The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-03-28
OUT WEST.

A TRIP ACROSS THE CoNTINENT-''r THE
FACES WE MEET IN THE CROWDED
CARs"-GLANCEs AT OMAHA AND THE
WESTERN TOWNS.
j Especial Correspondence of the VRrginianJ
I think my tedious, long-drawn-out ride
down the Ohio river teft me in frame OF
mind to appreciate the thirty -miles-an-hour
of the railway train on which 1 found my
self passenger when left Cincinnati, 1t
had rained during the day and there was
sufficient frost at night to turn the rain to
ice, so the rails were not in good condition,
and as consequence the coaches jumped
good deal, but we kept the track and made
for Indiana as though our future happiness
depended upon our reaching her capital city
in the shortest possible time. We halted
there long enough to get fresh locomotive,
examine the car wheels and get refreshments
and then on again, working as hard to get
out of Blue Jeans capital as we had to get
into it.
Night had buttoned down all her curtains
when we left Cincinnati, SO there was no
lagos through which we passed. The sleep
ing. coach was not to be attached until we
reached Indianapolis, so dropped into my
old habit of studying my fellow passengers.
Across the aisle was party OF emlgrants
| going West-two young men with Their
wives; one bride, a pretty, dainty little
woman not more than eighteen years old,
going out from her childhood home to find
her happiness with this man who had chosen
her out of all the world, just as our girls all
over the world are doing, every one hopeful
and confident, and never learning from 9TH
ers' experience that there may be path
which leads through shadows.
Two jolly, we'll fed farmers sat close by,
and their merry peals Of laughter told us
palmer than words that the trip to town
had been successful one. Ii they carried
their smiling faces all the way home, am
sure their families were glad to welcome
them, and think they did. for the man who
laughs for all the world and frowns only at
his wife and children can't laugh good
honest laugll-there is always suggestion
of sneakishness in it. A few seats in FROM
of me noticed a lady weeping bitterly.
went to her, and sitting down by her side
said Quietly: ''You seem to be in trouble
can not help you?" She looked in my
face moment and then sobbed out: ''Oh
no. you cannot give me back my child y
Taking her hand in my own, stroked j
gently and waited for the outburst of grie
to spend itself. Then she told me of he
visit to her old home in Cincinnati to Civ
her baby boy change of air, but he hat
suddenly sickened and before she dreamed
of danger he lay dead iii her arms; nov
she was returning to her husband with bah,
could only look the sympathy I felt, TO
well I knew poor, weak human strength
could do little to tighten her load, while he
only child lay dead in the baggage-car
When we halted at the town in which sh
lived, l went from the car with this poor
stricken mother and waited a moment unit
the tiny coffin was brought forward. Yer.
tiny it was, but large enough to contain
mothers hopes; large enough to o'reshadov
happy home.
Returning to my first seat i'll the car, tn
oad-faced, good-natnred looking womal
behind me touched me lightly Oh the shout
der and said '.You'll be afther excusin' tn
liberty take, ma am, but I'd like to ask y
what aided the Teddy We was talkin' wild.
told her the sorrowful story and the BIZ
tears ran down her checks as she listened
''Ah 20 said she, ''but this wicked wor
rlld of trouble. Haven't | come, me owl
blisscd self, straight from the grave OF
| foine child as liver l was mither to.
, nate girl she was, too, though say it a
shouldn't, bein' as she was me own. Sh
| married against me will, and didn't like he
for that, but barrn the one slip she was tn
| datifollest child could ask for. But She
laid to rest now, God rest her soul, and it
me own heart that is nigh unto breaklil
wild the loss OF her, and she rocked to an
fro in an abandonment of grief ptiful to wit
ness
looked at the happy faced blide and til
{ jolls farmers and wondered, as have don
|. SO many times before, how happiness an
sorrow can walk SO closely side by side.
At Indianapolis we got the sleeping-ca
IL QC