The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-07-15
GUELDEN'S LAST DRINK
AN ENGINEERS CONFESSION.


will say, from A. to u. L had the
sweetest little wife in the world, and q
baby the very image of its pa. had
always a dollar or two to put by for a
rainy day, and the boys spoke of me 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
a conscientious man talkative, and l
never squandered my time spinning
yarns and listening to railroad jokes in
the round-house. Ny wife's name was
Josephine, and l called her joe"
never belonged to any of the rail
way clubs or organizations, and never
should if it hadn't been for CRANKY.
CRANKY was a nephew of our division
superintendent, and it's failing with
we men of the road that we like to be
noticed by the fellows at headquarters,
if only to touch the hem of their gar
ments. CRANKY was a snowy fellow,
andsoften rode with me from A. to Il.
He had good opinion of me, and as far
rs 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 1.
eve meet once a fortnight" he re-
piled, "and have a jelly good time
We want practical, thinking men OF
your sort, and I'll propose you if you
like"
1 was fond of such things, and had
ideas that l fancied might be worth
something. But the engineer doesn't
have many nights or days to himself, and
the club would have one evening fort
night from Joe. l said:
will ask her. If she likes it, yes
ask whom 2" he said.
"Joe," said 1.
"If every man had asked his wife,
every mans wife would have said
Can't spare you, my DEAR" said
CRANKY.
But 1 made no answer. At home ]
told Joe. She said:
al shall miss you, Ned. But you dc
love such things, and if CRANKY belong,
to it they must be superior men,"
So said yes, and CRANKY proposed
me. Thursday fortnight 1 went with
him to the rooms. The real business oil
the evening was the supper.
had always been temperate man.
did not know what effect wine would
have on me. But coming to drink more
OF it than had done before at the club
table, l found it put steam on. After SO
many glasses wanted to talk and after
50 many more did.
seemed like somebody else, the words
were 50 ready. My ideas came out, and
they were listened to. 1 made SHARP
hits, and INDUCED in repartee, told
stories, and even came to puns 1 heard
somebody say: CRANKY, by george
that's a man worth having. 1 thought
him dull at first" Yet 1 knew it was
better to keep quiet Ned Guelden, with
his ten words an hour than the wine
made wit 1 was.
i was SIRE of it, when three month,
later stumbled up stairs to find Jot
waiting for me, with her baby on hel
breast.
You have been deceiving me-" said
Joe. I" 1 suspected it but wasn't sure
A scientific club couldn't smell like ;
bar-room."
Which means that do" said 1.
And look like one," said Joe, as sh,
locked herself and baby in a spare bed
room.
One night 1 was dressed in my Sunda,
suit, ready to go to the club, when Jot
stood before me.
Ned" she said, az never had faul
to find with you before. You've beer
kind, good, and leving always; but
should be sorry we ever met if you 81
on in this way. Don't ask what NEAR
you know"
Its only club night" said L.
1t will gro%," said she.
Then she put her arms around m,
neck.
Ned" said she, edo you think :
thing so like bolted and strapped dow
demon as steam is, is fit to put into tn,
hands of drunken man? And SOM
oay, mark m words, not only Thursda,
night, but all days of the week, will b.
the same. have often heard you won
der what the feeling of an engineer, VIII,
mas about the same as murdered trail
full of people. must be, and you'll know
II you don't stop where you are. A
steady hand and clear head have beel
your blessings all these years; dom
throw them away. Now if you dom
care for my love, don't ruin yourself"
My little Joel She spoke from he
heart, and / bent over and kissed her.
Don't be afraid, child I'll neve
pain you again.
And L meant it but at twelve o'clocl
that night I felt 1 had forgotten m,
promise and my resolution.
L couldn't go home to Joe. made III
my mind to sleep on the club sofa, an,
leave the place for good the next day
Already felt my brain reel as it ha,
never done before. In an hour was in
kind of a stupOr. 1t was morning.
waiter stood ready to brush my coat
looked at my watch; 1 had only fiv
minutes to reach the depot.
Joe's words came to my mind. Was
fit to take charge of an engine? wa
not fit to answer. / ought to have aske
a sober man. As IL was T onIv cauuh