The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-11-05
ia VACATION At 4
COUNTRY
RAILROAD STATION

the cheerful Mr.. Philkintross, "of some.
body that just missed train and SO
had to wait six hours at 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 IL
there is anything l 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 mysteriously.
Back from the platform down at one
end of the station there's boat all
Grated up, and moving machine like
wise Grated, and few boxes and bar
rels, and | look them over with inter
est, undisturbed by anybody and with
plenty of time. and then take look
into the freight and baggage room
and then into the empty waiting room.
and then | settle down on the station
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, l stop loafing, 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 at 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
a whistle-she's coming; and in q
minute you see the engine coming q
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
baggage man drops of trunk or two
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 see 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 off and everybody's aboard.
and then without turning around he
raises his hand calmly as signal to
the engineer, and the fireman pulls on
the bell rope. and The engineer pulls
the throttle and gives the big engine
Just breath of steam and starts the
heavy train so easily and smoothly
that you scarcely realize it 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 five minutes later the last of the
people about the station have disap-
peared and once more you have the
station all 10 yourself
But here! Here's a whistle, What
does that mean? 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 is single track road and
this passing station. and then you
see that ponderous locomotive coming,
dragging its endless line of cars. and
turn out here OF the siding
And then in due time the next pas
senger train comes along and we have
that scene on the platform repeated,
and then the freight gets the right of
way and soon, with everything around
now all to itself, it pulls out
And then you settle down On the
station platform again with all the
worly to yourself responsible to no
body and with absolutely nothing to
bother you, and steep yourself in
peace and quiet, and If you care to
| lCok so high you can see there yoxr
friends the white clouds loafng by.
and then looking down again and
across the fields bright in the sunlight.
you hear the breeze ruffling the trees
and you hear the birds and maybe in
sheer contentment of spirit and com
plete bodily restfuness your head
drops and
When you wake up and look around
to see if anything new has happened
in the world since you dropped off you