head
have been your blessing all these years (;
don't throw them away. Now, il you don't
care Tor my love, don't rum yourself"
My it'll. Joe! She spoke from her heart,
and | bent ouer and kissed her.
Don't be afraid, child, I'll never pain
you again."
And meant it; but at twelve o'clock
that night felt that had forgotten my
promise and my resolution.
| couldn't 90 home to Joe. ! made up
my mind to sleep on the club sofa, and
leave The place for good the next day. Al
ready felt my brain reel as it had never
Il me before. In an hour | was in kind
of etupor. IL was morning. A waite
stood ready TO brush my coat. looked Al
my watch; had only five minutes to reach
the depot.
Joes words came to my mind. Was
fit TO take charge Of an engine | was not
fit to answer. | ought to have asked some
sober man. As 1t was, only caught my
hat and rushed away. l wac Just in time
The ">an Francisco" glistened ia the
sun. The cars filled rapidly. could hear
the people telking-bdding each other
goodbye and promising TO come again
Among them was an old gentleman knew
by sght-one of the shareholders; he was
bidding two t.mid girls adieu.
'0ood-bye, Kitte; goodbye, Lue,"
heard him say. "Don't be nervous. The
San Francisco is the safest engine on the
line, and Guelden the most careful engineer
i would not be afraid to trust every mortal
10 their keeping Nothing could happen
1NrNnn uiIh The fmo ionafh y