The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-07-04
..sror HEN, pARD, sTor ~ ~

.'sTOP HEN, PARD! STOP - -
give it in his wn words as near
ly as | can. We made the run from
a way station, the name of which
has escaped me, into Pueblo by night.
There had been heavy rains. Parts
of the track were submerged. The
darkness and rush Of waters created
among the passengers considerable
anxiety. spent most of the night
in the cab. The engineer was too
much absorbed in his duties TO talk
He answered my questions with ci-
Witty but with brevity. | did not
notice it st the time, but afterwards l
recalled distinctly the sudden start
be gave and the look Of interest be
turned upon me. when | made some
observation which indicated that my
house was in the vicinity of Pitts
burgh. The next day be accepted
nv Invitation to dine with me- We
were alone in my room, and had
been recalling the scenes of the past
night, when, taking his pipe from
bis mouth he began:
THE EyGINEER's STORY.
Mayhap. stranger, you hev run the
Pennsylvania Central Railroad.
As you may say, l was born and
brought up on that line, FIRST IS fire.
man and then engineer nigh unto
twenty years. It's alters excitin' to
run a machine, and wen l was Gre
man | used to think it was better to
be on top of one of 'em splendid en-
gines, than to be President Of the
United States. The day they FIRST
put me on the footboard and 1 took
the lever in my hand and knew it
was my engine, l reckon l was the
proudest man between Pittsburgh
and Altoona. kinder thought that
every body was goin' to be out that
day to see how the train made her
run, and you can bet your specie
that she went smack up to the mint,
the whole III miles. But this kind
of spirit wore of, alter while. and
| settled down into q sober, stiddy
goin' man; and they did say that |
wor as safe and reliable q man as
thew bed in the business. | hev to
say il. stranger, as there's nobody
else to DO il; elsewise you wouldn't
know it.
was turned 90 wen me and Mary
was married. Twenty-eight years
ago. You hev q wife, stranger !?
Hevn't you a wife !? Well, mayhap
it's Just as well. he'd Mary some
eight years, but i; don't seem like no
time now. | left her there in the old
keystone State, be and the boy.
Sometimes think I'd like to go back
agin, and see the place where they
both lie, but ! suppose they never
shall. Don't seem as if | bad the
heart to do il. Ii wasn't 10 any
churchyard, you know; but . little
way up the mountain there was .
green, quiet spot among the trees,
aud they are there, not morn q hun
dred feet, say above the track-and !
often wonder if Charlie 60 snn't still
dream when the New York Express
tbunders by, that his old father is
holding the throttle.
put up snug cabin by the side
of the road where | had 9 small
clearin', and betW cen whiles | used
to plant my potatoes and things.
enough to keep Us goin', and Mary
had her garden. Mary alters took to
flowers, as | used to tell her, jokiu'
like, eos she was ooe OF the family.
TheL we had COW, and Mary rais-
ed chickens, and never seen no per-
son could DOS much " With chickens -
Mary could. Jest seemed like those |
hens were alters strainin' themselves
layin' eggs You never see nothin'
pay stric,er attention to business
than what they did Never staDdin'
about and foolin' around, but alters st
il. And then they'd set sod hatch
Mostly two broods .
year and brought 'em all up.
Mary raised a COW. One Of the
Civ it to her wen j. was .
calf, and she made much Of it.
used to tie it to a stake near the cabin
wen it was little thing. for it to eat
grass. Mary didu's know much
about things then. she was young
like, and one day she though: she'd
put the calf 10 the stable. told her
she'd better try it-she was just .
slight girl. Now calf. you know.
is the most deceivin' animal 10 the
world. II don't look as if it bed any |
strength, and yet it'll upset . full
grown man. So Ma y untiss the rope |
and starts Tor the shed. aud The calf
kicked up bis heels and away she |
went. Mary held on to the rope snd
away she went-~thr0wn down, roll
ed over, and there was confusion Of
calf and calico all over the place. |