The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-10-03
An ENGAGED SEAT.
The Travelling iIos Properly Rch ikea.

1t wns n day when everybody was tired
and anxious to sit down that large
pnn, carrying n gripsack, boarded an
Eastern fHilfOaa train, and nfer wink.
ing through several crowded cars finally
found the one vacant seat. Seating
himself, ho placed his bag on The
cushion at his side. Jus. as the train
was dbout TO start another man tli'tred
aud made the same journey in search of
II seat. NJ he stopped inquring before
the large man the latter sail;
"This seat is engaged, sir a 'l'an Just
stepped ont, hut will return i'll no.
mcnl; hs LEFT lis baggage here as claim
to the sedt."
"Well," said tic second trayolcr,
frankly. 1m pretty tired, and II you
don't object I'll cit down here and hold
his bag for him till he returns"
And without further ceremony this he
proceeded to do. Then tho largc man,
who was bound for Lynn, earnestly
prayed within the inmost Chambers oi his
little heart that his companion might
get off ut Somcfyillc, IN Everett or Chcl-
sen anywhere Int Iyua or station
beyond. And the tired man thanked
his stars for even moments rest, ex.
pectlng every second to be ousted by
the owner of the gripsack.
Tho train moved out from the sia-
tion. In vain did the large man try to
read the strangers ticket to see what his
destination was. Somervillc was reached,
but the stranger sat quietly in his place,
and the large man grew iieryou5. The
train stopped Mt Everett. and still the
stranger gazcd peacefully ahead, never
budging, and the large man began to
pcrspirc Then came Chelsea, but the
stranger still held fast TO tho Ing and
never offered to stir. The agony of the
large man was simply frightful, but he
saw he could do nothing but grin and
bear it, and get opi of the fix as best he
could. But the stranger had by this
time fully graspcd the situation, and
though thankful for the seat, de-
termincd to punish the unaccommodat.
ing pig for his selfish deception. so,
when Lynn was reached. the large man
put forth his hand for the bag, but the
stranger drew back the same with al
expression Of surprise, saying, 81 beg
your pardon, sir, but this is not your
baggage"
"But it isn't yours" stammcrod the
owner, blushing.
"ro be sure ; but | purpose to ace it
returned TO the proper person. Here,
conductor, here's man who wants to
run off with this baggage that doesn't
belong to him. Somebody put it in the
seat to secure n place, and evidently got
left at Boston, for he hasn't claimed it,
and now this man wants TO run away
with it," and he gave the conductor n
wink, and as that official knew the
stranger personally, he understood tn,
wink. and promptly replied:
"Thc only thing to do is to return IT,,
bag TO Boston, and store it among tho
unclaimed baggage"
"But," oxpostulatcd the large man.
"lIold on there" said the conductor
showing police badge, ''none of this
What kind of man WIS it who left tn,
bag?"
And then the stranger and the con
ductor and one or two sympatli2ing pas
scngers combined to confuse the larg,
man, and he, hating to confess to hi
piggishncss, and knowing not what t.
do, prcciptatcly fled amid the frown
and signs Of the observers ut his wicked
ness. But the stranger, with n happ,
contcntcd smile, had the hNS returned t.
Hoston, where the LARGE man had T.
come next day, and identify i. Til
moral of this true tale is Obvious. -BO'
ton Globe.