Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-08-20

A COOP SToTY WELL ToLD.-The fol.
lowing story is told by the Rev. J. Hyatt
Smith:
I'VE stopped at Syracuse, New York,
for dinner. You remember the railroad
depot, centrally located, with its eastern
and western entrances, which are exactly
alike-as much as the two ends of car.
After we had dined the depot master in
formed me that we had fifteen minutes to
spare before the departure Of the next
train. This, thought l. will give me an
opportunity 10 see the city, and glorious
chance for a smoke, provided clergyman
could be tempted into such wasteful and
worldly amusement. l sauntered forth
and, after an absence Of exactly thirteen
minutes, having enjoyed delightful and
soothing stroll, | was leisurely returning,
watch in hand. when, to my astonishment,
| beheld the train slowly moving out Of
the other end of the depot, aud increasing
in speed at every putt of The gigantic
locomotive.
Here indeed was call which admitted
neither correspondence nor delay; there
was no time for taking it into consilera.
tioR. So, without comforting with flesh
and blood, put like n sky-rooket with q
double fuse. For u moment thought
was gaining ground, although knew
was losing wind. l was encouraged in
the race by sundry helpful fellows, who
cried out as l passed: Go it, CATERS !!
Plucky boy! He amt left-oh, mo-!
and other well meaning and benignant
exhortations. Though they intended, per.
haps, to help me over the course, | founC
that the more they shouted the less wa:
inclined to run, and the more decidedly
did the locomotive maze its terrible way
against me.
To give up the chase, to submit to the
chagrin of being left, to lose my party
and my passage, meet with disappoint
ment, not TO meet with my friends-al
this was bad enough, but the thought O
encountering all the way back to the depo
that line of interested individuals who
with their cheering exclamations, had sc
feelingly encouraged me on my onward
Ijourney-this was the bitterest pill in thi
unexpected dose.
But it must be done, SO, tapering of
gradually, gave up the contest, ant
concluded to find the depot master, whost
laundering statements were the cause o
all my trouble. Without search that indi
vidual advanced to meet me with TIN
bland recognition of fact that nobod,
could well deny:
well, you got left, did you?'
| replied with the resentment of
silencing eye. If l looked as ! tried t,
look. my photograph at that instant woul,
ba llry ha nh fn oil hIn rr,l
lery of eminent divines.'
Several by-standers seeking information
asked, with show of confidential interest
in what wise the thing happened; an,
others, wishing to point "a moral, advised
me to be on hand little earlier mex
time.
With returning breath, relief and word
came together, and squarely charged
the railway official with all blame.
spoke of his incompetency in no meas
urable terms, recalling how, after ha
placed my party in the car. he had assure
me that there were full seventeen minute
to spare before the train went out, 'whil
here, said with triumphant exhibition
of my watch, the seventeen minutes ar
even now barely up, and yet the train ha
gone clear out of sight
After no little hot talk had shot bac
and forth, with the usual variations an
final perorations of you did, and 'yo
didn't, you're another etc., asked hin
if would be risking another chance @
being left if depended upon him to Civ
me the exact hour of the next eastern
train.
Easternp' exclaimed he.
Yes, eastern, replied, with decided
ly upward and rising infection.
Why quoth he. the train you hav
been chasing with such good luck WASH
the eastern, but the western express
With much interesting confusion ant
excitement, | stammered out: 'Thel
where in Joppa is the eastern tramp
why, there it is,' replied he, jus
getting under way at the other end of tn
depot; leg it or you'll lose that
If ever | made quick time l made
then. | felt as if was all legs. On
glance, however, at the rear door of tn
last car as was nearing it, came nea
being too much for me. discovered tn
group of my lost friends, whose form
and faces seemed bursting with poorly
suppressed and il-timed mirth.