The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-10-04

and the rain and the darkness were be-
genning to fall together, as | reached
the A street crossing, intending to
board the evening accommodation
which, as | knew, was usually slowed
at this point to let Off an official living
in the neighborhOod. As the train was
not due for nearly half an hour, | took
refuge in the shelter-hut of the old flag
man with whom had long been on eX-
cellent terms. He was Jolly, gossipy
little man, who had become superan-
uated in the service of the company,
and was en- Dying in his old age what
was to him position of ease and hon
or. He had Just finished his supper,
brought to him, as usual, by his grand
daughter. As he lifted the tin pail to
make room for me on the scanty bench,
he carefully put back into it some choice
pieces of meat, bread and cake, sutli-
Gent by themselves fora quite substan-
tial meal. THAT for the General" said
he, in answer to my look of curiosity.
''My Old woman would no more forget
his supper than she would forget
mine. -
"WhO is the General?' Inquired.
'Well, sir, he's what you call man
with q history"
Tell it to me. l am fond of his
tory.
1--WE no objection but wait bit, 1
guess he's coming MOVIES, sir, that's
him. Just keep quiet, and don't no.
tice his crankiness, and you'll see a
character.
A shutting step, and a hoarse, tear
ing cough announced the approach of
the General, who soon presented HIM
self at the door OF the hut. where he
paused and struck an attitude in the
half-light of the tlagman's lantern.
General, indeed A once tall and mus
cular man, now miserable SLOUGH,
with STOPPING shoulders, hollow chest,
bending, tremulous knees, the dress of
vagabond and the face of sot! Yet
there was something in his bearing, in
the lines OF the mouth, in the glance Of
the blood-shot eye, that seemed the
shadow of departed power; and his sal
utatiOn Ia the ilagman was given and
received as that of a superior to a de-
pendent. Upon me he glowered fierce
ly, eXclaiming: ''No Ioafers allowed
around these premisesn'
The ilagmau explained that | was
waiting for the train.
'Why don't he 60 to the depot? This
is not q station"
l was about to reply when the flag
man drew forth the tin pail, saying:
General, they have sent us up our
lunch from the hotel; will you have it
now?h Steadying himself against the
door, with = hand that shook as with
the palsy, the wretched tramp took the
old mans bounty as if it were his by
right, grumbled at its scantiness and
quality, said he must be off to the office,
and without thanks or farewell shuflled
away. We heard his cough, mingled
with an occasional wheezy oath, as he
disappeared in the darkness.
There" said the old hag-man, turn
ing to me, ''what do you call that?"
''The wreck of great man, but eX-
ceedingly disagreeable in its present
state. You have, l see, some less I'M
pleasant associations with it."
Il should think so. Why, sir, fifteen
years ago that man was Superintendent
of this road! And the best one, by all
odds, that they ever had. He was en-
gine, steam and engineer, all in one.
Things went Just like clock-work. He
knew every man, and wheel and spike
on the whole road. You couldn't blow
a whistle or swing a lantern anywhere
on the line without his leave. We
called him the General; and we might
as well have said King, for he was
every inch of it. He had q good sal
airy, owned some stock in the road, had
nice home, and moved in the best
society. His son had first-rate posi-
ton in the general Office. His daugh-
ter was engaged to a young millionaire
"a nephew and ward of one of the Di-
rectors.
''But the General had one bad enemy
liquor. Pve heard that he learned
to drink at the wine suppers that the
railroad magnates used to give when
they met to lay their plans, and all
that At any rate he learned pretty
fast, and practiced what he leaned.
Now and then he gave wine supper
himself; and many young man under
him-his own son among the rest-took
his first glass at the Generals table.
"By and by the habit began 70 show
itself in his face; next in his step; then |
in his temper, and at last in the road.
Screws came loose; things ran down;
stock declined. Then the magnates |.
complained and when they saw that |
complaints did no good, they turned |
him ont The young millionaire turned |
up his nose, and asked to be released |
from his marriage engagement The |
girl approved his decision; dismissed |
him kindly, and before morning was a
raying maniac.
"All these troubles, instead of sober
ing the General, made him worse. For
four months he scarcely knew sober
moment. He spent the savings Of his
lifn. his hnnsn md rrnnla t,.nrn ac.ld IL,