Telegram-herald., 1889-10-06
A TRAIN EPISODE.
Leaves nom the Note Book OF .
Commercial TravessE
A Foor Dakota Farmers Aas~Etares on y
Railroad Ir4fa-fhs Dr0aana~r st hAs
BSst-Rseossry II a LSst
Mileage ftcksG

had oeen engaged ~ the house As stock
rlerk cry = few weeks. writes q CORE
sponeeat II tie Americsn Commercial
Traveller, when cue day TIE head Of the
rrm cane 70 me an3 SAD, Wen. hr.
Bank. h0w wocd yea hks 20 70 out o. me
rosaFi .sF1rst-rate, SAID 1 Il have oot
hxa sny experlsnos. bat think I GA get
along; any way. l Should hks 70 Try II -
il was agreed that l should nske ny nrst
trfD ths next wesk How loo1ed forward
q thzt dzy whea l should PICK Up my
grip and launch out into the World flll-
nedzet travelling man. NJ headquarters
were ~ ST. Pau, ard for taat town l p-t
oat Just as The sun was siasing one bright
day ia the moEta OF July. 4 large numoer
OF rny newly Joined brothers were on board
the train, laughing and joking, as after
ward found 0I', as only travelling men can
Ii was Just DARK when the train stopped ~
a little depot some eighty mlles troh the
place where l started. A number Of
passengers got on aud OF. AmOr tie ~
comsTs was an old man carrying an
old-fashioned carpet-bag ia one hand
aud a round parcel ia the other he
seated him mself Just opposite 10 where was
sltt.ag, aud gazed around with bewlldered
look Ii was quite evident that he was not
accustomed 70 this mode of travel Pres
emily the conductors voice is heard IN
Tickets, please; get your tickets really
The old gentleman starts, a blank look
comes in his face, his trembling hand Is
thrust first into one pocket, then another.
The carpet bag is opened and searched THOR
ouChly. The little round package IS opened,
but reveals nothing but dry loaf Of Nlenua
bread. Pockets are searched again, but &c
no avail; he has lost his ticket. The con
ductor passes on, promising 10 come around
again. A travelling man steps up 10 the
now prostrate form, aud, patting him on
the back, asks his story. The Precipitation
stood on the old mans brow bis eyes were
wet with tears, and amid soos be tod his
story. He was Dakota farmer; his par
ents had both died one week ago that day.
He was telegraphed 10 come, but could
not raise money enough 10 pay car
fare-a distance Of about l.2oO
miles, including return. A travelling sales
man who knew him TO be poor but honest
man had said TO him: Here, take my mile
age book; go and bury your father and
mother, and when you return give me back
/ the book and pay me for what you use
whenever you can" Thus il was that the
old man was enabled 10 see his father and
mother before they were laid away. This,
which was a 1900 mile book, was the one he
/ lost He had sixty cents in his pocket, a
loaf OF dry Vienna bread by his side, wife
and SIX children at home, Go miles away,
and no ticket. This was the story which
touched the heart of the travelling man.
/ sI'n subscribe five dollars, boys" said the
/ newly-made brother. $50 will l." said an
/ other. ard in five minutes thirty four dol
/ lars, taken from the pockets Of travelling
/ statesmen, was handed TO the old man
to pay his fare and keep what was over.
\ He could not thank his rescuers-his heart
was too full; great tears rolled down his
cheek and his head was hung with the
/ thought that nc was now dependens upon
/ charity. The conductor returned for his
fare, and humbly the poor old man was
rendering him the money when his eyes fell
on something on the floor. II was the mile
age book. With yell he bounded down on
It. "Thank Cod l am saved from charity.
Sir, oh sir, here is your money. l have
found my ticket" and the glistening eyes
shone like fire. He could not be prevailed
upon to take the money nor could he pour
blessings enough upon the heads Of his
newly-found friends.
The money was finally handed back TO the
| contributors and the last we saw of the old
gentleman from Dakota he was sitting in
the smo<ingcar, happy as king, Willing
away the hours with loaf Of dry Vienna
bread