Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-12-01
F. u N

a dozen OF us waiting at the station near
Strasburg, Va, for the noon train. Every
one had cut his dinner short to catch the
train, but the hour arrived-tive-ten-
twenty minutes passed. and then every
body wondered what had happened. The
ticket agent was also the telegraph opera
tor. He was young follow of about TWEEN
ty. ill-grained and supercilious, but impa
thence overcame the fear of him, and wo-
man stepped to the window and asked:
us the train late?"
''Ump' he growled in reply.
'How late is lt?"
"Um!"
That finished her, and she resumed her
seat. Five minutes more slipped away,
and very solemn-looking man carrying a
very solemn looking carpet bag, advanced
from his corner and began:
''Train is late, isn't it?"
'sYes."
'How late is it?"
ssUm."
::sWhat's the cause of it?''
No answer.
then marched solemnly back to his seat,
and gave some one else the chance to get
bluffed. After the fifth one had been turn
ed away short, grizzly headed man, whit
Ting a shingle on the platform and softly
humming 1--WE won't 60 home till morn
ing,' entered the waiting-room, looked at
the clock, and then sauntered 10 the ticket
window and queried.
ssWhar's that train?"
The young man was looking over some
freight bills, and he did not raise his head.
.+Whar' s-that-train p repeated the
whittier in louder voice.
The agent looked up second, but let
his eyes fall without answer.
s'Whar's-that-trai ?'' shouted the
passenger, as ne brought his fist down on
the shelf.
No answer. After waiting ten seconds
he walked out OF doors, turned to right
and suddenly entered the ticket Office
through the freight house. Walk
ing straight up to the agent he
reached over the table and seiz9d him.
pulled him across like streak of lightn-
j
med him into corner, he called out:
"Whar in thunder and blazes is that ar
train 20
It's a-coming!" gasped the agent.
"When-whar-wh ?'
I'm about Twenty minutes!"
"What made 'er late ?'
The engine broke down at Winchester"
Then why in Crocket's name di int you
say so in the first place! Young man, take
squar' look at me! amt purity or gen
teel, nor sanity, but Pm plumb up and
down and mean bizness! When a man
asks me how hogs ar selling IN going to
gin him civil answer if it cracks three
ribs, and when 1 ask you why that dog
gOned old bullgine hasn't snOrted in you We
got to hear me or down comes your trestle-
works! Do you catch on?''
-yes-certalnly- g behind time
be here soon-of c-course--yes--of
course?''
Then the solemn man rose up, took his
hat in his hand and passed it around for
money, and we felt like raising million
dollars for the solid man as a token Of our
love and reverence.
Nor TO BE DIsCOURAGED.-AtD Dalton.
they pointed out an old darkey who was
to be married that evening, and | took a
seat beside him On the depot platform and
said:
"Uncle Reuben, is it true that you are
to be married tonight ?''
81 aaf I,
right, sah.''
s'Were you ever married before 90
"Why, Dress your soul, boy. dis will be
my fo'th wife,
''How long is it since your last one
died?n
"Jist free weeks mex week Saturday"
Isn't it pretty sudden when you have
been widower for two weeks only?"
81 reckon not, sab. I doan' see how
kin help de ole woman any by trabblin'
round alone.''
'.And they tell me that you are over sew
enty years old?"
Eyes. sah-I'ze risin' of seventy-three!"
'And you don't even own chicken?"
mo, sah.'
Anu Uu0 UIluo Is DIS Uduly OIL Dis your
se.f2'
''Jist 'zactly. sah."
Don't the future look little dark to
to you?''
"See heah, man." replied the old chap
as he slid to the ground and brushed the
dirt off his coat tail. II doan' like dat
sort o. argument. Use old and poo and
and doan know much, but l amt de sort
of a mule to take a TO tn wife widout max
ing all engagements TO board wild her fad
dnr, and gin him my note wheneber any
thing am due. 'Spose Use gwine to be
sleepin' in fence corners and libin' on
green apples kase my last old woman tux
noshun to die? No. sab! isn't that sort
Of mourper Use got to that age whar
Ise got to be token car of, If has to
mary free wives to do it,
Bismark s parents intended him for the
church, but st what they had against
the church is not stated.