Sharp County record., 1908-08-07
A VACATION AT Al
COUNTRY
RAILROAD STATION

DOdy lndt just missed tram anu So
had to wait six hours at a country
railroad station-as If that was about
the toughest thing that man could
be called upon to endure. But do you
know I'm thinking of spending my va
cation that way this summer. For If
there is anything like to do 1t is to
loaf, just loaf around a country rail.
road station where they have about
two passenger trains a day each way.
with freight coming along occasion.
ally.
Quiet and peace, with nobody about
and the wind ruffling idly the leaves on
the trees, and the empty glistening
rails stretching away mysterionsly.
Back from the platform down at one
end of the station there's boat all
Grated up, and a moving machine like
wise Grated, and few boxes and bar
rels, and | look them over with inter-
est, undsturhed by anybody and with
plenty Of time, and then | take look
into the freight and baggage room
and then into the empty waiting room,
platform in the shade, with my back
comfortably against the building and
loaf until it's pretty near time for the
1922
Along about ten the station agent
comes, and then pretty soon two or
three people that are going to take
that train or to meet people coming
on it, and when the people begin com,
Ing like that why, stop loafng, or
loaf in different way; loaf with the
interest of attention, and the coming
of the train is great event to me.
Il stand around and without intrud.
ing view the people, and they all inter-
est me, every one; and to be sure,
more people come; and one or two
wagons or carryalls arrive aud draw
up az the back Of the station and their
drivers come around to join the--yes.
the throng on the platform
And then away down the road far
out of sight beyond the curve, we hear
whistle--she's coming; and In a
minute you see the engine coming a,
humming with the 1922; with the
fireman keeping the bell going and
the train baggage man standing by the
door OF the baggage car and people on
the platforms of the cars. And the
M gm ttUn
or three or four, and half dozen peo,
pie get down, and their friends meet
them or the drivers that have come.
for them take possession Of them, and
the station platform is scene of live,
ly activity while the people in the cars
look on and glance up at the sign
board to SEQ what station this is.
And then the station platform grad,
ually thins out and everybody that's
going Is now aboard the train, and
there's nobody left standing between
the platform and the train except the
train conductor. He looks coolly
along the train and sees that every.
body Is OF and everybody's aboard,
and then without turning around he
raises his hand calmly as a signal to
the engineer, and the fireman pulls on
the bell rope, and the engineer pulls
the throttle and gives the big engine
just a breath OF steam and starts the
heavy train so easily and smoothly
that you scarcely realize II has started
until you see It moving, and the con.
ductor steps coolly up on the front
platform of the forward passenger car
and the train Is Off on Its way,
"Then the station agent drags In
those trunks that the train has left.
and Ave minutes later the last Of the
people about the station have dlsap.
peared and once more YOU have tho
station all to yourself
But here! Here's a whistle! What
does that mean7 And looking down
the line. you see the thick, black
smoke Of a coming engine and you
discover that It's freight train And
maybe this IL q single track road and
this a passing station, and then you
see that ponderous locomotive coming,
dragging its endless line of cars, and
turn out here on the siding
And then IN due time tho next pas
eengcr train comes along and we have
that scene on the platform repeated,
and then the freight getG the right OF
way and soon, with everything around
now oil to itself It pulls out
And then YOU settle down on tho
station platform again with nll tho
world to yourself, responsible 10 no.
body and with absolutely nothing to
bother you, and steep yourself In
peace and quiet, and II you care TO
look no high You can zee there your
friends the white clouds loanng by,
and then looking down again and
across the fields bright In the sunlight,
YOU hear the breeze futlllng the trees
and you hear the birds and maybe In
sheer coDtentment Of spirit and com.
plote bodily rcstfulness your head
drops and
when you wake up and look around
TO see II anything new has happened