New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-11-17
THE NEW ENGINEER OF THE VAL.
LEY RAILROAD.

ALONG the single track of the Valley
Railroad trudged a merry, brown-faced
Italian, singing as he went. In one hand
he carried a stout stick to which was
fastened a platform about q foot and q
half square, while with the other he held
the end of q tiny chain attached to the
collar of small South American mon
key, perched upon his shoulder. In
spite of his gay scarlet jacket, with its
furnished gilt military trimmings, Jocko
looked very sad. Perhaps he was think
ing of the good times he used to have
scampering about with troops of merry
playmates in his native Brazilian forests,
or jabbering with his neighbors the tou-
cans, the parrots and the long-tailed
macaWs.
Just then his master came in sight of
the car-house at the end of the road.
The engine, with its steam up, was
standing ready to back down the track
to the station, and quite a crowd of small
boys and road hands were lounging
around, waiting for the starting.
"Ah, hal" exclaimed the italian
aloud, hurrying with all his might.
"Now, Jocko, perhaps we hat shance
to make a leetle penny!"
In a moment more he had planted
his staff firmly in the ground, and pull
ing a parcel from under his ragged coat,
took out a soldiers cap, which he clap
ped on Jocko's head, and tiny toy gun,
which he placed in the monkeys brown
paw, and then stood him on the plat
form, ready to show off the clever tricks
which he had taught him.
"Shoulder arms! Present arms! Carry
arms! Load! Fire! Scharge baynet!"
shouted the merry italian, at short in
tervals, holding up a stick threaten
ingly:
Jocko obeyed, with the most soldier
like air possible. The small boys
screamed with delight, and made up
faces and capered about, acting good
deal more monkey-like- than did Jocko,
who stood up as stiff as poker and as
dignifed as 2 Roman Senator.
Jocko hated small boys. In the first
place, he thought if it were not for them
he mi ht live in peace, and not have to
90 through with those odious tricks, for
Il all the people in the world were
grown up, they would have neither the
time nor the taste for such nonsense.
And, in the second place, small boys
seemed born without mercy, for when
he had played soldier again and again,
until his back and limbs were sore and
stiff, the greedy creatures never failed
to ask for more.
The Italian pulled off Jocko's military
coat and cap, and, opening the bundle a
second time, took out a short brown
petticoat and red waist, and white cap
with a big frill around the front of it,
and put them on the monkey, who scold-
ed and jabbered away as if he was Ut
terly disguised at such folly. Then a
little broom was given him, and he had
to 60 through the motions of sweeping
over and over again. But when he
passed the hat around and heard the
ohink of the pennies, he felt better
natured, for he knew that so much
money meant good supper for that
night.
"Jump in here" said the engineer,
reckoning to the monkey 8 master. ''I'l
take you down to the station. Perhaps
you'll have chance to pick up q few
pennies there.''
The Italian clambered up the side Of
the engine, and Jocko sat perched on his
shoulder, watching with his inquisitive,
sharp little eyes the pulling out of the
Unbelievable, and every movement
made by the engineer.
At the station, the Italian had Just
fixed the stand to the platform, ready to
show off Jocko's accomplishments,
when a tremendous clatter was heard,
and q horse with a pony phaeton, in
which were q lady and two little chill.
dren, dashed up the street at furious
pace. The engineer and fireman left
their places, and all the men about the
station ran toward the road, hoping to
stop the horse as he came along. Even
the italian, in the excitement of the
moment, forgot Jocko and darted of
like q deer.
Finding himself alone, Jocko jumped
down from the stand and scrambled up
the side of the engine, and hopping on
one of the seats of the cab, sat looking
about him as wise as an owl or q college
professor. Then his keen, miscellaneous
eyes espied the Unbelievable, and
reaching up his brown paw he gave the
handle violent pull.
.Pish! Pish!'' The engine made q
sudden plunge which nearly jerked the
passengers heads off, and caused two
stout old gentlemen, who were standing
In the aisle talking politics, to bump
their noses together In . very painful
manner.
"Pish.pish, pish-pish, pish-pish, pish.
pish," faster and faster turned the
wheels, and faster and faster came the
great white clouds from the smoke.
stack!
The train was already far beyond the
switch. and .JOckO. looking ont Of the