Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-07-22
Mr.. CHUCKER'S TOILET,

a railway carriage into dressing
room is question which would he
quickly solved in the negative in
where guards walk along
the footboards and collect tickets
while the train is in motion. But in
England a passenger who likes to
change his attire in a first-class com.
partment is pretty secure from inter-
ruption at least so thought Mr.. Bar
naby Chucker, as he alighted from @
hanson at Paddington and rushed
across the platform, holding railway
rug and carpet-bag, which contain
ed d complete change of raiment-to-
wit, dress-clothes.
Mr. Chucker had received an iny,-
tation to dine at Windsor with some
friends Of influential position, but be-
ing busy man, he had not found
time to dress at his Office in the city,
or at his chambers in the West End.
Stepping into the train he slipped a
shilling into the hand of the guard.
and said: ''Keep me this compart-
ment, please, as l want TO dress"
''All right, SIR" answered the guard:
and the next moment the train START
ed. Mr.. Chucker then unlocked his
carpet-bag and drew out clean shirt,
with other equipments necessary to
his perfect adornment.
1t must not be supposed that he
did this without reluctance, for he
was great stickler about all the
properties of life. He objected to see
ing things out of place or doing things
out of season. If he had caught his
best friend changing his pantaloons in
a railway-carriage he would have
thought meanly of him for being of
disordcrly habits, and so now he
judged himself with candid severity
for not having better regulated his
own time. 'tIf an accident occurred" 4"
mused he as he removed his coat and
waistcoat, 81 wonder what would be
thought of me for being half undress-
ed in train?"
This reflection made him redden.
He was shy mlddle-aged man, with
large red ears and a fiat forid face.
The effort of pulling off his boots al
ways suffused bis countenance with
crimson, and it did so now, insomuch
that, what with the color that came
from physical exeruons, and that
which resulted from a troubled con-
science, Mr.. Barnaby Chucker looked
truly distressed. Having removed
his boots, he dcnunded himself of his
! trousers. This was a trying moment,
for if IN accident had happened
then,- why, why, dear me-"
calculated Mr.. Chucker, at this stage
of his cogltations' II thing the train
Is stopping"
The train was stopping in effect, rs
| Mr.. Chuckcr might have forseen that
1t would do, since he was not travel
ing by express, but he had been SO
enwrapped in his self-upbraidine
thoughts that he had not even noticed
the first slackening of the engine
speed. He now found himself in the
midst of very litter of clothes, and
/ with no time to redress himself be.
fore the train stopped. He had t
decide hastily whether he would steam
alongside Eating platform in his shir
sleeves or minus his psntsloons. He
chose wisely in huddling on his coat
which he buttoned up, while he GOV
cred his lower man with a railwa,
rug. This done he collected as many
of his belongings as he could into hi
bag, kicked his boots under seat
and tried to look dignified. Th,
train had come to a standstili now
and a guard opened the door of tn
carriage in which our poor hero wa
sitting, and cried: "There's room
here, sir, for you and this lady"
''Hie, guard!" exclaimed MIR
, Chucker, leaning out in horror. "yo
told me l should have this compart
ment to myself"
Unfortunately for our modest frien,
the guard to whom he had given tn
shilling was not the one appointed t
, travel with the train. These litti
mistakes often occur, and lead to ur
pleasant consequences. The preser
guard saidibluntly: 81 can't give yo
a compartment to yourself unless yo
! pay for it, sir. Here, Madam, step
; please"
A lady who looked in very delicat
health, got into the carriage, aud
:, gentleman with her. Mr.. Bsrnab
. Chucker felt ready to swoon. Befo,
= he could inform the guard of h
readiness to pay for whole compar
i, ment sooner than have his privacy il
;. truded upon, the train was off agar
:, and Mr.. Chucker fell to rehectin
= how he should effect his change ,
carriages at Slough, now that he ".
, in no fit state to step on the platform
= The train in which he travelled ",
not bound straight for Windsor, b,
= = for Birmingham, and Mr.. Chuck
" would have to change at Slough ii
wished to dine with his friends th
evening. ..s as
!, Alas! more urgent difficulty tbs
1h0S usossCu IA . Cunuk0 "a CNkII0s5'
!, soon presented itself to him but q
sooner had the train started than q
r. lady who had just stepped in lbegs
to moan and shiver, saying that st
% felt cold all over. Her husbsn
sought to quiet her, but it was all ,
no use, for she was really ill. At Ia
the poor man looked in despair
- Mr.. Chucker and said: ssExcuse n
10 for taking. great liberty, sir; b,
!, would you be 90 kind IS to lend n
, wife your rug? We started in a hurr,
!, and forgot to bring one. As it
= not . cold day, perhaps you wsu
not mind obliging US as far Is Sloug
= where l shall be able to buy . rug9 2
"Eh7" grunted Mr.. Chucker, ct
d pefed. The request completely sta,
; gered him, and he could find i
words in which to reply.
Is 'sWould you kindly lend this lai
It your rug?" repeated the gentlem,
/ rather astonished.
n ssHoo?" growled Mr.. Chucker.
A. q voice like q bears. It had ju
ar occurred to him that the safest y,
to get out of his difficulties uonld /
to sham being mad. A Freachm
q would have quietly beckonad the &c
/ = -