Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-08-11
Story of a Ticket
Agent.


1.-The train | was to take 2" / said
gasping.
"Yes, ma'am. Too bad, but can't be
helped. Harness will give out some
times, you know" sympathizingly.
"When is the next western bound
train due p
"Not till six o'clock. You've five
hours to wait. Be dreadful tiresome,
ma'am. There's nice family that live
in t'other part of the house-s'pose |
tote you in there. ! know Mrs. Holly'l
proud to let you rest on her spare bed.
Fine woman, Mrs. Holly is; l know her.
Won't you 60 in and see her ma'am p
mo, thank you sir. dare say that
l'll be quite comfortable here"
"Wall, jess as you please But now |
must be going. Hope you'll git to
your journeys end safe, ma'am. Good
by"
! And farmer Brown left the room,
mounted his wagon, and soon disap-
pcared down the dusty road.
| had been visiting a friend who
lived in country settlement some five
or six miles from the solitary building
dignifed by the name of depot, and
when the time came for me to return
home she had 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 acci-
dent. Part of the harness gave away,
and we were detained such length OF
time, that, as the reader knows, | was
too late for the train.
After farmer Brown left me, anus.
ed myself by reading newspaper which
some one had left lying in the seat
Finishing this, studied the design
of the wall paper. counted the panes of
glass in the little window, and wonder
ed at the tidiness of the whole apart
ment.
Country depots are generally such
vile, dirty places ! Wonder why this is
an exception ?" said to myself. Then
a thought struck me. 20, probably the
place is kept clean by Mrs. Holly, over
whose virtues farmer Brown was so en-
thusiastic. Wonder if this same wor-
thy female would give me glass of
water?"
l tapped on the door communicating
with the other apartment.
"Come in" said cherry voice, and
entering, l found myself in one of the
prettiest, cOziest rooms | had ever
seen.
The most delicate tint of buff was
the walls, cool mating covered the
floor, muslin curtains, festooned with
ivy. hung at the windows, and here and
there were pictures, brackets, books and
flowers. and all the dainty belongings
that make a room look SO "honey" and
pleasant.
And, most charming of all, there lay
in white draped cradle rosy baby,
fast asleep, with rings of golden hair
over his white brow, and a great. red,
velvetry rose clasped in his dimpled
hand.
Over him bent a woman of twenty
two or three-.a little mite of woman,
with a bright. dark face wildly colored,
big black eyes, and wondrous dark hair
wound in heavy braids about her stately
head.
She rose with bright smile when I
entered.
Excuse me; but may l trouble you
for glass of water ?'
"No trouble at all ma'am. Pray be
seated. Excuse me-" and she left the
room.
Presently she returned, bearing sal
yer covered with a snowy white napkin.
containing glass of water, a glass of
creamy milk. saucer of lucious straw
berries, and plate of yellow 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. 1 ex.
claimed in pleasing surprise.
"Not at all. 1t is a pleasure to me-
) If you are hot and dusty, perhaps you'd
like to bathe your face. If SO just ster
in here"
) And she led the way into little white
bed-room-the very heart of cleanliness.
! and purity.
In little while / was different be
| ing from the cross, dusty. hungry morta
who sat in the hot waiting room.
L found Mrs. Holly perfect lttl
gem of a woman, and, after the manne
of our sex, we soon became as we'll ac
quainted as if we had known each othe
f for years. And while was lying Ian
guidly on her comfortable sofa, and sh,
l was seated in her low rocking chair
! stitching away at her baby's dress. sh
a told me the romance of her life. a3
..T Lax,o l;x,oJ =, xl. ~. II I. Il.