The Washington critic., 1889-03-20
MATTER WORTH READING.


| nfkb tlUlc.
But the queerest and funniest incident
Of this Southern trip had almost tragic
termination. The train was just starting,
without ringing bell or blowing whistle,
as is the uniqne Southern custom, when q
cloud of dust was observed travelling down
the road to the station and from the midst
Of which proceeded prolonged yells. The
train was promptly stopped and an ancient
and iickety chaise drove up and there
climbed down from 1t an old man in long
| yellow coat and William goat beard.
wore, besides these, a pair OF abbreviated
green trousers which seemed TO shun his
boots and rise to higher plane, and a
beaver hat Of the vintage Of 1879. lie took
| from out Of the chaise a bandbox tied with
string, large carpet-bag, paper bag
containing an assorted lunch, two live
chickens, tied together by the legs, and
crock Of butter, over the top OF which
piece Of muslin was tightly fastened. With
these and an ancient umbrella he boarded
the train with some difficulty and sat down
in seat a few feet from the door. The
train rolled away, leaving his companion In
the chaise sitting, open-mouthed, paralyzed
| with wonder.
! The ancient one, with tho wind-tossed.
beard, gripped the arm Of his seat as soon
as he felt the trains motion and let out
startled yell that caused the passengers TO
turn pale with fear that we had a mad
man on board, and when the conductor ran
to him he shouted, "The hull darn thing
is sinking"
The amiable conductor assured him that
he was perfectly safe, and going into his
pocket pulled out his punch. The old man
held up his hands in an instant, aud cried
"Don't shoot, Mister, don't shoot; give
in I"
81 amt goin' to shoot, l only want your
ticketl"
"What ticketf"
"Your railroad ticket" .--....
"Ain't got none. We uns up our way
don't hev no railroads nor nuthin'.n
"Well, then pay your money to me.
Where do you want to go?"
4 "I'm gwine to Staunton, to my grand
sons, Pete Rawlns. Know him?''
"Nope.n
"Know any of his folks down IN Staun.
toni" Just then the whistle blew aud the
old man jumped up and tried to get past the
conductor, who held him down by main
strength. The white hair OF the old
"cracker" fairly stood on end and It was
several minutes before he calmed down
enough to count his change.
At the next station, when the train
stopped, he gathered up his belongings and
made for the door, but was stopped before
he could get off. This attempt he made at
every station, and finally the conductor
went to him, saying: "Look here, old man,
you iist set still and don't move till you
hear the brakeman holler Staunton, then
you get on! Seer"
He sat there awhile quietly, and then be-
gan to question the rest OF the passengers
as to their acquaintance with Staunton and
its people.
Thinking could derive some entertain
ment from him changed my seat to the
one in front Of his, and, turning around,
addressed some words to him with an ami
able and seductive smiles s..
He looked at me moment and solemnly
took his musty leather wallet from his side
pocket and thrust IL deep down into his
boot, saving: s.t 81 -,u -ps
Snow, then, young man, Whist. you want
to know, ehP''
This action set the entire car full of peo.
pie roaring with. laughter and almost
brought blush to my cheek, which sensa-
tion had scarcely gone when the brakeman
opened the door and yelled: "Stauntoh!n
We were at the moment crossing q
trestle, about fifty feet in height,
upon the slanting, heavily wooded side Of
q mountain. We could look down
the hillside over the tree tops and
see silvery stream threading It's winding
way through O black and dank swamp.
The old settler rose quickly at the sound
Of the brakeman's voice, packed up his
belongings and going to the platform,
stepped right of. ...s..
As we passed we got one glimpse OF him
sailing down. Somebody pulled the bell
: rope; stopping the train at once, and are.
y liefparty was organized, which went down
the mountain side until we came to the
spot where he struck first, tail
Il hemlock. 1t looked like gigantic Christ
mas tree.
n Pendent from It's branches were socks,
collars, handkerchiefs, chewing tobacco,
i sandw,cbaa boots ana sboo. not;ons s,,s'
nepdars sboeIaces. 'hondhrvos sa,nn,as I,
e,o,h' hara,vora ava 'nant,s snrr,sh,ro
goods Frrthsr down tha h,I,s,d. wa Co., i
some nater, madic,ns hot,Ia. ,ha IA m,
hrel,o .,bs h,,,or oroo,, ana ,ha ',,,,,o, h..
Then we raachad ths o,d man u,i,o sv.s nm
IN b,. waist an h,ocL mud h,'s,,,, an,,a,r ,rad
In wosh,ps, tho so,na ,rmd rr,r, ,rh,ss, !,
eosl Which ha haa somaho,v n,.norod ~