Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-03-09
THE ENGINEERS STORY.

THE ENGINEERS STORY.
Business had brought me to the little
town of D., among the New Hamp-
shire hills, and here, much against my
will. / was detained for several days,
while waiting for instructions from my
employers. The nearest periodical
store was twelve miles away, and, with
out bookso or papers, time hung heavy
on my hands
The only break in my monotonous
life was the arrival of the trains twice
day, and in she dead calm of my exist
ence this little ripple of excitement be-
came as much to me rs the opera under
more favorable circumstances. 1t was
while lounging upon the platform that
became acquainted with George Sea-
forth, engineer on the b. C. Il NJ. Rail
road. He was man about thirty-five
years of age Notwhat would be called
an educated man, but sensible and
clear-headed. His home was in Con-
cord, where he had wife and two chill
dren. He ran from Concord 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 a strong liking, and to-
day there is no one among my acquaint-
ances for whom feel q 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
rs engineer.
"Youmu have had some strange
adventures in that time" said one
day, as we sat upon the platform of the
little station, waiting for the train.
'Strange adventuresn' he repeated,
taking his pipe from his mouth, and
looking meditatively across the green
fields. "Strange adventures! You may
we'll say that, sir. We train men are
always having adventures.
Suppose you tell me some OF them"
l suggested.
well y, looking at his watch, ''as
there's plenty of time. ! don't mind tell
ing you of one queer one l had six years
ago, come fall, though I don't often
speak of it; for you sec when mans
been face to face with death, he can't
talk of it very we'll"
/ settled myself on the rough bench
that did duty as chair, US comfortably
as could, took fresh cigar, and he
began:
at happened in this way. was run
ming the old Lion from Lee to Fartown.
If You know anything about New En-
gland, you know that September's a
gre 1t month for fairs, and this particu-
lar 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 month that the fair al
M came of. Two or three extras
were put on, timed SO as to run between
the regular trains. Jim Turner fired for
NE then. Jim was as good fellow as
ever lived, with but one fault--he
would go off on q time once in g
while. He didn't do it very often, and
as he'd do more work than any Other
man on the road, the company kept
him. But Jim had been pretty sober
lately. i believe he hadn't drunk any.
thing for rs much rs six months; so
kind of got out OF the habit of watching
him. and he went and came pretty mucl
rs he chose.
We'll, we got along all right this
time, till almost night we stopped a
D. for wood and water. While We
were waiting. March, the depot-master
came along, and says he' .,Seaforth,
want you to do me favor"
''What is itP'" says !, for Marcel
and were pretty good friends.
"'Well, says he, there's young
woman here who wants to go to Fair
town, and she hasn't cent of money
She came here to get work, and She
lost her pocket-book, and hasn't an,
way to get back home. i don't feel o
liberty to pass her over the road
(they'd been making row about fre,
passes) land she ant the kind tina
you'd feel like offering money to. S,
thought may be you'd let her ride OIL
the engine
"Well, I didn't like to refuse March
for. as / said before, he and l wer
good friends, and he had done mt
many good turn; but must say tn
idea of having woman in the cab al
the way TO Fairtown WANT yer,
pleasant. and said SO TO March, bu
SO much that finally told him to brin,
hcf hiOuB. souo chLic oup uPoh th
platform, little. pale faced thing, VIII
looked at me with great, frightene
eyes. as though she thought / was
bear, and would eat her up as soon a
we left the station. March introduce
her us Miss Lord, and seemed to es
pect me to say something to make he
feel at home. but was all out of sorts
and only nodded in u surly sort {
way. saw the tears come into he
eyes, and you better believe felt kin
OF mean. but / didn't say anything
and March helped her on the engine.
saw her put out little white hant
not much bigger n child's, and lay
on his arm. as she said:
God bless you, Mr.. March
"And then went of TO look for jim
who was late.
~ found him the other side of III
depot, with q two-gallon can OF kerosen
In his hand
you see. he said. as asked ratl
er sharply. where he'd been, Il en- g
this good deal cheaper here than
Fairtown. -an' my wife thinks it a sigl
better, too
"Wel. come along, | said, q
wc'ie two minutes behind time nov