The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-01-01
A FAMILY DIFFERENCE.


Up on the Delaware and Hudson rail
road the other day two nervous old
ladies climbed on board the south-bound
train at Crown Point. They were of the
same height; looked much alike, and
both of them wore gossamer rubber
cloaks-pOssibly under the vague i'm
preston that cinders melt They flut-
tered into seat near the door, evidently
prepared for long journey. When the
bird-cage, two satchels and three shoe
boxes of luncheon had been properly
slowed away, the two ladies sat down in
unison, much as if pnlled on one string.
Beyond vigorous attack on the lunch
con an hour later, they quietly de-
voted their attention to the scenery until
Albany was reached in the late after
noon. That being the terminus of the
road, the passengers started for the car
door as the train stopped, but there
seemed to be blockade of some sort on
the platform. 1t wasn't exactly block
ade; it was the two old ladies from
Crown Point.
Equipped with satchels, the bird cage
and the luncheon (now reduced to one
shoe box), they had led the procession
to the door, but had succeeded in getting
no further, as the train had run into the
station on a middle track, and they
could not agree on which side of the car
to get off.
~ tell you, Janet" said the old lady
with the bird cage, with much dignity,
''that this is the proper side. 1t is
nearer the depot and no doubt our train
is close by. Come, don't be obstinate,
sister," she added, persuasively.
Il will not leave the car on that side"
declared the other, holding up the shoe
box and both satchels as if for barri-
cade-which the impatient crowd within
the car thought quite superb uous. IF
you think am going to career across
three tracks," she continued emphat-
ically, sin front of moving locomotives,
and risk ourselves and that precious
bird then / say, Hannah, you have lost
your senses; that's all.
you see m to forget that l am older
than you, Janet" rejoined the other
with offe nded dignity.
THAT may all be, but little good it's
done. You would have scandalized the
whole family at Cousin Maria Soper's
funeral up at the Corners if had not In
sisted"
"Heyr' whats the matter ?"
''Shake it upy' "Geoffy' came in at
chorus from the impatient throng in
side.
"Sakes ahve!" calculated the belliger-
ent Janet, for the first time observing
the crowd in waiting. Come this way.
Do come" pleaded the other.
81 won't"
"You must; l insist cried the elder
sister, stepping hastily down to decide
the matter. There was no further
chance ror argument. Already the other
passengers were pushing out. So with
an expression of annoyance and fright,
the second old lady tourist Joined the
other, and the two rubber gossamers
began their devions flight across tracks
and before waiting locomotives toward
the station. They reached there at
length, but it was apparent that some
thing had happened.
II told you so! told you SOL" almost
screamed the younger sister as soon as
she could catch her breath.
You say you dropped it p asked the
other in troubled tones.
Eyes; that horrid engine let off steam,
and jumped. 1 suppose 1 dropped it
then. Why can't engines hold their
steam till they get out in the country,
I'd like to know ?"
swell, never mind, Janet, we can get
along" said the other, soothingly.
''But do mind. suppose, 1 suppose,
Hannah, ought to be thankful that you
and the bird are safe; but just to think"
she added, with almost a sob, ''the whole
of Aunt Lucinda's sponge cake gone,
and we've only got to Albany"
And sure enough, some distance up
the second track, reposing peacefully on
the off rail, lay the familiar green out
line of the last shoe box.-New York
Tribune