Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-11-10
1flisetllanu.
How His Ship Came in.

From the Springfield Republican.
| ran across what first struck me as a
very singular genius on my road from
Springfield to Boston This was stout,
black whiskered man who sat immedi-
ately in front of me, and who indulged,
from time to time, in the most strange
and unaccountable maneugers. Every
now and then he would get up and hurry
away to the narrow passage which leads
to the door in these drawing room cars,
and when he thought himself secure
from observation, would fall to laughing
to himself In the most violent manner,
and continue the healthful exercise until
he was as red in the face as lobster
AS we neared Boston these demonstra
tions increased in violence, save that the
stranger no longer ran away to laugh,
but kept his seat and chuekled to him
self, with his chin deep down in his shirt
collar But the changes that those port
manteaus underwent He moved them
here, there, everywhere; he put them
behind him, in front of him, on each
side Of him He was evidently getting
ready to leave, but, as we we're yet twen-
ty-five miles from Boston, the idea of
such preparations was ridiculous. If we
had entered the city then, the mystery
would have remained unsolved, but the
stranger at last became SO excited that
he could keep his seat no longer. Some
one must help him, and as | was the
nearest to him he selected me.
Suddenly turning, as if | had asked
him question, he said, rocking himself
to and fro in his chair in the meantime,
and slapping his legs and breathing
hard Been gone three years +"
All !" " Yes, been in Europe. Folks
don't expect me, but got through and
started. l telegraphed them at the last
station, they've got it by this time" As
he said this he rubbed his hands and
changed the portmanteau on his left to
his right, and the one on the right to the
left again. "Got wife )" said l. Yes,
and three children" he observed, and he
got up and folded his overcoat anew, and
hung it over the back of the seat. You
are pretty nervous over the matter, are
yon not? said, watching his fidgety
movements. Well, | should think SO, -
he replied: ! haven't slept soundly for
week. And do you Know" he went
on, glancing around at the passengers
and speaking in a low tone, :" | am al
most certain that this train will run off
the track and break my neck before we
get to Boston. Well, the fact is, have
had too much good luck for one man,
lately. The thing can't last; it is MT
natural that it should, you know. I've
watched it. First it rains, then it shines,
then it rains again. 1t rains SO hard
you think it's never going to stop; then
II shines so bright you think 1t always
going to shine; and just as you are set
tied in either belief you are knocked ov-
er by change, to show that you know
nothing about it.
Well, according to that philosophy" "
said l, "you will continue to have sun
shine becauseyou are expecting storm. .
Ii is curious he returned, but the
only thing which makes me think l will
get through safe is because / think l
won't" Well, that is curious, said L.
Yes" he replied. I'm machinist-
made a discovery-nobody believed in
it-spent all my money trying to bring
it out-mo mortgaged my home-all went
Everybody laughed at me-eyerybOdy
but my wife-fne little woman-said
she would work her fingers off before !
should give it up. Went to England
no better there; came within an ace Of