The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-30
Served Him Right.

1t was day when everybody was
tired and wanted to sit down that a
lar-e man, carrying gripsack, board
ed an eastern railroad train and after
walking through several crowded cars
finally found the one vacant seat, and,
seating himself, placed the bag on the
cushion ut his side. Just as the train
was about TO start, another man enter
ed and made the same journey in
search of a seat. AS he stopped in
quiringly before the large man, the
latter said: "This seat is engaged, sir;
man just stepped out, but will return
in a moment; he left his baggage here
as claim to the seat" ..
"Well," said the second traveller
frankly, l'm pretty tired, and if you
don't object I'll just sit down here and
hold his bag for him till he returns"
and without further ceremony this he
proceeded to do. Then the large man
who was bound for Lynn, earnestly
prayed within the inmost chambers of
his little heart that his companion
might get off at Somerville, or Ever
ett, or Chelsea, anywhere but Lynn or
a station beyond. And the tired man
thanked his stars for even g moments
seat, expecting every second to be GUST
ed by the owner of the gripsack. The
train moved out from the station. In
vain did the large man try to read the
strangers ticket to see what his desti-
nation was. Somerville was reached,
but the stranger sat quietly in his
place, and the large man grew nervous.
The train stopped at Everett, and still
the stranger gazed peacefully ahead
never budging, and the large man be-
gan to perspire. Then CAME Chelsea;
but tie stranger held fast to the bag
and never offered to stir. The agony
of the large man was simply frightful,
but he saw he could do nothing but
grin and bear it and get out of the fix
as best he could. But the stranger had
by this time fully grasped the situa-
ton, and, though thankful for his
seat, determined to punish the unac-
commodating pig for his selfish decep-
ton. So, when Lynn was reached,
the large man put forth his hand for
his bag, but the stranger drew back the
same with an expression of surprise,
saying:
II beg your pardon, sir, but this is
not your baggage"
"But it isn't yours" stammered the
owner, blushing.
"To be sure, but I propose to see it
restored to the proper person. Here,
conductor, here's man who wants to
run off with this baggage that doesn't
belong to him. Somebody put it in
seat to procure q place, and evidently
got left in Boston, for he hasn't claim
ed it, and now this man wants to run
away with it," and he gave the con-
ductor wink, and, as that official
knew the stranger personally, he un-'
derstood the wink, and promptly re-
piled:
"The only thing to do is to return
the bag to Boston and store it among
the unclaimed baggage"
"But'-expostulated the large man
"Hold on, there" said the conduc-
tor, showing police badge "none of
this; what kind of man was it who
left the bag?"
And then the stranger and the con-
ductor and one or two sympathizing
passengers combined to confuse the
large man, and he, hating to confess
his piggishness, and knowing not what
to do, precipitately fled amid the
frowns and sighs of the observers of
his wickedness. But the stranger,
with contented smile, had the bag
returned to Boston, where the large
man had to come next day and identi-
fy it. The moral to this true tale is
obvious.-Boston Globe.