Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-02-25

nghteu up. lie had the most wonder
full voice ever heard, Just like half a
dozen different voices in one. He was
a capital walker, too, to the vesy last.
had a regular race With him once on
the Putney read, and | can tell you [
had quite enough to do TO keep up
Here short silence ensues, which
my new friend breaks at length by
getting up and saying:
I'm a-goin' across TO an early
'ouse' over the way to fetch in somQ'at
for breakfast. Is there h'anythink as
| could get you at the same timer
Not a bad notion, my lad | feel as
II | could manage some food very
well. What are you going To have
I yourself2n "Well. - answers the pat
ron saint of lost baggage, with some
slight hesitation, list bit o bread
and penn'orth O fresh milk" SIS
that all Well, it strikes me you'll
find cold milk rather poor comfort on
such a bitter morning as this. ?"
That's true, sir, but "Short of
funds, eh2 Well, that happens to all
of us one time or another. Suppose
you take this shilling and make It go
as far as you can for US both"
/ OF goes the gentleman in velveteen
with considerably frightened coun-
tenaLre, returning in few minutes
later with both hands full. A wood
en- boy serves US as table, and with
a big jug of steamiDg not coffee be
twixt US and substantial wedgs Of
cold meat pie apiece, with a hunck OF
bread to match we begin to enjoy
ourselves IN earnest.
While we are eating | have more
| time for more leasurely survey of
my surroundings than / have yet been
able to make, and certainly they are
well worth lookign at. What story
the great American writer whose
genius could give human life an in
terest even to an old pump or broken
finger post would have built up from
each Of these Widowed trunks and
orphaned portmanteaus, these found,
ling railway rugs and motherless
handbags. See how disdalnfully tins
battered old trunk, scared with count
less labels shrinks away from the con-
tract of that dainty black valise with
It's dandyiied brass studs and shining
leather, just as some warworn veteran
of hundred battles might turn his
back in scorn upon a jaunty young
recruit fresh from the parade ground,
without a spot upon his smart new
uniform. The corpulent lunch bas-
ket of plated straw, with its bullying
sides and frayed handles, betrays the
old woman from the country as GER
tainly as if she had appeared in per-
son to claim it. That pretty little vel
vet work-bag could have belonged to
70 one but lady. and looks, with all
its multiplied and unnecessary orna-
ments suspiciously like present from
some young gentleman who is bold
enough to aspire to the possession of
the owner herself in return. And if
tins weather beaten, strongly corded
box with "H. r. y in brass nails upon
its lid is not the property of a school
boy, the countless toemarks and heel
marks on its i'll used sides are worth
very little as eircumstantlal evidence
"There seems to be q good many
people hereabouts who d0n'E take much
care of their baggage" remarked |,
glancing round upon the crowded
shelves aud thiekly strewn floor.
well It's quite mazing what care
less lot they are" answers my host.
zone 'ud think they came out lust
on purpose to loose their things, and
couldn't be Apply till they'd done it.
Il suppose the things always get
claimed sooner or later, though, sug-
gested 1.
"Most Ct 'em do, sir; bu there's
some as don't, and when the times up
they're jast sold for what they'll fetch.
There was one bundle that came to
me three times in less than two
months. l. b'longed to an old chap
that looked something like farmer;
anyhow, he was from the country,
and as green as any green grass that
ever grew. What the dickens he
wanted with them plaids at all I'm
blowed if | know, for he never seem
ed to put 'em on, nor nothin'. Fact,
he never even took 'em out o the ban
die, not as l knows on. So at last,
when he came TO AK for 'em a third
time, l says to him, says |, 'L0ok'ee
here, gOv'nOr, you'd better iist spread
them plaids right out, and lie down
upon them, and then send for tailor
to sew you up in EN-, for that's your
only chance to keep EN-, say l. May
hap he's took my advice, for l amt
seen him since then, nor them plaids
neither"
Here TIE lecturer fortifes himself
with a huge drsuqht of hot coffee be-
fore proceeding to more specific de
tails.
"Schoolboys loses a lot O. things, Of
course, as it's the natur' of 'em to do.
A boys fathey father buys him rug,
and he pops it up in the rack above
his cad and he sees another boy as he
knows and they git talking, and away
they 90 together, and so Mr.. Rug gifts
left behind. I've six on 'en here
now, all new out o. the shop. Then
the young gals, they're so busy talk
ing TO their sweethearts, or thinking
whether their bonnets is on straight,
that they clean forgot about their lug
gage. But the old ladies is the worst.
Bless yer, they're always in sich a
worry for fear they'll get into the
wrong train. or 20 too far. or not 20