Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-19

! ply everything l hung around the work.
| wishing l might have part in it. and try
| ing to muster courage to Scrape acquaint-
ance with the engineer OF the locomotive
One day l overheard Mr.. Alexander, the
foreman, say he'd have to get water boy.
The weather was becoming so warm that
the men lost too much time going to the
| water barrel. 1 applied at once. 1 told him
l would bring water from our well, which
was beautifully cold and clear, and of
which there was an ipeXhaustible supply.
You're just the boy I'm looking for
said he heartily. Get two new clean pals
and pint dipper and bring water to the
men. Keep going all DAY. Let every man
have a drink every trip If he wants it, and
I'll give We a dollar day."
1t was hard work. carrying two pals of
| water all day in the hot sun. Sometimes 1
thought my arms would pull out of their
sockets. The railroaders were the dryest
mortals 1 ever saw. None of them ever al
lowed the pals to pass without taking a
drink, besides hollerng at me to get along
here with that water" and asking
where I'd been all summer. But Carrie
praised my perseverance and sympathized
with me, SO l wouldn't have given it up
if it had killed me. 1 sometimes passed
her house on my way; it was little far
Their, but / didn't mind that If 1 got a
CHEEKY word from her or her mother
On the third morning l found oppor-
tunity to speak to Mr.. Wflloughby the en-
gineer. l had to be hand at 6 o'clock
sharp, as the men started in dry the first
thing. On this occasion as 1 struck onto
the railroad track 1 saw just ahead of me
the first train of gravel at a standstiil.
Something was the matter with the engine,
and he had stopped to fix it. Just as 1 came
up he crawled from under her with an
armful of wrenches, which he threw in a
pie up into the tender. He then took off
his cap and said: "Whew! and mopped
MS lace with piece of waste, which left
lot of fuzZ in his whiskers.
l stepped round where he could see me-
set my pals down and said: Wouldn't
you like nice, cool drink, Mr. Willough-
by?"
Would I? Well, should say I would;
yes, stree! Pm half roasted. l oversight
this morning, and then l had to hustle to
get this old kettle fired up. and oiled
amt had no breakfast yet" Here he in
terrupted his flow of talk by inserting the
edge of my bright tin dipper, dripping with
cold, sweet well water. into his mouth
He drained it, took long breath and ex-
claimed: Jimmy, boy. that's fine! Gimme
another"
Just then the conductor appeared shout-
ing:
Hey, Dave, what's the matter with YOU?
why don't you back up? I've been givin
We signal for the last half hour"
Dave answered never a word until he
hnlshed the second dipper of water Then
ne said: Cant help it; I'm goin' to have
;no drink OF water if this road never gets
and have some. It's fine
Water nothin'.'' replied the conductor,
churlishly. Back up!'
Gon doWn the line, amt We, bub?"
asked the engineer.
Yes, sir, down to where the men are at
work. replied.
Well. get on here and ride down.
gimme them pails!'
Are You ever a-goin' to back up?'
shouted the conductor, angrily.
Oh, don't make SO much noise" replied
the engineer, good-naturedly. There's a
man sick couple O. hundred miles back
mere In the woods. You're liable to disturb
I'M Now. hang on good. Johnny. This is
smooth. must back this Teller ND, l
s'pose, or he'll have another one O. his
spells.''
1t was as well that he had cautioned me
to hang on for when he started back over
the rough track she became regular rat
tie box. 1 could hardly believe she was on
the track. was dismayed to see the water
stopping out Of my pals in way that
babe fair to empty them before we should
and we stopped right among the men.
There We are, bub! Jump down, and
I'll hand We the pails.''
I'm afraid, said I, that the men will
complain. There's been so much spilled"
"Qh, that's nothin'. You mustn't mind
them. They'd kick anyway; and, besides,
you amt got SO much to peddle round, so
I got back in time all right, and rode
with him again. When too late ! remem-
bered that the train was going nearly a
mile beyond where I wanted to get off
and as didn't like to ask him to stop 1
reflected that would have done better to
walk. AS the conductor was on the en-
CINE now, and In spite of their little spat
joking and laughing. No attention was
maid IN ma eu1nvad tho ride hoclr LA