The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-12-25
4 DOUBLE SURPRISE.

AT six o'clock yesterday evening it by
chancesohappencd- things WILL occasional
y happen in that way--that we were present
in the Mississippi Central railroad Office
while two Of our esteemable citizens and
prominent officials of the road, were not
little surprised by the clerks Of the Office
in by no means disagreeable manner.
Promptly at six o'clock the clerks left their
various desks and gathered in the second
room from the front with CONTINGENCIES full
Of portentous portland stood silently along
the counter awaiting the appearance Of Mr..
c. r. Rudd, the agent Of
the road who had been called
by Capt, Miller. As Mr. Rudd entered
the room, Mr.. G.. W. Chcllett, the cashier,
stepped to the front and, as spokesman for
the men assembled. addressed Mr.. Ruid in
very adroitly worded little speech and
very serious tone of voice, which at once
created the impression that the clerks who
are well paid, had struck for higher wages
or that some great calamity had happened,
information concerning which he desired to
import to Mr.. Rudd in all seriousness.
There We're times, said he, when ell men
were afflicted with trouble and railroad
men by no means escaped the
trowns OF Providence. Here he wiped
away tear and the clerks sobbed while
Mr. Rudd nervously supported himself on
the end of the counter, prepared to hear the
worst. They were men whose sympathies
were never withheld from those in distress
whose large hearts beat warmly for their
felowmen and who appreciated, as few
Others could, the good qualities Of those
under whose supervision they
performed their daily duties,
And it was but natural that being so,
the clerks assembled should desire to
show their high appreciation of him as a
man and as an official in a substantial
manner.
At this juncturc Captain Jas. F. Miller
brought forth from under his desk basket
full Of packages of various sizes. All eyes
were turned upon them and -as
piece after piece OF the paper was removed |
a very handsome silver water set consisting
of salycr, two goblets and pitcher, were
disclosed, and placed before Mr., Rudd, |
who now having entirely recovered from |
his former fright but whose contenance was
an index Of genuine surprise, stated that |
he was not speech maker and was there
fore unable to say much, but heartily
thanked the generous donors.
In the center of the saver the initials of
the following names were engraved Jno,
+. Chelett Chas Z. Phillips, w. ID. Clark,
Ike W. Buper, Chas. W. Frank, Geo. B.
Ramsay, Joe w. Wengar, Jas. F. Miller, X,
+. Jones, Albert Cook, Thos. D. Holmes
w. II. Howe, Jno. w. Scott, 9. ".
Chellett, r. l.. Lonanat, j. +. Adams
and on the pitcher the follow
ing was engraved; "To Mr.. and Mrs, Rudd
from the Clerks, Dec. 25th, 1880"
But this was not all. There was next
placed upon the counter a very handsome
silver butter dish, and cake stand-both Of
exquisite pattern which contained the in.
"To Mr.. and Mrs. Chellett.
from the boys, Dec, 25th, $780, Mr.. J.
w. Wenger made short presentation
speech to which Mr.. Chelett replied in
few well chosen words--he being too great
ly surprised to be able to say much.
Matters having proceeded this far the
clerks quietly Misunderstanding the two
recipients Of the presents cycling first each
other and then their presents in wonder
nent and with far away look