Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-23

blankets, and as I drowsed off remember
Harry droning q lot of rapturous twaddle
in my ear about sweet Susie Belknap.
In the morning the storm had moderated
somewhat. and began to worry about the
engine. Should anything happen to her in
my absence the cold, fishy eye of the mas
ter mechanic would fail to discern extenu-
ating circumstances. We each took on an
other big tank of homemade sausage and
pancakes, and felt fit for the deed Of our
lives. Dear, motherly Mrs Belknap would
have loaded us with provisions, but de-
clined everything but a piece of boiled salt
pork. loaf of bread and package Of
1 had to speak twice-a little sharply the
last time-to Harry. who was bidding Susie
goodbye in the kitchen. I. thought I
heard suspicious smack, but won't swear
to that: still. these, redheaded fellows
coffee! u
Mr.. Belknap told US a better road than
the way we came, so we got back without
much trouble. The curtain had caught fire
from the furnace door and broken every
pane OF glass in the cab. rendering it unin-
habtable. The clock had thawed out, run
seven minutes and frozen up again. But
there were both fire and water in her, so
| didn't much care. pumped her full again,
and, though the weather was moderating
rapidly, as the cab was untenable, we adj
! Journed to the snow hole under her We
munched our pork and bread in comfort
down there. Harry calling out that he had
found the .wishbof1e
The storm was about over; had kept my
engine alive, my stomach was comfortably
filled and my mind was easy. lit my
| pipe and was doing off to the endless hum
of Harry's eulogies of Susie Belknap, when
| | was rudely recalled to railroad realities
by the voice of Davis shouting. The snow
ploW with gang of shovelers was half
way through the cut, and Davis, chockful
OF business. was calling me to get ready.
Where the deuce have you been all sum
mer?' l asked petulantly. For he had all
the appearance of a man who had been
cFnfOrtaniV nd shaved
even.
over here to the house. he answered
cheerily. Where was your
"What hoase?'
why. my mother-in-laws: just back Of
them trees"
We'll. it's a wonder you wouldn't ask us
stan it?'
Il expected you over every minute an
when you didn't come, I thought mebbe
you'd ruther stay by the engine. One o
the boys was over here Yesterday to see if
warn't nobody here. whered We go?'
Down to Belknaps."
down there fur? Why, it's four times as
fur as it's up to mothers"
ooh, is it? Well, I'm mighty glad I've
found that out, anyway
They dug US out. and 1 slammed it to old
Is for dear life knew passenger train u
was somewhere behind me, and wanted to
get by the only switch there was between
l got by it all right, and while bucklng a
little pile of snow that had fallen on the
track since the plow passed, she came up
and coupled to our caboose.
We went N the rest of the way flying
The came out and made a fairyland of
the heavily Snow-covered landscape, ahC
tempered the frosty air that came through
the broken windows. 1t was thirty hours
after Christmas dinner time when we step
ped off her at the ash track. but | told
Harry to come on up to the house ana we q
pick the bones. anyway.
When We turned the corner there was
the house all lit mp. and as We stamped the
snow off feet in the entry the dining
room door flew open and mother and Katie
who had become as thick as thieves
and little Bob shouted a chorus Of Merry
ChriStmaseS'' at
The table, whose snowy linen contrasted
sadly with our begrimed oYer-clothes, was
pulled ont full length in the middle of the
floor In its center. his drumsticks held de-
family aloft, lay the great brown turkey,
with not a brack in his glossy skin He
was supported on one side by a massive
dome of mashed potatoes, whose generous
white expanse was notified here and there
by little dabs of delicious golden butter.
Delicate. feathery fronds of celery nodded
jovialy TO the fat glass dish of cranberry
sauce, while delicious odors of coffee and
plum puddin' were waited through the
open door from the kitchen.
What sight for tired and hungry rail-
readers.
I'VE waited for We, pa! Pa, we waited
for ye!" shouted boisterous Bob: and SO
they had. Katie had worn a path through
the snow to the switch tower and had
timed our arrival home to the minute.
noticed after that during the winter
Harry had a way of hanging out of the
gangway We approached Belknaps, so
l made it my business to blow a crossing
signal there. And as | peered slyly from
under the peak of my cap | would see
girlish figure wave a white cloth from the
back piazza. Harry promoted the fol-