Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-15

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Do you know, I've gone to railroading?
Yes indeedy. Haven't quit lecturing, but
brake on freight trains and camp out on
side tracks in the intervals. It takes a lon
ger time TO spend nine hours on siding
than it does to deliver a popular lecture,
but it doesen't pay 20 we'll. I know every
switch, sidetrack andy in the State of Iowa
by name, right apd reputation If I were
dropped out of the clouds in the darkest
midnight that ever frowned, and should
light upon a sidetrack could tell right
where l was. Try me sometime. One
night last week was going from Grinnell
up north According to
THE CUSTOM OF THE R0sTRUM.
! was riding in cab ,ose, jamming along
behind a freight train as long - kite
string. was stretched out OIL long seat at
nv full length. which isn't much longer
than a piece Of cord wood. l was trying
to sleep. Twas wooing the drowsy god by
pounding my ear on the cushion till the
dust few.
The drowsy god was not on that train,
however. He was back in Grinnell, wait
ing for the sleeping car.
Pretty soon the train stopped, about q
mile north of Grinnell. 1t was very restful
to the one lone passenger in the caboose.
1t was soothing to his swollen ear. It was
easy on the cushion. felt that sleep was
shout to settle down upon the subscriber
and knit up the ravelled sleeve of care, 30
long as the absence of motion rendered the
ceremony Of knitting possible.
TROUBLE IMPENDING.
The conductor came in. Gloom sat en-
throned upon his brow. and his lowering
frowns made the car look dark. He opened
q window and let in wandering zephyr
that froze the flames in thest into icicles.
It's way freight conductors have.
He brought bis head in after while, and
from the way he acted I Judged he was
moved. He seemed to be deeply affected
over something had dim suspicion that
he might have been irritated. He slammed
down his lamp, and he kicked the stove.
Then he jerked down another lantern, and
snatched up an oil can and slammed the stove
door shut and said he might be dad essen.
TALLY creminy jeming teetotally gol twisted
te jude.
arose with the intention of leaving the
car if such language was repeated. was
spared the trial; it was not repeated. The
next time he said it, he made it worse a
thousand fold.
But 1 was used to it by that time, and
endured it with q fortitude and resignation
that astonished even myself. asked him
care We waiting for a train to pass us?'
"Yesw he roared, "waiting for train to
pass right through us!'
I sighed and rolled upon the bench, and
once more essayed to sleep. Pretty soon
when the conductor had the second lantern
trimmed and burning, he came and stood
beside my virtuous couch, saying:
"Here, young fellow get up out Of this
take this lantern and trot down the track
about 70 yards and stay there till send for
you. Swing the lamp this way if you see a
train coming"
We asked him inquiringly.
"And what does this feature of the pro-
gramme mean"
A NOVEMBER PICNIC.
| He said that it meant that the engine and
half our train and all the brakemen had
broken loose from US and gone on to the
next station he reckoned, and when they
discovered We were left, would come bacl
for Us. He had to flag one end of the train
against the returning hall, and must e
down the track and do duty against pass
senger and possible freight or two thai
might otherwise wander into US.
He was correct. Moreover he was very
firm about it. He seemed to be man o
convictions, 80 We yielded to his earnest so
licitations and girded up our loins and sal
lied forth.
halted at cattle guard. Great heavens
but the night was cold. could have warm
ed my feet in the bosom of . snow man
The wind few about 1000 y minute, ant
everything it touched turned to ice or stone
just as it happened. got down in thu
ditch to get out of the wind, but it was 8,
much colder down there that the wind fel
warm. Then got out on the track and tn,
wind had got 20 much colder than the ditch
that was afraid to step back into the ditcl
again lest l should be suustruck. My teett
chattered 20 that couldn't have heard !,
train lift had run up my trowsers leg.
was terrible situation. Alone, in the Wild
wild night, with no human ear to hear m,
cries if danger assailed me, no human ARM
to protect me, suddenly the fearful though
flashed across my mind:
What il, in that hour of darkness, in tha
wild, lonely place, some woman should com
along, kick over my lantern, stife me Will
chloroform, and kiss me?
THE RESOLUTION OF VIRTUE.
lam a married man. I felt that my dut,
to my family demanded prompt action, an,
I left that warning lamp sitting by the cattl
guard, while ] trotted back to the caboos
and kept up the fire.
In about two hours the advance guard q
our train came feeling it, way back after u
and picked us up. The conductor came ir
30 cold he couldn't shut his eyes, and ga,
me just rousing up from dream Of peac.
A DECE1TFUL CALM.
"How long have you been in here?" h
demanded.
raid didn't know; had been in ,
long my watch had run down.
"How long did you stay at where I ser
you? he asked.
told him, "About five minutes"
The conductor was man Of wonderfi
presence of mind. He didn't try to q
anything just then. He was too cold. Il
made me 60 out and bring in my lamp.
brought it aud turned it over to the compan
and resigned ny position on the spot. But
wasn't allowed to get It Of the service {
the company 20 easily.
THE STORM BREAKS.