The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-10-02
THE NEW ENGINEER OF THE VAL.
sa LEY RAILROAD.

ALONG the single track of the Valley
Railroad trudged merry, brown-faced
Italian, singing as he event. In one hand
he carried stout stick to which was
fastened platform about a foot and a
half square, while with the other he held
the end of tiny chain attached to the
collar of a small South American mon
key, perched upon his shoulder. In
spite Of his gay scarlet jacket, with its
furnished gilt military trimmings, Jockc
looked very sad. Perhaps he was think
ing of the good times he used to hav,
scampering about with troops of merr
playmates in his native Brazilian forests
or jabbering with his neighbors the tou
cans, the parrots and the long-taile
macaws.
just then his master came in sight
the car-house at the end of the road
The engine, with its steam up, wa
standing ready to back down the tracl
to the station, and quite crowd of small
.hnys-sand- road hands were loungins
around, waiting for the starting.
"Ah, hal" exclaimed the Italian
aloud, hurrying with all his might.
Snow, Jocko, perhaps we hat shance
to make leetle penny!"
In q moment more he had plan ed
his staff firmly in the ground, and pull
ing parcel from under his ragged cost,
took out 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! Garry
arms! Load! Fire! Scharge baynetl'
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 mac up
faces and capered about, acting good
deal more monkey-like than did ,ocAo,
who stood up as stiff as a poker and ae
dignifed as q Roman Senator.
Jocko hated small boys. Intle first
place, he thought if it were not fc them
he might live in peace, and not fave TO
20 through with those odious tricks, for
if 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 short brown
petticoat and red waist, and white cap
with 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 go through the motions of sweeping
over and over again. But when he
passed the hat around and heard the
chink of the pennies, he felt better
natured, for he knew that so much
money meant good supper for that
Z night. <'a
"Jump in here" said the engineer,
reckoning to the monkey IS master. ''I'll
take you down to the station. Perhaps
you'll have a chance to pick up few
pennies there"
The Italian clambered up the side Of
the engine, and Jocko sat perched on hi:
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 tremendous clatter was heard
and a horse with a pony phaeton, in
which were lady and two little chill.
dren, dashed up the street at a furious
pace. The engineer and fireman left
their places, and all the men about the
station ran toward the road, hoping tc
stop the horse as he came along. Ever
the Italian, in the excitement of the
moment, forgot Jocko and darted of
like deer.
Finding himself alone, Jocko jumped
down from the stand and scrambled W
the side of the engine, and hopping OF