Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
W0MAN'S WILL.

| "'ii'S'' iittA piouo hu ihO w bio iiptiO
town of D, up among the New. Hamp.
shire hills, and here, much against my
will, l was detained for several days,
while waiting for instructions from my
employers. The nearest periodical
store was twelve miles away, and with
out books or papers, time hung heavy
on my hands.
The only break in my monotonous life
was the arrival of the trains twice day,
ard in the dead calm Of my existence
this little ripple of excitement became
as much to me as the opera under more
favorable circumstances. 1t was while
lounging upon the platform that I
became acquainted with George Sea-
forth, engineer on the b., G. and M.
railroad.
He was man about thirty-fv years
Of age. Not what would be called an
educated man, but sensible and clear.
headed. His home was in c. where he
had wife and two children. He ran
from c. to D., and for two hours,
while waiting for the "down train" he
was in D..
The acquaintance at first begun to
while away an idle hour, on my part at
least, grew to strong liking, and to-day
there is no one among my acquaintances,
for whom feel greater respect and
esteem than for George Seaforth.
He had been on the cars since he was
sixteen, first as train boy, then as brake
man, fireman, and for the last ten years
as engineer,
"You must have had some strange
adventures in that ime," I said one day,
as we sat upon the platform of the little
station, waiting for the train.
"Strange adventures" he repeated,
taking his pipe from his mouth, and
looking meditatively across the green
fields. "Strange adventures! You may
well say that, sir. We train men are
always having adventures"
"Suppose you tell me some of them,
1 suggested.
"Well," looking al his watch, Gas
there's plenty of time, 1 don't mind
telling you of one queer one L had six
years, come fall, though l don't often
speak of it f; for you see when a mans
been face to face with death, he can't
talk of it very we'll"
I settled myself on the rough bench
that did duty as chair, as comfortably
rs I could, took fresh cigar, and he
began -
at happened in this way. I was run
ning the old Lion from Lee to Fair
town. If you know anything about
New England, you know that September
is a great month for fairs, and this
particular September was no exception
to the general rule. We had lots of
extra work to do, but as we had extra
pay there was no grumbling. 1t was
toward the last of the menth that the
fair at NJ came Off Two or three
extras were put on, timed so as to run
between the regular trains. Jim Turner
fired for me then. Jim was as good a
fellow as ever lived, with but one fault !;
he would go off on "a time once in a
while. He didn't do it very often, and
as he'd do more work than any nun on
the road, the company kept him. But
Jim had been pretty sober lately. |
believe he hadn't drank anything for
as much as six months SO l kind of
got out of the habit of watching him,
and he went and came pretty much as
he chose.
"Well, we got along all right this
time, till Almost night, we stopped at
D. for wood and water. While we
we're waiting, March, the depot-master,
came along, and says he, 'Seaforth,
want you to do me favor
"What is it? says I, for March and
were pretty good friends.
"'Well, says he, there's a young
woman here who wants to go to Fair
town, and she hasn't cent of money.
Bhe came here t. get work, and she's
lost her pocket. book, and hasn't any
way to get back home. l don't feel at
Liberty to pass her over the road, They'd
been making row about free passes),
mud she ant that you d feel like offer.
ing money to. So thought maybe you
d let her ride on the engine
"Well, didn't like to refuse March,
for as said before, he and ] were good
GOOD tnrn Inf T mnst % SOW Tho ' ;Jas 81
Sov;no . ron,an i, thn oaT al III tha '" ",a ", -
10 Fa;ptown wa,nit vnrv nioosant M | ond I"i
said so to n,rch but 10 p wos hon"d ' 30
hava her oo and said &c 90 W." mncb tIat " I
I finally told him 70 hrina bor alone 81 Sb1
came ont mon tbe nlotform q i;t,io
naleefoced tbine who Looked at n ma % vii
Groo, fr;abtnne5 avoo 90 +borab shl
tbonobt 7 was a boor and would eat ha, M
nm as soon os wa left tba station M,rcl
;ntrodnood h, w. NI;so Tord anJ soomod
70 m avn vnoot mo - = 70 50 COW - somath;nn 70 o n,nI y
ber feel ot bomo Int was all ont 81
sorts and nnlv NODDED in q snrly Sor, m
DIVA Of wav ~ T saw the tears coma Amt into % no,
ewes and Won better believe felt kind
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