Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-03-05
Spa nAienaum was runnin' this same

/ slle o the y. III. anu W. ana Y. n. coun-
try.
I'VE was bowlin' along. says the
fireman to Cousin Dusenberry, up
t'other side o. Slashbang Bend, when
/ see a red flag at one side o the track.
We didn't have much time TO get
stopped in says lie, but we got
stopped Some O. the crew stepped off
to see what was the matter, but no.
body turned up to explain the fiaggin'
except four slammin' bears says he,
and they come out o the woods, two
o them nigh the middle o the train
and two o. them nigh the hind end.
"'Before we could holler the two
bears at the middle o the train says
he, had each clumb on to the train
and sot the brakes tighter than jack
screws. so as we couldn't start an
inch. We had a carload o supplies for
the tannery store, and while them two
| bears says he, was settin' the brakes
on the train t'other two broke into
the ear and rolled out two bar'ls o.
pork and juggled 'em off into the
woods. That red flag was Jack Bunn's
bandanper Handkerchief that he had
lost the day afore. and them bears had
jest held us up with 1t and highway
robbed us says he But this bear
o your'n,' says he to Cousin Dusen-
berry, averaged fair 10 middlin'.
~ was tore little with doubt as
to that fireman o mine, Aunt Sally
says Cousin Dusenberry only yester-
day, in spite o. what had see o. U.
II. and w. and @ N. bears. but a few
days later / knowed that / had
wrongod him. says he.
They was goin' down the Sap
bucket grade that day, which drops
somethin' like hundred feet 10 the
mile, and they was goin' fast. Half
way down a big bear come prancin'
out o the woods, right in plain sight
of Cousin Dusenberry. The bear
jumped onto the track and waited for
EN-, GRIMM Aunt Sally says Cousin
Dusenberry, enough to aggravate a
hog butcher says he Cousin Busen-
berry turned TO his fireman and he
says:
Hold your breath, Bill says he
I'm goin' to Intricate these rails with
bears grease. at a hundred miles an
hour says he.
Then he pulled his mime wide
open, and give her all the head there
was When they reached that bear
Cousin Dusenberry couldn't see the
trees, they were goin' so fast Then I
he hoilered for brakes, but before she ]
had slowed any what should loom up 4
before Cousin Dusenberry but the 1
bear, climbin' up from the cowketch- /
er and comm straight for the cab /
window along the runnin' board.
''Cousin Dusenberry didn't wait for |
the bear. lie made scramble for 1
the roGf O. the car behind the engine,
and the fireman followed him. The
bear come on, took possession o. the (
cab, shut off steam and brought the 4
train TO a stop half a mile further on |
Then he picked up Cousin Dusenber- 1
rvs dinner bucket and the fireman's /
both loaded to the lid with victuals. /
and, with a bucket in each paw.
stepped off o. the milne and marched
into the woods with 'em.
"@ThEt un.' says the fireman to 1
Cousin Dusenberry, I think is a
leetle more than the average o. fair
to middlin',' says he, and they
back into the cab and pulled
ahead.
But whether il was OF not, Cousir
Cronk's mind was made
up He see at once that railroadin' i
on the u. II. and w. and Q. N. was
way behind the times, and he put
the matter right to headquarters.
"-EIeref says he to 'em. This road
amt bcin' run rightl' says he.
"They wanted TO know why Il
wasn't.
"-Why.' says Cousin Dusenberrv.
runnin' your mines with COW ketch-
ers on 10 iem.' says he. when there
amt COW from one end O. the road
10 the ether! Bears interferin' with
traffic at every turn and twist in the I.
road, and not an mime on the limo
with a bearketcher on to it saws he. 4
"And what did they doP They
iidn't do nothin' by cats! They Jest
Kept right on guardin' themselves
lg'in COWS. when there want n COW
within 20 mile Of 'em. while bears run
he ROAD jest as they dod-blame
Dleasedl So Cousin Dusenberrv Quit
en-, and II that road ont yonder is up
70 the times and amt pig-headed and
bound 70 keep in a rut. it can hire
Cousin Duseuberry Cronk. but If it
$ pig-headed II can't get hint"
Badly, the landlord. wanted 10
NOW of Farmer Leonard whether he /
.ould remember another such a cold,
vet summer as we had had this year, I
md Farmer Leonard said no. he !
The man from Poehuck
racked every finger he had.
"And II the railroad out there is
ligheadeder than anything that was :
yer heerd on" said he. rising. 1T {
Won't be half as pig-headed. by catsi
5 some folks that is settin' right ;
erei" ]