Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-12-31
DIDN'T DESERVE IT.
Drummer Has an Experience Which
Made Him Sleepy.

A Drummer Has an Experience Which
Made Him Sleepy.
The Pullman section of the New York
express had just pulled out of the
Grand Central Depot ia Pittsburgh
when drummer dashed through the
gateway. He sighed as he saw the last
sleeper disappearing in the distance,
and then walked with detected air
over to the track where the second 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 ilk. 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 to sleep. Later, when
the drammer tried to doze, he kept
thinking of 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 touched. lie pitied the child in her
loneliness. Walking to the front of the
car. he sat down beside her and tender
ly stroked 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.
WELL my dear" said the good-nat-
ured drummer, II will see that you do
not get lonely before daylight, at any
rate. Would you like me to tell you Is
story that my mother used to tell me
when l was small like you?"
The drummer then proceeded to tell
the child fairy tale, and followed
with another. and still another, before
he stopped. The little face did not
brigh ten. 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
little boy who built a ire in his fathers
silk hat, and he laughed so heartily when
he had finished that the little girl look
ed up in astonishment. Then bright
smile stole over her face. The drum
mer felt encouraged. He had begun an
other funny story when the child, still
wearing tho same anu ed look, drew
IRON her pocket card, which she held
up before her porsevering entertainer.
On it was written:
This little girl is5on,h her way tC 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 SUNK back to his seat curled him
self up with his overcoat for pillow
and went to sleep.-N. Y. Sun.