The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-07-22
CHUCKER'S PANTAL00NS.

How far IL is cxpedient TO convert
railway carriage into II dressing-room is
question which would be quickly
solved in the negative in continental cOun-
tries where guards walk along the foot
boards and collect tickets while the train
is III motion. But in England passen-
ger who likes 10 change his attire iii
first-class compartment IL pretty secure
from interruption; at least 50 thought
Mr.. Bnrnaby Chuckcr, IA he alighted
from hanson ut PaddinPton and rushed
across the platform, holding Il railway
rug and n carpet-bag, which contained n
complete change Of raimcnt-tow wit, dress
clothes.
Mr.. Chucker hadreceiyed an invitation
TO dine at Windsor with some friends Of
influential position, but being II busy
MI, he had not found time to dress ut
his Office in the city, or at his chambers
in the West End. Stepping into the
train, he slipped II shilling into the hand
of the guard, and said: keep me this
compartment, please, rs want to dress
"All right, sir, answered the guard;
and the next moment the train started
Mr.. Chuckcr then unlocked his carpet
bag and drew out clean shirt, with
other equipments necessary 10 his per
feet adornment
1t must hot be supposed that he diu
this without reluctance, for he was II
great stckler about all the proprictics Of
life. He objected to seeing things out of
place or doing things out OF season. If
he had caught his best friend changing
his pantaloons in railway carriage he
would have thought mean Y of him for
being of disordcrly habits and so now he
judged himself witha candid severity for
not having better regulated his own time.
"lf an accident occurred, unused he, us
he removed his coat and waistcoat, 81
wonder what would be thought of me for
being half uudrcsscd in train?"
This reflection made him reddcn He
was shy, middle-aged man, with large
red ears and fat ilorid face. The effort
OF pulling Of his boots always suiluscd
lis countcnance with crimson, and it did
30 now, insomuch that, what with the
color that came from physical exrrtion
and that which resulted from troubled
conscience, Mr.. Barnaby Chucker looked
truly distressed. Having removed his
boots, hc dcnudcd himself Of his trousers.
This was trying moment, for if IN ac-
cldcnt had happened then. "Why, why
dear me- CIRCULATED Mr.. Chuckcr, nj
this stage Of his cogitations, Z" think
the train is stopping"
The tram was stopping in effect, as
Mr.. Chuckcr might have foresecn that it
would do, since he was not travelling by
express, but he had been so enwrappcd
i'll his seli-upbrading thoughts that no
had not even noticed the first slackening
OF the engines speed He now found
himself i'll II very litter of clothes, and
with no time to redress himself before
the train stopped. He had to decide
hastily whethcrho would steam alongside
Failing platform i'll his shirt-sIecycs or
minus his pantaloons. He chose wisely
in budding on his coat, which he but.
toned up while he covered his lower
man with his railway rug. This done.
he collected rs many of his belongings rs
he could into his bag kicked his boots
undera seat, and tried to look digniiied
The tram had come to II stand-still now,
and n guard opened the door of the car
riagc in which our poor hero was sitting,
and cried "Theres room here, sir, for
you and this Indy"
" HE, guard" exclaimed Mr.. Chuckcr,
leaning out in horror, "you told me [ |
should have this compartment TO N.Y.
self )"
Unfortunately for our modest friend,
the guard 10 whom he had given the
shilling was not the one appointed to
travel with the train. These little mis-
takes often occur. and lead to unpleasant
The present guard said
bluntly: 81 can't give You n compart-
ment to yourself unless you pay for it,
sir. It's againsttherule Here, madam,
step in, please
A lady who looked in very delicate
health got into the carriage, and a gen
llemnn with her Mr.. Barnaby Chucker
|elt ready to swoon. Before he could in
'orm the guard of his readiness to pay
or whole compartment sooner than
nave his privacy intruded upon, the
rain was off again, and Mr.. Chucker fell
o rejecting how he should effect his
mango OF carriages mt Slough, now that
10 was in no fit state to step on to
platform. The train in which he trav,
led was not bound straight for Windsor
nut for Birmingham, and Mr. Chucker
you'd have to change at Slough if he
Wished to dine with his friends that
vening.
Alas! more urgent difficulty than
hat involved in change of carriages
Don presented itself to him; for no
Ooner had the train started than the
ldy who had just stepped in began to
,oan and to SILVER, saying that she felt '
old all over. Her husband sought tc
uiet her, but it was all of no use, for !
ne was really ill. At last the poor man 5
'oked in despair at Mr.. y ker and {
I'D: q G
Excuse me for taking great liberty, :
r; but would you be so kind MS to lend !
y wife your rug? We started in |;
nrry, and forgot to bring one. As it is =
,t cold day, perhaps you would not :,
ind obliging us as far as Slough, where :"
shall be able to buy rug?" . y
"Eh?" grunted Mr.. Chucker, stupefied. Il
ne request completely staggered him,
ID he could find no words in which &c Of
ply. m
Would you kindly lend this lady your W
81" repeated the gentleman, rather Ii,
m
Hoo" growled Mr. Chucker, in q
% like bears. 1t had just occurred
,im that the safest way to get out Of W
difficulties would be TO, sham being bs