The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-07
Catching the Morning Train.
Max Adeler, in Exchanse.1

fad that one of the most serious ob- jections to living out of town lies in the difficulty experienced in catching the early morning train by which must reach the city and my business. IL Is by no means a pleasant matter, under any circumstances, to have ones movements regulated by time. table, and to be ob- hged to rise to breakfast and to leave hone at certain hou,, no matter how strong the temptation to delay may be. But sometimes the horrible punetuailty of the train Is productive of absolute suffering. For instance; l look as my watch when l get out of bed, and 6nd that have apparently plenty of time, so l dress leisurely and sit down to the morning meal in frame of mind which is calm and serene. Just as crack my 6rst egg l hear the down train from Wilmington. start in alarm; and taking ou, my watch compare it with the clock and 6nd that It is eleven minutes slow, and that have only five minutes left in which 10 get to the depot.
 Just as get to the gate 1 ind tha, l have forgotten my duster and the bundle my vie wanted mo to take up sc the city to her aunt. Charging back 1 snatch them up and tear down the gravel walk in a frenzy. do not like to run through the village; 1t is undignifed and it at tracts attention but walk fnriously. go fasler and faster as get away from the main street. When half the distance is accomplished ! actually do hear the whistle; there can be no doubt about it this time. long to run, but know tha. n do l will excite that abomi minable spe .kled dog sitting by the sidewalk a little distance ahead of me. Then 1 really see the train coming around the curve close by the depot, and feel that must make better time; and do. The dog immediately manlfests an interes, in my movements. He tesrs after me and is speedily joined by five or six other dogs, which frolic about my legs and bark furiously. Sundry small boys, as go plungipg past, contribute to the ex- citement by whistling with their fingers, and the men who are at work upon the new meeting house stop to look al me and exchange jocular remarks with each other. l do feel ridiculous, but must catch that train at all hazards.
 . become desperate when have to slacken my pace until two or three wo. men who are standing upon the side. walk discussing the infamous price of butter, scatter to let me pass. 1 arrive within few yards of the station with my dustes flying in the wind, with my coat tails in a horizontal position, and with the speckled dog nipping at my heels, just as the train begins to move. put on extra pressure, resolving to get the train or perish, and reach tt just as the last car is going by. seize the hand rail, am jerked violently around, but finally, after desperate effort, get upon the step with my knees, and am hauled in by the brakeman, hot, dusty, and mad, with my trousers torn across the knees, my legs bruised, and three ribs of my umbrella broken.
 Just as l reach comfortable seat in the car the train stops and then backs up on the siding, where it remains 1or half an hour while the engineer repairs a dis located valve. The anger which burns in my bosom as reflect now upon ~hat has proved to have been the folly Of that race, is increased as l look out of the window and observe the speckled dog engaged with his companions in an alter cation over a bone. A man who per mits his dog to roam about the streets nipping the legs of every one who happens to go at Q more rapid gait than walk, is unit for association with civilized beings. He ought to be placed on . desert island in mfd-ocean, and be compelled to stay there.