The Osceola times., 1879-01-04
THE TICKET AGENT.

"Western trains gone, ma'am," said
Farmer Brown, coming into the waiting
room of the little depot.
"The train was TO tske?" said, gasp.
ing.
"Yes, ma'am; too bad, but can't be
helped Harness will give out some
times, you know" said he, sympathiz.
ingly.
"When is the next Western train
due?"
"Not till six O'Clock; you've got FIVE
hours to wait. Be dreadful tiresome,
ma am. There's a nice family that lives
in t'other part of the house; s'pose | tote
ysu in there? ! know Mrs Holly'il give
you a bite of suthin to eat, aud She III
be proud to let you rest on her spare bed
Fine woman, Mrs. Holly isl know her.
Won't you 90 in and see her, ma'sm?"
"No thank you, sir; ] dare say that I'll
be quite comfortable here"
"Waal, les as you please. But now |
must be goin'. Hope you'll git to your
journeys end safe, ms'am. Good by"
And Farmer Brown left the room,
mounted his wagon, and soon disappear
ed down the dusty road.
had been visiting friend who lived
in a country settlement, some five or six
miles from the solitary building dignified
by the name OF depot; and when the
| time came for me to return home, she
placed me in care of neighboring farm.
er 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 way and
we were detained such a length Of time
that as the reader knows, l was too late
| for the train.
After Farmer Brown lett me amused
myself by reading newspaper which
some one had left lying on the seat.
Finishing this, studied the d sign OF
/ the wall paper, counted the panes Of
glass in the little window, and wondered
at the tidiness of the whole apartment
"Couptry depots are generally such
vile, dirty places; wonder why this is Al
exception?" | said 20 myself. Then 8
thought struck me. ooh, probably the
place is kept clean by Mrs. Holly, ovel
whose virtues Farmer Brown was so en-
thusisstic. Wonder if this same worthy
female would give me glass of waterT
Aud ! tapped on the door communi
eating with the other apartments.
Come in" said a CHEEKY voice arc
entering, | found myself in one of the
prettiest, cosiest rooms | had ever seen
The most delicious tint ef buff was on
| the walls; cool mating covered the floor
muslin curtains, festooned with ivy
| hung at the windows; pictures and flow
ers and all the dainty belongings thai
make room look so homely and pleas
ant.
And, most charming of all, there lay
in white draped cradle a rosy baby
fast asleep, with rings OF golden hair tall
ing over his white brow, and a great
ned, velvet roe clasped in his dimplec
hand.
Over him bent woman OF twenty
two or three years-a little mite OF s
woman, with bright, dark face, vividly
coiored, bic black eyes, and wonlrou'
dark hair wound in heavy braids about
her stately head.
She arose with a smile when entered
Excuse me; brt may | trouble yol
for glass of wster?" ] said.
"No trouble at all, ma'sm. Pay b.
seated. Excuse me-" And she left In,
room.
Presently she returned, bearing sal
yer covered with a snOw-whte napkin
containing glass of water, a glass D
creamy milk, a saucer of lucious straw
berries, and a plate ofsponge cake, ligh
as yellow foam.
"Pardon me-" she said, smiling, "if
take too great liberty, but you see
Farmer Brown told me of your bein.
obliged to wait so long, and | though
you might be hungry"
"Why, how very kind you are!
exclaimed in pleased surprise.
"Not at all; it's pleasure to me.
you ate hot and dusty, perhap
you'd like to bathe your face. II so
just step in here.
And she led the way into little whit,
bedroom the very heart OF cleanliness
and purity
Ina little whilc was differeut bein,
from the cross, dusty, hungry morts
who bad sat in the hot waiting-room.
found Mrs. Holly perfect little gem o
a woman, and, ter the manner OF ou
sex, we soon became az well acquainted
as if we had known each other for years
And while was lying languidly upoI
her comfortable sofa, aud she seated il
her low chair stitching away at her baby
dress. she told me the one romsncs o
her life,
II have lived in this littledepot all m,
days." she began. "My father was agen
here and he served the company 20 lonl
and 80 we'll that when he died they kindly
allowed me to remain in his place, with
the same wages, too For, you see, wa
seventeen, and my father had long befor,
taught me telegraphing and all the othel
work About year after lsther's death
/ became acquainted with Jsck-Jscl
Holly, my husband" AID Mrs. Holly
looked up and smiled.
Jack was one of the best engineers OF
the road (and is now, too), and every
BODY oors ders him an homes, likel,
young fellow He thought the world o
me, and we became engaged. But yo,
know how girls erel The weakest o
| them make strong rs.r !remble."