The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-06-05
The Story Of a Ticket Agent.

room Of the little depot.
"The train l was to take 2" / said,
gasping
"Yes, ma'am. Too bad, but can't be
helped. Harness will give out sometimes,
you know" sympathizingly
"When is the next Western train due2"
tNot till six o'clock. You've five
hours to wait. Be dretful tiresome,
ma'am. There's a nice family that lives
in tother part o. the hOuse-s'pose | tote
you in there. know Mrs. Holly III give
you bite O. suthin' ter eat, and she'll
be proud to let you rest on her spare bed.
Fine woman, Mrs. Holly isl know her
Won't you go in and see her, ma amp"
"No, l thank you sir. dare say that
I'll be quite comfortable here"
"Wall, jess as you please. But now l
must be goin'. Hope you'll git to your
journeys end safe, ma'am. GOod-by"
And Farmer Brown left the room,
mounted his wagon, and soon disappeared
down the dusty road.
I had been visiting a friend who lived
in country settlement, some five or six
miles from the solitary building digni6ed
by the name of depot, and, when the time
came for me to return home, she placed
me in the care of a neighboring farmer
who was going to distant village, and
would pass the station.
During our ride we met with an ac-
cident. Part Of the harness gave way, and
we were detained such length of time
that, as the reader knows, was too late
for the train.
After farmer Brown left me, I amused
myself by reading newspaper which
some one had left lying ON the seat.
Finishing this, studied the design Of
the wallpaper, counted the panes Of glass
in the little window, and wondered at the
tidiness of the whole apartment.
Country depots are generally such
vile dirty places Wonder why this is an
exception?' 1 said to myself. Then a
thought struck me. ooh, probably the
place is kept clean by the Mrs. Holly over
whose virtues Farmer Brown was SO en-
thusiastic. Wonder if this same worthy
female would give me glass of water p
And l tapped on the door communicate
ing with the other apartments.
Come in" said CHEEKY voice, and
entering, l found myself in one of the
prettiest, cozest rooms had ever seen.
The most delicate tint of buff was on the
walls, cool mating covered the floor, mus
lin curtains, festooned with ivy, hung at
the windows, and here and there were
books, brackets, pictures and flowers, and
all the dainty belongings that make a
room look so ''honaey" and pleasant.
And most charming of all, there lay in
white-draped cradle rosy baby, fast
asleep, with rings Of golden hair falling
over his white brow, and a great, red
velvety rose clasped in his dimpled hand.
Over him bent woman of twenty-five
or three years-a little mite of a woman,
with bright, dark face, wildly colored
big black eyes, and wondrous dark hair
wound in heavy braids about her stately
head.
She arose with smile when | entered
"Excuse me; but may trouble you for
glass of water?' said
"No trouble at all, ma am. Pray be
seated. Excuse me-" and she left the
room.
Presently she returned, bearing salvel
covered with a snow-white napkin, and
containing glass Of water, glass OF
creamy milk a saucer of lucous red straw.
berries and plate Of sponge-cake light as
yellow foam.
"Pardon me-" she said, smiling, "if
take too great liberty; but, you see
Farmer Brown told me of your being
obliged to wait so long, and l thought
you might be hungry"
"Why, how very kind you are!" ex'
claimed, in pleased surprise.
"Notat all. It's a pleasure to me. L
| YOU are nOt anu uu5Vy , PolHdpS yOu u llht
to bathe your face. Ii so, just step il
here"
And she led the way into little white
bedroom-the very heart Of cleanliness anC
purity.
In little while was different being
from the cross, dusty, hungry morta
who had sat in the hot Waitng-room.
found Mrs. Holly perfect little gem
of a woman, and, after the manner of our
sex, we soon became as well acquainted as
if we had known each other for years.
And while 1 was lying languidly upon
her comfortable sofa, and she, seated in
her low rocking-chair, stitching away at
her baby's dress, she told me the one ro-
nance of her life.
81 have lived in this little depot oil. my
days." she began. my father was agent
here, and he served the company so long
al L. i