The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-19

How long will we have to stay
here, do you suppose9" asked one of
the passengers, approaching the con-
ductor.
"Four or five hours, l dare say"
replied that functionary. Were a
hundred miles from nowhere, SO to
speak. The only thing to do is to
walk to the next station, five miles,
and telegraph to Dubuque for aid
and to stop other trains till the tracks
fixed. I've already sent one of the
brakemen."
"And have we got to wait all that
time for something to eat, I'd like to
know?" demanded a portly gentle
man, who did not look as if he had
missed three-course dinner single
day in his life.
"Well, I'm afraid So" replied the
conductor, sunless these people here
can fix up something for the crowd.
l wonder who runs this place. any
way" And the conductor looked
curiously at the little house beyond
the barn, which was already in
state of seige by the lady passengers
and their escorts.
II do, sir" replied Fred, who hap
pened to be in the group surround
ing the conductor.
The latter turned and surveyed
him increduously. "What-you?"
he demanded.
Eyes. sir" replied Fred, sturdily.
"Mother owns it, but l run it. Faith
er's dead"
"Oh, | see," replied the conductor.
well, young man, l shall have to
apologize for our sudden and uncere-
monious tresspassing on your prop
erty. But circumstances over which
we had no control seem to have left
us no choice in the matter, and l
shall see that the road promptly set
ties for all damages
"Oh, that'll be all right. l am
sure" replied Fred. "The old barn
wasn't worth much, anyway. But
you said something about getting up
a dinner for the passengers, didn't
yous"
Eyes. Do you suppose your moth
or could provide for such crowd?"
swell, I've got thirty fowls and
two ROSTERS" rejoined Fred, -"or,
rather, did have, before two of 'em
were auctioned off; and l guess
mother could make tolerable sized
stew of the lot, enough to feed hun
dred people or more. If you say so,
I'll have her go ahead and do it.
"By all means, young man." ex
claimed the portly gentleman. And
several others cried: $50 ahead, boy!
Well make it all right with you
The result was that, two hours
later, just as the old clock in the
Stamford kitchen was striking two,
half-famished, but merry COM
pany of about hundred and twenty
people sat down under the trees to
feast upon the thirty-two Stamford
fowls, for the two purchasers of the
actioned hens had generously con-
tributed them to the "pot." Plates
were few, and knives and forks al
most unknown; but, by using tin
kettle covers, pieces of board, pen
knives, and the ten digits, which are
said to have antedated forks, every
body managed to dispose of a piece
OF fricasseed chicken, boiled po-
tato, and some crackers from broken
barrel found in the overturned ex-
press car. There proved to be enough
of the first course for all; and the
absence of dessert was more than
atoned for by the spice of novelty,
the laughter, merriment, and good
feeling.
After the last scrap of food had
disappeared, jolly little gentleman,
who had been the life of the whole
party, seized his hat, dropped FIVE
dollar bill into it, and then started
around the circle, making a collec-
ton. The way the bills futtered and