The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-04-07
Going A.vtsiting.

! l went down to the depot two hours
before train time because had several
errands to do there, writes NJ. Quad In
the Detroit Free Press. Looking up
the broad street which ran through
the village, saw au old black horse,
hitched 10 light wagon coming down
on the gallop. In the wagon was q
man and woman. The woman waved
her hand aud the man piled the whip,
and in couple of minutes the rig
turned in and stopped ut the platform
with such suddenness that the mud
flew in all directions.
"Has she gomez" shouted the wo-
man, AS she began to climb ont.
"Wh0?''
"The train.'
"No, ma'am.''
"Wel!, that's piece Of good luck. l
thought we'd be about five minutes
too late. For mercy's sake get that
trunk checked and buy my ticket :"
"Yes, Mary, yes," he replied, as he
pat forth his bes. effort, aud he drag.
ged the chest down the platform aud
asked for a ticket aud a check.
''It is an hour end fifty minutes yet"
replied the agent.
"W-what Hear that, Mary !!
You've been fre,ting and stewing siuce
3 O'Clock this morning, and here we
are two hours ahead of time!"
"It can't be ."
"rhat's what he says"
"Well, William, don't you believe
all he says! You remember how
Aunt Harper got left by taking the
word of a ticket agent. Sometimes
trains are ahead of time aud sometimes
behind. Kiss the good.by, William"
"But there's lots of time, Mary"
She appealed 10 me to settle the
question, and when put the time at
an hour and forty five minutes she
consented to go into the waiting-room.
She sat down on the edge Of a scat and
nervousiy began an inventory.
"Here's my handkerchief, and here's
my wallet with ninety cents In it, and
here's my snuff box and thimbla aud
steel bowed glasses. Here's the recipe
for making hard soap I'm taking to
Cousin Jane, and here's that box of
mutton taller to go to Squire johnson.
William, Pm all right-haven't forgot
ten thinE!'
"Do tell !"
Sand l only had five weeks to get
ready in. Well, William, good-by."
"Oh, pshaw, Mary-lots of time
yei.'
nDon't be too sure about 1t. You
can't always tell about these railroads.
don't want to get left"
She sat down again, took second
inventory, and then musingly said:
81 covered up the flour barrel, and
hung up that bag Of dried pumpkin,
and pu. that jar OF soft soap away, aud
lowered the curtains i'll the parior, aud
shut up the cook stove."
eyes, Mary" replied the husband,
"Aud l poured the water out of the
tea kettle, carried that piece Of butter
down stairs, sent home Mrs. Aiken's
drawin' OF tea and cup of brown sugar,
and put that piece of pork back into
the brine"
eyes, I'll swear to i,.'
"WcIl, good-by, William. I'll DO
home in three weeks"
"It isn't time yet, Mary. It's over
an hour before the trainni come
along"
"Well, don't make any mistake.
You know Cousin Hannah dreamed
'hat 4 Stt lSh, "dnI u 10
come true. And now let's see: You
are to boatd at Hcnry's and to go over
to the house once day?'
"Hes.'
'Be careful 'o shut all the doors after
you"
"I will.''
"Anh don'l build no fires"
nNo."
"Wet', William, good-by. 1t mus,
be time to go"
"Oh, no, Mary, but it's just an hour
hy the clock. Don't be 50 nervous"
81 am little nervous, suppose,
bu. l reckon ips because I've forgotten
Did you take the starch
back to Mrs. Davis ?"
81 did.'
"And carry the Widdcr Smiths ket-
tie hOmc"''
"Nes."
"And did scald the coffee pot out
and hang ii up behind the siove:"
axes, ! saw you"
"And wipe out the stove biler and
hang it up in the cellar way"
eyes,
tWpif. that's all | rups9 and TIT