Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-11-23
For the ADVERTISER.
THE WANDERER.

tween Charlotte and Atlanta was
very tired and eagerly adjusted
myself as best I could in the first
vacant seat I reached. The train
pulled out of the Charlotte depot
op time to the minute. The day had
been bitter cold aid gusty. 1t was
in the depth of winter and there
had been a heavy fall of snow for
twenty-four consecutive hours.
But as twilight peeped over the
western horizon the STOW fakes
ceased their wanton play. And
naught disturbed the. heaven in
spired calm save the "clack-clack
of the great iron trucks as they
leaped from one steel rail to anoth-
er bearing to distant points the
precious burden of score OF
souls.
From the car window | could
see the great drifts of snow fash
ing like splendid diamonds in
the light of the moon. The
streaks of cloud had slowly mel
ted into the infinite azure of the
deep blue sky, and fiery con-
stellations . lit up the heavens
light spangled chandeliers.
AS the train dashed along groups
of trees like so many skeletons
draped in dazzling cloaks of snow,
rose weird and ghostlike before
my eyes and quickly glided past ;
supplanted by another and still
another IN quick succession, until
the whole scene reminded me of
one vast panorama of the dead
returning from the grave. I saw
a far off line of Blue Ridge bluffs
that gllsteped. like the waves of
frozen sea hushed in eternal
calm. And where the sky dipped
into them there rested a luster
that was sublime. Above the din
and noise of the train could be
family heard the melancholy
sighs of the winter wind.
AS the train stopped at the little
way station along the road pas
sengers shivering with cold would
enter the car and endeavor to seat
themselves on the velvet cushions
nearest the heated stove. - =
1t was a night fit for the gods.
With this chain of thought fit
ting through my mind. | uncon'
sciously lit cigar and was quietly
enjoying the smoke when a remark
from the conductor reminded me
that I was not in a smoking car.
He also suggested that a gentle
man would not indulge in tobacco
in the presence of ladies,
thanked him for his inforE1a-
tion and got up and left.
AS I slammed the door of the
car behind me and started for the
smoking room of the Pullman, my
foot was hardly planted ON the
platform of tie bounding coach
before I was greeted with voice
that. seemed to come from the
trucks of one of the cars.
Hello mister, how is your
health?"
well, I will swear!" was my
inaudible response as I looked
towards the truck of the sleeper
and saw by tho glimmering moon
light the outstreched form of q
ragged tramp. His face haunts
me even now. I think he was the
most forlorn, detected, woe-begone
specimen of humanity I ever laid
eyes on. He was certainly the
pride of trampdom. There was
nothing in either his face or his
dress to indicate thathe could now
lay any claim to better life. His
large, baggy trousers bore marks
of a rough, dirty life. Covered with
the dirt and filth 30 incident to
such an existence they had
grown exceedingly rusty; and
Judging from their appearance,
they had seen "long and active
service. The old coat he wore
showed every sign of age and de-
cay. Without regard to the cold
ness of the night, it presented
numerous holes to admit the
chilling wind to his shivering
and unprotected skin. His slouch
hat lay over his shoulders and
thoroughly, though not very grace.
fully, covered his otherwise un-
kempt neck. Underneath it's flaps
shone a pair of eyes that flashed