Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-05


NY father James K OdeIl, was a loco
motive engineer My earliest recollection
pictures him clad in blue overalls and a
black silk cap with enormously long
peak Tall, square-shouldered and hand
some, he was to my boyish admiration the
best and bravest of all the engineers on
the A K and L. railroad. His engine-a
six-wheel "mogul.'' 1 believed to be the
brightest, strongest, and fastest in the
world. He passed our house outward bound
at II 30 every other morning, and the days
that 1 failed to see him go by, and to wave
my cap in answer to his foot -toot," and to
feel myself the proudest boy in Belleville,
could have been counted on the thumbs of
| one hand.
l only saw him return once. He arrived
a. 2:l5 the following morning, when would
| he snoring peacefully under the blankets
There was but little to be seen anyway; a
! brightly flashing headlight as Ninety seven
| pokeG her nose from uG;.er the bridge half a
mile away, would be visible for an instant,
! just after he whisIed for the station. Then
would come long string of fiery sDeckS-
lights in the car windows, as the train
S.lded swiftly across our restricted field of
vision. This would be followed by q pair
of fierce red eyes-the tail lights-as, like an
antediuvian monster, the train would
Writhe smoothly into it's subterranean den
the tunnel.
l awoke one memorable morning with
raging earache. Mother responded to my
hail OF distress and started at once to roast
an onion over the night lamp. 1 knew
from experience that the application of this
unfaling remedy-the heart of a roasted
kicked; but mother was stralegist. While
inspecting the onion, she remarked casu-
ally that father would be due in a few min
utes. My interest was aroused at once
Could l see him go by? Why, yes if l could
stand is to be carried to The window?
She wrapped a shawl over my mighty, and
held me where l could catch the first
glimpse of the bright headlight. Had l
known that she was gngerly rolling the
hot onion heart in her hand might not
have been absorbed in watching the
course of the fast rolling train.
AS the great bulls-eye disappeared in the
yawning mouth of the tunnel soft hand
stole lovingly under the shawl.
Does his poor little ear ache dreadfully?"
There was a quick motion, and the fiery
cone was rammed soidly into my aching
ear. Screaming and kicking, unmindful Of
the soothinSly apologize, words pouring
into my other ear, L was returned to bed
and in five minutes was sound asleep
Sometimes father would take me to the
round house on Sundays, when he went
there TO visit. While he "chinned'' with
the other engineers l would wander off,
viewing with wonder and delight the great
engines lying so quietly in their stalls.
Once hostler put me on the firemans seat
and let me ring the bell while he took the
engine out, turned her on the table and
took tank of water. 1 loved that hostler,
and l Wearied mother and sister May with
the tale for many days.
These round house visits were sufficiently
far apart to retain their charm. They were
episoueS in my life. Believing my father
to he the supreme boss of everything on
the railroad, when the men patted my head
and asked, "HoTS the boy, Jim?' [ ac-
cepted their homage with becoming dignity.
l was about ten years old when l made
my last trip to the round house with father.
In an argument with the foreman l became
Disguised with his lack of enthusiasm con-
corning the superior merits of Ninety-seven,
and left him. The wipers were cleani:g up
IA freight engine. Inspired by an impulse
| to begin my railroad career l seized a
handful of waste and started in c. the
greasy main rod.
! l was small for the job, so | had to use
both hands. l had on new light chinchil-
| la overcoat. l had unbuttoned it on &C
count of the heat and, as 1 swung back and
forth at my work, my new coat wiped off
more grease than I did with the waste. Old
| Kelly, the boss wiper, advised me to leave
| the work alone, but this only increased my
ardor. | pushed my cap back and wiped
| my perspiring face with my grmy hands.
Father passed with two other engineers.
| One of them saw me, and called out: Hell
| 10, Jim, breakin the kid in, hey?'
When father saw me. look of horror
overspread his face He took me by the
hand, let go again, and, looking at his own
hand, he got piece of clean waste from
| the wtper's basket, with which he again
| took hold of me and led me to window
All three of them inspected me. The others
! laughed. Father tried to, but failed. He
was thinking of my $40 cvercoat.
He 5 born railroader, Jim," said one of
the engineers between outlaws; "he amt
afraid of a little dirt"
We'll. if you don't have a nice time
when your mother sees You, young man, 1
miss my guess, that's all; look at your
self!' exclaimed father, shaking me angri-
~.
l cast one downward glance and burst
into tears. My handsome new coat-put on
that day for the first time, and of which |
had felt so proud on leaving home-was
ruined.
All the way home Numbered like a good
Fellow, rubbing the tears, grease and dirt
over my face with my dirty paw / shall
never forget the sickening dread with
winch entered the house. Mother had the
enlre care of us. and though usually in
dulgent, she knew when to be severe. She
was in the parlor reading. | heralded our
approach with an unbroken series of high
~ pitched boohoos. She dropped her book
and met US in the sitting room.
for heavens sake, Jim Odell, what have
you done to that poor chld?" she exclaim-
ed on catching sight of me. Look at his
ciothesH she added in Mortified tones
mere are you hurt, Frankly dear-winat
over, or What?
He amt hurt nome" replied father
neartiessiy, only his clothes. l found him
down there with Kelly, wipin a jack
"A transformation passed over my dear
mothers countenance. Sweet pity rolled
from 1t like a mask. The lines hardened
ana steeiy glitter came into her eyes
Come with me, young man." said she as
sne snatched me from father. By a series
OF contracting jerks she conveyed me to
the wash house, and there stripped me
quicker than l remember her ever having
done II before. Only my overcoat was
soiied, but she peeled me TO the skin and
made me climb-stfli wildly blubbering-
INTO Washtub half full of rainwater. She
SCRUBBED me until l was NEARLY raw, COM
mentlng on my conduct meanwhile. She
wiped me vigorously with a coarse towel
put on my nightgown and spanked me thor
oushiy: While resting from her eXertions
IN my behalf she treated me to one of those
maternal lectures, loaded down with good
advice. which would make us all senator's
ana governors had we the sense to follow
it She concluded with the time-honored
assertion that the whipping hurt her more
tnan 1t did me-though 1 noticed that did
Sister May was present throughout the
period OF my humiliation, and L observed
that her countenance bore signs of unmis-
taxable satisfaction. She had suffered the
day before, and had failed in expressions
OF brotherly sympathy
Ihe ceremony concluded, mother tucked
me In my little bed. although it was not
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