Litchfield enquirer., 1876-10-26

declare that had I foreseen what an egre- gious ass shall now be forced to make of myself, fswould have let the train go to perdition.
 MT. Thor" replied. "all positions in life have their responsibilities"
 "Oh it is all very we'll for you to say so, answered Mir. Thor, maliciously.
 was determined not to be annoyed at whatever he said, now, so I thought I would take another tack ''What is Thorsdale, or Thor ?" asked. "A mean, poor. wretched place, as far as mans hands have wrought 1t. There is an un- painted depot, and ramshackle telegraph station, both of them pictures of decay and neglect. What might Thor be, situa- ted as it is on the border of glorious lake, in the midst of rich pastures, with a grand river flowing through it2 Thor a second Asgard." Mir. Thor, who had heretofore been rather an uninterested audience, at the mention of my mythical capital suddenly clapped his bands, and was now all eyes and ears. ''Chance," I continued, "may have something to do with the founding of city. Some men may wait for storm to fell the trees which may block the way of the passing emigrant train, but in other cases only time and tide and opportunity and perse- verance all together may effect this noble end. Can you see nothing in the occur renee of the other day ?" Up to this point I hardly believed very much in what I said. and found myself inclined to listen to the echo of my own words but when I looked at MT. Thor, who seemed to hang on every word I uttered with breathless anxiety, must confess felt an unknown pleasure in seeing that I had produced some effect, and became suddenly elated with my power, and warmed up to my subject. Now was in dead ernest, and believed in what I said. "Mr. Thor" I continued, "you did brave action, and such action must always bring it's own re- ward"-
 ''Bad champagne. yellow omnibus with SIX spawned horses, a brass band, and subscription to be received at the office of the Sentinel" said MT. Thor, rudely interrupting.
 felt like leaving off right there, but 1 would not give in. ''I will suffer no such irrelevant remarks. Perhaps hundred people owe their lives to you Talk to the directors show them the advantages of Thorsdale they are bound to listen to you, and may favor your views. You have an idea-a most ambitious one. it is true of making Thorsdale, if not city, at least a town. You have brooded over it so long that by not unnatural process of the mind your ideas of how to give life to Thorsdale have partaken to much of the character of dream. Think of Thor as possible, not with triumphal arches, art galleries, or theatres, but simply as Thor with single street, even if it be strag- gling one at that. Make but commence ment, and the future of Thor may be on- ly question of time."
 "By heavens, Miss Brown" cried Mir. Thor, coming towards me with both his hands oqtstretched. ''you have struck the chord. Hsingle idea, far to big for me, has lodged in this poor brain of mine un- til 1t has crowded out all the lesser meth- ods for accomplishing it. thank you for what you have said, from the very bottom of my heart, and I swear to yon I will act on it. l will not detain you any longer 1; 1 must make the best excuses I can for your absence, though should feel much less awkward could you stay with me. I am selfish enough to have forgotten, how ever, your headache. I suppose I have, as usual, been very coarse and inconsider- ate, in regard to the shock you may have received on Tuesday. Men rarely appre- c1ate those more delicate vibrations which | sometimes shatter the weaker vases.'' ''Il ne faut pas brutaliser la machine" ]" I said, to myself rather than to him. ''Ollver Wendell Holmes never made an | apter quotation, nor one which is as little respected" replied Mr. Thor, musingly. l blushed crimson, I suppose, as I had not imagined he would understand me
 'Just one thing more, MT. Thor. Here I hesitated and felt afraid was going too far, but added, 'I am about taking lib- erty with you. I would most respectfully suggest that, when you talk to these rail- road magnates, you drop all allusions to berserkers and vikings and jarls, battle l shields and sea-horses." He seemed to vince when l said this, but I continued remorselessly. What do these men know or care about Eddas, or Gyda, or Snorro :? Talk cattle, grain, lumber and coal to them. No one knows better than you do what are the capabilities of Thorsdale, geographically and commercially consid- cred. Speak to them about dollars and cents, l and not myths and fables. To come down to the essential, if they only establish a grain depot here, that would be some | thing
 MT. Thor looked at me wistfully, and oCCACu L G14AO oAOChcus Oub l udu TGdSOu l. to suppose that my words had made some | impression on him.
 "So be 1t, in Gods name," he replied in a subdued way. 'sIt is almost time for the train now. You have not taken my hand yet, to show you have forgiven my abrubtness. The fact is, Miss Brown, when the general superintendent informed me that he had sent young lady here, I was terribly opposed to it. All female | telegraph operators embodied in my mind ! the peculiarities of the Smoi!ersvilIe young lady"
 What fault can you find with her? If l am to stay here, should want one of my sex to prattle with. A crochet pat tern sent over the wires would be char ming. But here comes a message precise ly from the lady in question: and read off to hlm as follows 'Glorious deeds should be welcomed not only with the laurel crown but with outbursts of song. The Smoilersville German Silver Orpheons have offered their services, and will join the deputation. E.''
 ''I knew it," cried MT. Thor; ''this is the last straw which breaks the camel's back. If Thor ever is built, any member of an amateur band given to abusing wind instruments shall be driven from the place with stripes. ..
 "Good-by, Mir. Thor, I said. and shak- ing hands with him left the office.
 How much of headache I had on that important day which was fraught with hopes for Thorsdale cannot exactly de- termine. I could not stay at home, but took scramble along the rocky shores of the lake. From time to tune I heard the booming of big drum and the blare of trumpets, which, I suppose, came from the German Silver Orpheons, and not un- pleasantly did 1t sound in the distance. That all this hubbub was in Mir. Thor's honor felt somehow proud, and had the Y fired off salvo of cannon, should have enjoyed it. Towards evening found my self on Thor's Rock. Just as the sun was setting, heard loud steam whistle, then three iusty cheers, and most vigorous pounding of the drum, which told me of the deDarture of the festiyal-makerS I