New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-04-11


he was a changed man. All his old
confidence seemed to leave him, and he
became instead nervous and timid.
| He blamed it all on the new locomo
| tive, and particularly on the electric
| head-lamp.
slack" he said, as they were running
along one day shortly after the new
engine had been put in use, ssthis
machine isn't going to bring me any
good luck. I know that. I'm getting
nervous, and am afraid to let her out
On the down grades. That brilliant
light is running my eyes and some
thing will happen one of these DAYS.
Jack, you had better leave the road.
TO and learn to be blacksmith. An
engineer doesn't amount to much
And as his pride in his own calling
and career was aroused by these words
he nudged the throttle open little
farther, and the old look of satisfac
ton came upon his stern face. But
this was only for moment. Timidity
and discomfort were becoming more
than ever marked in him, and Jack
found his father anything but cheer
full running mate. But Jack didn't
mind that He loved his father dear
~, and did the best he could to COM
fort and cheer him.
You'll be all right in a day or two,
father he said; ''the machine is new
and the light is brighter than you are
accustomed to, but you'll like them
both before long.
"No, [ WON'T" the old man replied.
stubborn in his unhappiness and fore
bodings; "they are determined to drive
me off the road with their new tangled
concerns. They don't want the old
man any longer. They want me to
get behind time every day or two and
have the boss looking after me and
bouncing me. But I'll fool 'em yet.
I'll make time Or" and by the way
his father set his teeth Jack knew
that the old man meant to drive ahead
through day and through darkness,
whether he could see or not.
"But you must leave the road, JACK"
said Jasper, as he pulled up at sta
ton, ''you must leave the road. boy.
trouble coming and there's no reason
why you should be in it,"
'.But can't leave the road, father.
L know no o;her way to earn living,
and, besides, want to stay with you"
"No, no; you have only yourself to
support, and you can do that atany-
thing. Besides, you will not be left
without a little"
''But, father" Jack interrupted, 81
L have more than myself to support,
or soon will have.
Jacks voice faltered, though he was
not usually timid in the presence of
his father. Jasper looked up with
puzzled face.
"For the life Of me I can't under
stand What a girl can see to admire in
big lout of a fellow like you" he
said. at the same time bestowing upon
his brawny and grimy son a look which
belied his words: "What does the girl
love you for?"
81 don't know, father" said Jack,
bashfully, and bowling his head as if
to look at the water-gauge, II don't
know unless it is because she thinks I
am to be an engineer some day. Il
think that's it. She wouldn't love me,
l am afraid, if were to leave the road.
I'm just sure she wouldn't"
Jack said this without guile. He
believed it, and his father believed it,
too. The old man smiled under his
gray beard, SO greatly did the artless
compliment please him. And so, al
most without an effort, and without
realizing how eloquently he had plead
ed his cause, Jack won his fathers con-
sent to his remaining on the engine.
He was to marry the girl he loved, and
had his fathers consent to marrying
as quick as he liked. Of course Jack
was very happy, and whistled little
tune as he opened the furnace door
and shoveled huge scoops of coal into
the glowing fire box.
Mary Clifford was pretty girl. She
had great brown eyes which looked
out from under brow of marble
Wilderness. Her home was near the
railway track, and there Jack had first
seen her while taking occasional rides
" VII AAio Ae1oilSi OOAOIO GuG
foot-board as fireman. Mary used to
stand out at the front gate and watch
the cars go by. A locomotive was her
ideal of strength and beauty. Jasper's
old engine was respondent with brass
trimmings and ornaments. and these,
kept as shiny as a good housewives
silver, and glistening in the sunlight,
had caught both the eye and the fancy
of the big-eyed maiden and done more
than half the wooing for the boy who
SO proudly rode by his fathers side.
Once when the accommodation stopped
near her home to wait for the passing
of an ''extra," to crafty her curiosity
she came out, and was urged to visit
the locomotive cab and sit on the en-
glneer's perch, land her bravery was test
ed by an invitation TO mount the pilot
or ''cowcatcher'' and ride down to the
railway crossing, half a mile away. She
was equal to the occasion, and thought
the odd ride such rare sport that for
many a day after, and even after she
had grown to be a dignifed young
1oSr oh L. -