Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-26
Haby was Dead.

COMMERCIAL Travellers Magazine.
The jolly conductor had been lay.
ing of few days on account Of sick
ness At home, but one day be appeared
on his train looking Dale, aud brake.
man who bad run With him for years
knew the conductors mind was away
ct the bedside o his sick baby.
With punch in hand, aud his heart
ia his throat, the conductor entered
the smoking car and said, tickets"
in voice not at all like its usual
sound. ItWas more like an appeal to
his Heavenly Father 10 watch over
the baby at home. -Four drummers
were sitting together in two seats, all
good friends Of the conductor, aud as
he took their thousaBd-mile tickets to
punch, one said: "Old man, you we're
up late last night. Beware Of the wine
cup" and laughed, and the conductor
tried 70 smile, but he couldn't.
Another drummer. who had trav.
eled with the conductor for years, and
loved him a. q brother, thinking he
was little Of, said, 20 boys, wait till
be goes through the train and collects
q few cash fares. he will brighten up.
Then | will tel him the last story
and they all laughed at their old
friend, and be punched the last OF
their tickets and went on with forced
smile, and as a tear drop rolled down
his dark cheek, the boy thought he
had a einder 10 his eye.
The last drummer slapped him on
the arm Sld said, Come back soon 70
your own chickabiddy;" and as be
went out Of the car laugh arose, and
he stood on the platform a minute
because be felt faint, and then en-.
tered the other car. He knew almost
every passenger, aud on any other day
he would have been proud TO have
them speak 10 him as they did, and
chat and joke, but that day eyery
word seemed 10 be q bullet.
He was present in body, but III
mind wis far away. and when be put
: check 10 the band Of lady's turOar
hat, instead Of putting it in the win
dow, and she blushed, and the pas.
seDgers laughed, they thought he did
1t for q joke, but it Was because he die
not know what he was doing, BIZ
mind being with the sick baby a
home.
He hurried along, and lady With
little three-yeAr-old girl was next.
child just the age Of his sick one. Tn,
mother had thought it would pleas
the conductor TO let the child hanc
the ticket 10 him, AID the little ont
had the ticket 10 its fat hand, an,
was shrinking back behind the nam
ma trying to muster uD COURAGE /,
hand the ticket 10 the big conductor
who had often held her on his Lar
when she was on his train, when hl
would laugh so heartily that the chill
would be surprised aud he would tel
her Of his little baby at home.
The child pesped around mamma
shoulder and saw the conductor befor,
no saw her, and be looked 80 change,
and sad that the little one opened he
eyes in wonder and handed up Thu
ticket Is carefully as though he woul,
bite, and when he saw her he almos
tainted, and when she said, where /
our baby2" he thought his heart woul,
jump out Of his brekst The tear
ran down his face and he whispered
"She may be dying now" and as h
went out on the platform Of station
he felt that it would almost be
mercy if the train would rp1 owe
him.
He went into the car and 6nishel
his work, and returned to the smoke
and sat down In the end scat and the
got nervous and went into the bag
gage car, passing the large heartel
drummers, who were full Of iun AM
vented him 10 be, and they all said