The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09
THE TRAVELLER's THANKSGIVING.
A Wreck Delayed His Dinner. but He
Doesn't Regret the Experience.


I'm on the go most of the time" said the
traveller, " but | always manage so as to get to
my Indiana home on Thanksgiving Day. This
year the family gathering was unusually In
teresting, as the old folks had brought
together all the children and grandchildren.
and l was to see In the homestead some of my
brothers and sisters that l had not met in years,
not to speak OF the babies that had never blessed
my vision before.
my long experience on the road has taught
ne that the chance OF accidents should always
be considered when one is compelled to be at a
certain place by a~certain time, and so / left New
York on the Tuesday night before Thanks
giving. The train was crowded with passengers
bent on similar purposes, and q jollier lot one
could scarcely find. Everybody was reminis-
cent, aud the stories told Of Thanksgiving din
ners and experiences were so interesting and
appropriate that I felt It a pity that no Dickens
was there to write them up In the style of the
Christmas CAROL IL was . most suspicious
beginning, and l went to my berth with pleasing
anticipation.
Everything went smoothly until I had trans
ferred at Chicago for the train that was TO take
me home. That was on Wednesday night. l
had retired and had dozed OF, thinking Of how
/ would find the folks. when there was q sudden
crash. the car seemed TO lift up and then sud
uculy buDsluc. anu tue next lnlnk 4 knew Il was
sprawlihg on the door In my patamas. My fel-
low passengers had Jared no better, and the
next minute they were yelling and shrieking
was less alarmed than most OF them, especially
after | had felt of myself and become salts
GUS injury than a few bruises. As soon
as possible scrambled To my feet and
pened. The porter came into the car Just
then ard said there had been u collision
with an empty freight car that had rolled on a
aiHinU 1hA Aamana U-aa nni Earinua ha EafA
and our journey would soon be resumed. After
= short time the other passengers became calm,
there was nothing better 10 do, we climbed back
into our berths. was a good deal shaken up
S saarD wSr Jldvs az the bS, R %S Of having my
nothing was TO be gained by fretting, / argued
"When l awokeit was daylight. and the train
WAS at 3 standstill. The porter Vas not around.
The wreck had proved more serious than had
been supposed at nrst ana the efforts 10 clear
the tradk had thus far proved vain. Our engine
nothing could be done until after the arrival OF
the wTecking train and a fresh engine. IL was
in an hour. ] could see sac old carriage being
dragged out Of the stable and our old coachman
knew that at the very best / could not get TO my
station before noon, and that the state OF mind
o., the folks would be awful; There was no
sides. We were miles from any station. and
there would have been no Way Of getting = tsls-
gram on anyhow; IL was one Of the rare oecs-
sionS in my life when ] felt thoroughly stumped:
/ was blue enough. The frantic condition OF
some OF the women on the train didn't add 70
the pleasure Of the situation, and the Thanks
giving | had looked forward u with 30 much
pleasure VAS starting mighty glOomily. To add
to the discomfort there was no dining car on.
and nothing 70 eat 20 BE- had. and the prospects
were that our apostle for ThSnksgiVtag dinner
would DO shArpened by the absence of break
fast. / suggested = fOTagtng party, and the
conductor said he would send 70 the nearest
farmhouse and see what could be obtained. In
the mean time We waited helplessly.
I'VE were half starved before the trainmen
who mad gone out returned with some milk,
cold hard boiled eggs. and cold Oysrdone meat
Altogether there WAS tqst about enough 70 give