Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-26

WHICH III tnuC INr uay came only TO tn0
latitude OF his trouscr pocket, had nov
mounted six inches above his own.
That Is all I a say here or that
branch Of my subject. was leaving
to seek my fortune In the big city.
Uncle Eb was Of for n holiday and to
see Hope and bring her home for a
short visit. I remember with what
sadness I looked back fhat morning at
mother and father rs they stood by
the gate slowly waving their %handker-
chiefs. Our home Mt last was empticd
OF Its young, and even as they looked
the shadow of old age must have fallen
suddenly before them. I knew how
they would 20 back into that lonely
room and how, while the clock went
on with It's ticking, Elizabeth would
sit down and cover her face for n mo.
mcnt. while David would make haste
to take up his chores.
We sat in silence n long time after
the train was Off, a mighty sadness
holding our tongues. Uncle Eb, who
had never ridden a long journey on the
cars before, had put on his grand suit
Of b%roadcloth. The day was hot and
dusty, and before we had gone far he
was sadly soiled. But a suit never
gave him any worry once IL was on.
He sat calmly, holding his knee in his
hands and looking out of the open win.
dow, n squint in his eyes that stood
scenery.
"Wha do you think Of this country"
I inquired.
Looks purity fair" said he as he
brushed his face with his handkerchief
and coughcd to clear his throat of the
dust. "but faint quite so pleasant to
the taste as some other parts o. the
st. Lawrence all through. but jefferson
Is a leetle gritty"
He put down the window as he
spoke.
"A lectlc tobaccer III improve it
some" he added as his hand went
down for the old silver box. 1.-THE way
these cars dew rip along! Consumed
II it amt fiyin'! Kind O. makes me
feel like a bird"
The railroad was then not the famil-
lar thing it Is now in the north coun-
try. The bull in the fields had not yet
come to an understanding of its rights
and was frequently tempted into argu-
ment with n locomotive. Bill Fountain,
who came out Of 4 back township, one
day had v e tied his faithful hound
to the rear platform.
Our train came to a long stop for
wood and water near midday, and
then we opened the lunch basket that
mother had given us.
"Neighbor," said a solemn faced
man who sat in front Of us. do you
think the cars are ag'in the Bible? D.
you think II Christian orter ride on
'em?"
"Sartin," said Uncle Eb. LESS the
c~onstable's after him-then I think he
orter be on a balky boss"
"Wife an l hes talked it ovcr n good
DEAL said the man. Some says it's
ag'in the Bible. The minister at
breaches over n our n~eighborhood
says if God had wanted men t fly he'd
gin EN- wings"
"S'pose If he'd ever wanted m t
skate he'd he'd 'em born with skates
on" said Uncle Eli.
Dunno" said the man. 1T behooves
us all to be careful. The Bible says,
GO not after new things"
my friend" said Uncle Eb between
bites Of q d%oughnut. II don care what
I ride in so long as faint a hearse. I
xvor% crOnk6tnt soAso oo~PknI1n 49,
purity middlin' spry. TIN do US good
up here t. git jerked q few hundred
miles an back ev'ry leetle while. Keep
our t'ints timber. Wen live longer fer
1t. an thetll please God sure, cuz l
don't think he's hankerin' fer our sOcie-
tv, not a bit. Don make no difference t
him whuther we ride n n spring wag-
on er on the cars SO longs we're right
side up an movin'. We need more
steam. We're too slow. Kind O. think
a leetle more steam in our religion
wouldn't hurt US u bit. It's purity fur
behind"
We got to Albany In the evening Just
In time for the night boat. Uncle Eth
a n sight in his dusty b%roadcloth
when we got of the cars. and I know
my appearance could not have been
prepossessing. Once we were aboard
the boat and had busted our clothes
and bathed u hands and faces we
were in better spirits.
"Consarn it," said Uncle Eb as we
left the wash room, les have a dun
good supper. I'll stan treat"
Comes a leetle bit high he said as
he paid the bill, but l don care IL 1t
does. Fore we left l says t. myself:
Uncle Eb,' says !, you go right in fer
a good time an don ye count the pen
MES. Everybody's a right t be reck-
less once In s%eventy-fve year"
We went to u stateroom a little
after 0. l remember the berths had
not been made up, and, removing our
boots and coats. we lay down upon the
bare mattresses. Even then | had a
lurking fear that we might be violating
some rule Of steamboat etiquette.
When ! went to New York before !
had dozed all night In the big cabin
A dim light came through the shut
tered door that opened upon the dining
saloon. where the rattle Of dishes for d
time put away the possibility Of sleep.
IN be awful glad t see Hope" said
Uncle Eb as he lay gaping.
"Guess I'll be happier to see her thar