The National tribune., 1901-12-26

That was before the day of sleeping
cars, and the Deacon had Il prospect of Il
comfortlcsS night. 80
Not being hen, it amt boss place
ito Sleep he remarked as he entered the
car, and began slowing his belongings
around, preparatory TO making himself as
comfortabie as he could He crowded the
lhnop-skirts in the rack above, hung his
That on hook, and placed his carpet sack
liu one end OF the seat, where. with his
folded oycrccat, it would serve for pill
low. I'm sleepy enough, though, to roost
on the corner of Il stakeand-ridered fence.
I'm getting too old to he ont late at night.
However, it'll make me appreciate my
bed mt home better. Only wish that 81
and the boys had so good a place to sleep.
Don't have to bed down with the musk
rats and alligators and poison boa CON
strictors, as they've been doing. Poor fcl-
Hers, they must be clean wore out thrash
ling around in them ma shes. expect
Sis run down TO skin and bone with the
IGger, his skin as yaller as saffron. and his
teeth chattering like II hounds on Il frosty
morning. I'll buy a whole bottle of
quinine in Washington, to scnt' specially
Ito him."
He found great difficulty in contracting
his substantial bulk into an easy position
on the short seat.
''Thesc seats weren't made for anybody
who hadn't bin nipped by the drouth to lay
down in" he commented, changing his
lca1pct-ba ana oycrc0at to the end next
to the aisle. and settling down in that
position. IF it was Summer time [
might stick my feet out of the window,
but this is not the weather to expose any
thing delicate TO the frost. CThe Deacon
wore about No H. | don't know what
I'm going to do with them. The good
Lord undoubtedly knew what he was
about when he made man, but if He ever
intended him to ride in the cars at night
He ouGht've made him much limbcrer. or
else changed the hearts OF the men who
! build ears"
! lie began to sn0re, however as soon as
! his head lay on the overcnHt.
| A party of drunken revelcrs entered the
car at the next station. They had come
from n town beyond for spree with the
local sports, and after hours of drinking,
card-playing. and other approved methods
of painting the village red, and giving the
impression that they were thoroughbreds.
were returning home filed with the belief
THAT they had been having a great time.
The sleeping. snoring Deacon was Il
temptation to them to crown their outing
with some achievement of unusual
hilarity.
See that old hayseed snoozing there,
and snoring like saw-mill.' said the
Header II middle aged smooth-faced dissi-
Ipaleu Hlal- SdulUItf. tHOTst-TdFeT, JothtA- e
saloon-kceper, and ualaround country
sport. Hear him ripping off the boards
at 2:40 gait let's have some fun with
him. lglTg
Yes. let's echoed the others
| Looks like Squire Punkinhead, from
Hoop-PoIc Township.H laughed the wit of
the party. u rakisb young farmer. Big
! germ a load of hay,iin his own opinion"
More likely Preacher RcdhOt Brim-
stone, been up to Indianapolis, attending
! Quarterly Conference" suggested ii full
bearded old soaker,i who was the legal
light of the party. 'TE
Il hate every Dcantiug Methodist
preacher that ever banged Il Bible said
a dark -browed young man, of questionable
ing, whining hgprocrites. One of EN-
got my best girl away from me-"
Il believe its that same sniffling psalm
singer who's bin running the revival over
on Brush Crick, making the people crazy
lon Temperance, encouraging them to
smash the saloons and destroy other peo-
piles property, and threatening the girls
with hell-iirc if they had anything to do
with boys who take Il drink. He ought to
be hung. or at least tarred aud fcathered.'
''IIe looks entirely too slick and COM
Portable for Il Methodist preacher ad-
| judged the man with the tow-wisp beard.
They always look as if they'd bin fed
often Il straw stack. and dressed outen Il
secondhand store"
They're doing better now than when
you were in the ministry, Siinnspn." said
the wit. Then it was poor preach, poor
lpay. Now their preaching amounts to
something, they get paid i'll money, and
buy for cash
Il say, the old codgerS a back Town
ship Justice of the Peace. affirmed the
village John Morrissay. He feels big
gest when he's scrawling mittimuses and
Icapiases, and socking it to some poor devil
for changing the crops on another man ;
hog"
Probably this is his first ride on the
cars" spoke a man with crooked nose
and a cast i'll his eye. He's bin up to
indianapolis to see the wonderful big city,
and he's taking back some New Years
presents for his family
/ "Say, he's never seen any real thorough
hrcds like us" chimed in the Youngest of
the lot Il man with n rcceding chin Il
high hat and plaid shawl. ii weakling
who was affecting the society of the
itoughs, aud wasting his days and his
money with them. ''It'd do the old fol
How good tc know some real Out-and-outcrS.
He's probably never seen one. It'll give
him sonnet hing to talk about when he
gets home
Various tricks were suggested. and in
Ithc meanwhile the train ran on to Il switch
Iand stopped.
'IIl tell you what we'll do" said the
leader. well form a ring around him.
wake him up. and ask him to take Il
drink. You, "Dornix" Ito the man with
the reccding chin. might tune up with
something that'll shock his nerves."
They gathered about the Deacon's seat,
and shook him 10y the shoulder.
''Wake no, and pay for your berth!'
''Tickets.'
"Change cars for Liberty, Constitution,
and all noirts in White Mans Country
they shouted. aud gave three cheers for
Vallandinoham. Niilligan, Rowles, Her
sey, and the American Knights, while
E"Dornix" tuned up with:
when this wicked war is over
No niggerS need anply"
The Deacon's mouth closed with IL snap.
he sat upright, and rubbed his eyes.
"Hnvc a drink. Squire. and voul sloen
sounder," said the leader, rendering him
II flask.
NO. join me. Rev. Redhot birthstone. -
said the man with n t0wwisp beard. offer
ing another. You'll find mine a good deal
nearer Original Sin than his. Tain
morc'n a week from the sOd-corn. | used
to preach Il little myself"
Gentlemen" said the Deacon quietly.
you'll oblige me by letting me alone.
I'm not Acquainted with any of you, and
I'm very sleepy"
With that he changed his carpet-bae
land Overcoat to the other end of the seat,
and lay down again, with his feet on the
arm next the aisle. He was again al
H.