Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-01-01
Good Bye, Sut Lovengood.
A Story Of Olden Times Which VIII
be Enjoyed by Maj. Wallace's
Friends.
Sunday Gazette.

! Jul OdliipDcll w dildCe, Illc pIco-
ent able Superintendent of the
1 Western and Atlantic railroad,
will not fail to enjoy the follow
ing "ower true tale"
Many years ago, while presi-
dent of East Tennessee and Geor-
gia railroad, he chanced to be
travelling over the line in car
where there were but few pass
engers, seated opposite the stove,
wrapped up in his shawl, in med
itations connected with the gi-
gantic job which he had under
taken building a railroad with
out money!, when night came on.
Presently in bounded a brake
man, loudly slamming the doorbe-
hind him-one of those country
geniuses who with a laudible am
bition, had, a day or two agone,
abandoned the girls, the fiddle,
and the plow tail, to "climb in
the world" to become a brake
man. He had been the king-bee
at all the neighborhood frolics,at
the house-raisings, at the corn
shuckings, and at crossroads
doggery fighting7grounds, and
now he felt that he was a king on
railroads. Shutting up to the
sleeper, he slammed down hls,
lantern, kicked the mud from his
huge boots, on the foot-board of
the seat, spit tobacco juice copi-
ously and noisily on the kissing
stove, crossed his muscular thighs,
took a survey of the aforesaid
boots, with harness leather straps,
and then bethought himself of
the customer" sitting opposite,
on whom he proceeded to be-
stow heightened critical and
saucy look, as though he doubted
the customers" right to be in
the coach at all. At length he
sought knowledge:
"Whar ar you gwine, Mister?"
"To Dalton, sir,' responded
the Major, quietly.
preacher, aint you2"
"No, sir, / am not; but why
do J gu ask?"
"Oh! nothing only by-It
thought / saw "Hark from the
toombs" stickin' out all over you
like measils. You know me, |
reckon?"
81 am sorry to say that I do
not"
"Well, I'll just be dam; why
whar the devil war you raised"
"At Maryville, East Tennes-
see."
"Oh!. that excuses you, for if
ever l hearn tell owe that settle
ment afore, l wish / may be
burned, and l know every place,
/ dus."
"You seem to be well acquaint-
ed with the place you are now
occupying" remarked the Major,
almost choking with efforts to
suppress his laughter.
"What place do you mean,
Mister. This yere red bainch
kivered with the dried skins off
COWS tongues, or my office?'
81 allude to your Office, and, by
the way, what is your position on
this road?"
brakeman, by the jumpin'
geminy. / tho't everybody
know'd that; brakeman owe the
Yeast Tennessey and Georgy
railroad"
unfortunately | did not know
it," responded the Major. i
"Well, you'd a dam soon foun'
the fac out, if you'd a cut up
any shines roun' we're, huggin'
wimmen, or tryin' to steal any
body's carpet-bag, or talkin' sas-
sy to the conductor, or sich.
Why I'd chuck'd you butt fore
mos thru that winder lik dar'tin'
clapboards thru the cracks owe d
barn, for / means to run this
we're train on high moril princi-
pies, due. An you dident
know / was the brakeman owe
this yere railroad?''
"Indeed, sir, / did not"
"Well, old Slideeasy, all | hes
got to say is, that for man OF
your looks, you know less than
anybody | ever saw. How do
you manage to make a livin' eny-
how?"
81 receive a salary; | am pres
ident of this road; Wallace is my
name. Butt have not the pleas
ure of knowing yours; will You
be kind enough TO inform meY'
All symptoms of "king bee"
disappeared at this thunderbolt
announcements ,and in their stead.
timid humility, crushed pride OF
place, a strong getaway" de-
sire, and a most confounded