The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-11-17

That It is hard for a station
agent to be a Christian. is illustra-
ted by the following, which pretty
well explains the situation. and
was written by a charitable obser-
YER. Tabor's manipulation of the
key. freight handler, ticket seller,
with other oncrous duties too
numerous to mention, is young,
has by no means lost his affabil-
ity, but il he pursues his present
avocation. unless he is a marvel,
his personality will change and
h S brown locks prematurely
whiten. 1t was this way:
few Of the faithful, namely the
editor, the hardware man and the
grocer, and n few more good fellows,
were joshing the station agent, who
was Ina fret on account OF a late train.
The agent Is a social cuss when of the
job, but a ten year grind for the rail-
road company has made him a little
OF along certain lines. He had sworn
of dallying with Queen Nicotina, too.
The fellows delighted in standing
by the ticket window and blowing the
smoke from their fragrant Havanas
into his face and making him think OF
happy days gone by. One fellow, who
was going TO n neighboring town, had
just inquired for the third time In If
teen minutes how much late the train
was, when the banker rolled In, leav-
ing the door open. 1t was only ten
below outside. He probably thought
the agent had q contract 10 heat the
town. The agent gritted a o. filling
out OF n Of his front teeth and said,
In q voice that smelled OF sulphur,
"Bill, were you raised In a tannery or
on a bUttleY Close that internal door,"
The banker winked at the gang ana
remarked: I'm just beginning TO
find out that our agent Is a cranky
cuss." Cranky cuss!" jeered tn c
agent, slyly inhaling a Whit Of tobac-
CO smoke that was waited 10 him by
the wind OF the closing door. What
are you kicking abouty You ought 10
have my Job for a while and you'd
think the agent had n right 10 be
cranky. Let me tell you a few facts
while that man from Il Is get.
ting ready TO ask how much the train
Is late. One day not long ago l had
lust finished my dinner and was lying
down 10 take a short lap. IL ~
1890 p. m. A farmer rushed up to the
door, knocked, and said he had a pack
age at the depot and would like TO get
II right away as he was going home at
once. / was a Buffalo and got on my
buds, came down and gave him his
package, adding 30 minutes TO my
day, which usually lasts from ! a.m.till
9p IN, with what time | can steal of
for feed and water. / saw that fellow
standing on the saloon cUrner at 4 p.
~. He was In a hurry, so l forgaye
him.
81 went TO lodge one night recently.
The worshipful high mucky OF the
Bozaroo Of the East Indies had just
reached the most impressive part Of
the ceremony when there were heard
seventeen distinct raps on the outer
door. The Chief High Ranger with
the bad eye and undulled ax answered
the summons and found Ia waiting q
man who inquired for me saying he
wanted TO get out some express mat
ter. The express matter In question
was a catalogue from Mont Ward &
Gomery. Nice, wasn't itY A nan
oughtn't TO got mad at a little thing
like that, ought he?
al made up my mind 20 70 70
church some time ago. IAN incredu-
lous smile appeared on the faces OF
his auditors.l The train, as usual In
such cases, was three-Quarters OF an
hour late was not In a very relI-
elous frame OF mind when / got TO the
church. The sermon was good, how
ever. and took most OF the acumony
out OF me. The benediction was just
being said when ths %janitor hauled
me out TO interview 3 man who
wanted 10 send q telegram which
could have been sent twelve hours
later with equal profit. Good thing,
wasn't t.. When I close up and 20 TO
the Iostofice ! return with a half.
dozen pouches OF mail under Une arm
and some express packages under the
other. ] bride sonic M to hold the
spring door open and fight shy Of thir-
teen ladies' trains, finally getting up
on the platform, when some fellow
will pop out OF a saloon on the corner,
yelling like a hired girl next TO a gas
olIne stove explosion, Say, fellow, l