Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1890-10-23

II never had but one SON All my
boys were girls. But when little Burn
side was born, I tell you We were happy.
Yet I never supposed that chap would
save nv own life and lots OF other peo-
Pies That's Just what he did. row.
ever. You know, l always run the ex-
press. We got 4 big engine, some
years ago. on the road. She weighs
more than any machine we ever used
before. I never liked her. when | saw
her in the shop, that giantess, No. 6i3-
She never had any name. And that ma
chine never liked me. All because of
this The engineer took his pipe from
his mouth 70 look me sluarely in the
eye. Il was in the shop one afternoon
Just to look her over. That's when
they were painting her Up. The paint
ers and v~arnishers were crawling all
over her. Ofcourse she wasn't fired up.
Another engineer and | Just were walk
ing round her huge body. / said;
Jake. that critter will heat the first
trip, and a hot box on her will mean
lots of work | hope | may never be
asked TO run her Well. sir. believe il
or not. | know she heard il and was
mad. When / climbed into her cab.
Just 70 look at her there, l naturally
enough took hold of her reverse-lever.
She threw that lever over, sir. q~uicker'n
lightning. AMI caught my leg just under
the knee, taking out a bite as big as a
walnut My, How she panied me.
Il was weeks before my stiff leg was all
right"
Then he resumed his pipe while that
soaked into me.
Now, you newspaper men don't take
any stock IN such things. know. But no
railroad man would say | was a fool Il
thought hard Of the machine. And all
railroad men have seen engines act Just
as il they had spirits IN them. There
amt an engine on our road. or any 9TH
er, which viii work a. well for one man
as she sill for another. Every engine
has her ~fayorites for whom she will do
any thing, and her enemies. for whom
She acts like a she demon
4 fact, by the way, which the writer
has since verified on considerable inqui-
r. among locomotive engineers
Well, sir, If you believe me, that No.
CAS- hadn't been out o shop a week be-
fore the master mechanic sent for me
one night to take her. l remember |
was eating supper. IL was my twod days
lay-OT- Little Burnside was sitting in
his chair beside me lie was just eight
years old the Thursday before. Il was
a very hot August night was asked
TO put the big engine through for a
special There was a party of big fell
lows from Washington who we're return
ing from the White Mountains was
to drive EN- down to Wexford Junction
for Newport
God help me-. Susier I said to my
wife. pushing back my chair. L don't
know why, but I'd rather be killed by 4
pistol shot here AZ home than to GO
You foolish fellow, she replied.
What ails vou?'
- don't know | said But that ma
chine hain't been run a dozen times. Be
sides, she hates me-. This is 20 be a show
of run, like lightning. and | know
she'll kill Us all
My wife she Just rose up then Be-
ing 4 good Christian church member as
/ ain {. she exploded on me.
Pete. I'm ashamed Of you, You're
the best runner on the road. and this is
an honor. ID you want to get dis.
charged and lose our daily bread? God
will take care o. my husband. Here.