River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-12-11
DIDN'T DESERVE II.
A Drummer Has an Experience Which
Made Him sleepy.

Made Him sleepy.
The Pullman section of the New York
express had just pulled out of the
Grand Central Depot in Pittsburgh
when a drummer dashed through the
gateway. lie sighed as he saw the last
sleeper disappearing in the distance,
and then walked with detected air
over to the track wnere the secoaa Sec
ton of baggage cars, smokers and day
coaches lay. In few moments the sig-
nal was given and the train moved
slowly out of the depot The drummer
glanced around him. Among the pas
sengers he spied several Of his ill1. but
they were travelling statesmen of
grade that do not usually take Pull
mans, consequently he needed them
not In the front of the car sat little
girl with her head buried in her arms,
which were spread on the window sill
beside her. A mass of golden ringlets
fell upon her shoulders. A large man
sat beside her, evidently her father.
At the next station the man rose with
out word and left the train, leaving
the little one alone in the seat She
still slept. Half an hour passed and the
ringlets moved. A piteous, haggard
little face was slowly raised, and two
large, frightened eyes looked strangely
around the car. Then the little head
sank down upon the arms again and
the child went 10 sleep. Later, when
the drummer tried to doze, he kept
thinking u those fearful. lonely eyes, and
often during the early part of the night
he glanced at the mass of golden curls
before him. Two o'clock in the morning
found him wide awake. The little girl
moved again. Once more she looked
around with the same scared expression
on her puny face. The other passengers
were curled up in their seats, and no
one but the drummer saw her. His heart
was touc led. lie pitied the child in her
loneliness. Walking TO the front of the
car, he sat down beside her and tender
ly strofed her curls. When he asked
her name she did not answer, but drew
further away from him. Where was she
going? AT this question she looked sui
len and cross. Would she like some
thing to eat? No. she shook her heal
and pouted.
We'll, my dear" said the good
ured drummer, II will see that you do
not get lonely before daylight, at any
rate. Would you like me to tell you
story that my mother used to tell me
when i was small like your
The drummer then proceeded to tell
the child a fairy tale, and followed
with another, and still another before
he stopped. The little face did not
brighten. The child stared through the
window at the dim outlines of the
mountains past which the train was
speeding. The drummer tried another
plan. He told a funny story about a
title boy who built fire in his fathers
silk hat, and he laughed so heartily when
he had finished that the little girl look
ed up in establishment Then q bright
smile stole over her face. The drum
mer felt encouraged. He had begun an
other funny story when the child, still
wearing the same amused look, drew
from her pocket card. which she held
mp before her persevering entertainer
On il was written:
This little girl is on her way to Phil
adelphia, where friends will meet her
She is deaf and dumb"
The drummer took one sheepish glance
around him to make sure that none of
his fellow passengers were looking, and
then skunk back to his seat. curled him
self up with his overcoat for pillow
and went to sleep.-N. Y. Sun.