The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-01-20
HOW l LOST MY WHISPERS.
CHAPTER l.

| hidden by newspaper, opposite me III
! railway carriage.
All the seats in the carriage were filled;
! and four others were on our way from
Cambridge to enjoy the Christmas vacation.
Our spirits were high, for there is delight
in banishing for time all thoughts of comic
sections, Newton's Principal" and the
little-go, and entertaining, in exchange,
visions of chops" skating parties, and all
the orgies which every right minded family
holds at this season in honor of King
Christmas.
But l must introduce you to my chums,
for chums we were although our tastes did
not all lie in the same direction. Jack
Stirrup is Cor rather was at that period
riding and hunting man, and was not
unfrequently to be seen at Newman ket:
Stretcher, on the other hand, loved boating,
and preferred the sight of well-developed
biceps to that of the best bred hunter, and
would often remark TO Jack, Chow on
| earth you can say that you would rather
see the Two Thousand than the thine
for the life of me make out" Edwards
was a poor and reading man, but whose
wit and talents rendered him universal
favorite; whilst Davies was a rich, open
handed, good hearted fellow as ever lived.
For my own part, do not think had any
we'll defined popularity, but did little of
everything. l read little, rowed little,
hunted little, had fair income-in short,
if had any characteristic at all, it was
love of laziness and practical jokes.
We congratulated ourselves in getting
carriage to ourselves with the exception of
the old gentleman 1 have named), for we
intended to keep out the cold, and beguile
our journey with sundry pipes and cigars.
We had our cases out, and were preparing
to light up, as matter of course, when we
were astonshed by my uis-a-si dashing
away the newspaper which had hidden his
face.
"Do object to smoking? Yes, sir,
do object! l object very strongly, sir! and
beg that you will instantly replace your
cigars in your pockets. insist on having
no smoking in this carriage!
We looked aghast at this sudden burst
of old-gentlemanly wrath.
might ask if you intend travelling far
on this line, siroo" inquired Edwards, in
his comically- polite tone.
"What is that to you, sir? What bust
ness is it of yours where am going to?''
81 merely wished to suggest, in case of
your travelling far, that pleasing and de-
| lightful as it would be for us to enjoy your
agreeable society, yet, nevertheless, we
would try to bear the loss, should you pre-
fer to change carriages at the next station"
"No'doubt you would wish to get rid of
me; but no, sir! do not move my seat,
and the first one that smokes report to
the guard"
"In that case, fear we shall be obliged,
painful though it be, to tear ourselves
away" said, as we drew up at small
station.
Fortunately we found the next compart-
ment empty, and as we started again we
pulled out our cigar cases, this time to
| light their contents.
"The old boy has certainly got out of
bed the wrong side this morning." said l,
putting away.
"Or has made mistake in his betting
book" remarked my sporting friend
"We'll give him benefit now, at any rate;
l vote we take it in turns to puff smoke
through the lamp hole. Let's look at him;
ha! cooled down little, is about to COM
| pose himself to sleep. III trouble you for
| his nightcap; come and look at it, Fred"
l did SO, and roared on seeing a red,
woven cap of conical shape, which added
very considerably to the irascty of the
wearer's features.
With perseverance which deserved bet.
ter cause, we each made tube of paper,
and putting the end through the lamp hole,
took our turn at smoking him OUT" and
| | blush as l now think how heartily we
enjoyed the enraged state in which he paced
up and down the empty carriage, like
Gagged tiger.
The next time we stopped, however, the
guard put his head into our carriage win
| dow and said, with wink
"Gentl'm in next compartment COM
plains of your smoking, Sir.
Smoking" we exclaimed, with mock
indignation. "Do we look as though we'd
been smoking9 What nonsense and
added in a mysterious manner, "You see
| oc 40
not going to tell tales of the man who
occupied that"
CAN right" said the guard, laughing,
81 wasn't born yesterday" And after a
slightly confidential transaction of pecu-
MARY nature, left US in peace.
The snow, which had been falling heavily
all day, now lay thick all around. Our
eyes ached again, as We looked out of the
on to the dazzling snow which covered all
the landscape; and as we stamped our feet
on the floor of the carriage, We began
heartily to wish ourselves at our journey s
end, and by the fireside.
:: \
l wonder whether we're going to do an
upset, or anything exciting of that kind
said Dawes, looking out of the window.
II don't see train anywhere that we can
have friendly collision with"
"Get out here, gentlemen" said the
guard, passing the window; "the line is
showed up, and we shall have to wait till
it is clear"
The grumbling which this pleasant an.
nouncement caused was Immediately stop,
ped by our hearing the voice of our dis,
agreeable companion in the next compart.
ment.
cline showed up, is it ?" said that gen.
tleman, trying to appear calm in his fury,
land we get out here? Oh! and do you
suppose l am quietly going to submit to
this? The line ought to have been cleared
ready for us. shall bring an action"
But SIR l said, chow on earth could