Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-10-30
WHY HE QUIT.
An Engineer Gives His Reason for
Not Swearing.

"Strikes me you select your adicc-
tivcs with uncommon neatncss," said
the commercial traveller eyeing the
stalwart engineer who stood regard
ing his locomotive with lover-like at
tcntion.
Several men stood near. but physic-
ally the finest specimen of them all
was the powerful fellow who was cast
ing shrewd glances along the different
parts of the huge machine at the same
time that he answered intclligently
numerous questions put to him by the
commercial traveller. The man IS speech
was crude, not entirely correct, but
utterly free from any thing like pro-
family, TO the remark just quoted he
answered briefly:
'Hope | make myself understood,
stranger
''Oh, yes,' said the traveller, an
alert, quick-spokcn man; II only
notice an absence Of language more
emphatic than choice, that men of your
calling are usually master hands at en-
ploying."
Il used to swear roundly enough
once but | quit!n said the engineer;
and suddenly thrustng bis firm chin
into the air, and folding his arms, he
drew up his eyes and gazed with kind
of condensed look away off, but saw
nothing in particular.
The commercial traveller had dropped
his bantering tone the next time he
spoke.
That's fine locomotive you have
charge OF. ! suppose you feel some
thing akin to affection for it"
Finer said the engineer, coming
out of his trance. "Wcll, there she
stands and speaks for herself Take a
look a; her. i mind me there amt a
mass o machinery in the country kept
brighter than that. Doesn't the boiler
shine most fit to blind youP | tell you
she's perfect way through. There
Amt a spring nor valve, rod nor
shaft nor nut, there amt q bolt, pipe
or slide, or box or any kind o gear rs
could be kept in better order than is
bers!'
Love herP Well, should say so,
It's been my hand as has held the
lever DER her throttle valve for nigh
onto fifteen years, my own right hand.
And she's done my biddin' like will
in child; aye, and once She served
me well, and drove for herself when
it wasn't my hand as was Ger the
throttle valve. 1t were a stronger one
than mine that time, and she minded
my dumb wishes when | were helpless
TO move, and could only cry out in be-
wildered pain.
The group of men in various at
titudes, of which they were for the
moment unconscious, listened with
absorbed interest to the fascinating
speech of the handsome giant who
seemed merely addressing the COM
mcrcial traveller.
you notice an absence of violent
adicctives,' You call them in my
language. Well, when | get crazy
and don't have any sort o control DER
my tongue, may take the solemn name
o. God in vain again, but | don't
much believe | ever shall before that
time.
You see'-he thrust his chin out
again and drew up his fine eyes rs
if to look inward rather than outward,
though this time he fixed his gaze on
the travellers face-"You see, | never
had but one child, but that was enough
considering the kind; just as fine a lit
tie chap as ever drew the breath o life.
When he was five years old and began
his schoolin', he shot ahead o. the other
children in way that surprised even
his mother and me. My wife kept
telln' me all those days that oughter
quit swcarin'. | never was one to
drink strong drink, but | know that
when II come 70 rollin' ont strong
oaths, there wasn't man on the road
could beat me. And the worst of 1t
was ! knew twas shameful wrong;
knew it from my mothers teachin's
when | we're a boy.
well, wife she kept on worryin',
but was kinder stubborn, even when
j saw that dear child listenin' to my
-ough words, and one mornin' wife
saws in kind o discouraged way: i m
'fraid God will take vengeance on you
some time or other. if you keep on
nsin' Ills name so free and defiant like
and couldn't a-told why to a-saved
py life, but kept thinking OF wife 5