The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-07-23
TWO FRIENDLY TRAINS


For almost a quarter Of century
we have labored in the big, ugly |
brick block by the railroad track, and /
in that time the trains seemed to be- |
come personal friends. There was
only one little narrow-gauge train
each way a day when we came, but
there were many people on them and
they generally came on time. Then
the rails were put further apart and
more numerous and bigger trains
came by. There is quite lot of trains
now, but we note nearly every one
that passes in the twenty-four hours.
No. 10 starts the day, as it comes
banging in from Leesburg at $40.
It's genuine alarm clock, for the
Star Office is the writer's home as we'll
as his work place, and when he hears
No. los fiat wheels doing a cakewalk
under his window he knows it's time
to separate himself from his downy
couch and trot out in the composing
room and light the gas under the
linotype machine, and then go back to
roost for another hours sleep.
At 11:15 a. m. No. 141 from Gaines
vile and Palatka backs in, and the
friendly boys aboard blow their air
whistle as they near the Fort King
crossing, to warn the people and to
tell the Star the Gainesville Sun is
shining for it aboard their train.
At 1884 p. m. No. 40 comes stalk
ing majestically in from st. Peters
burg, bringing the Tampa Tribune
and giving the writer warning he had
better hustle lively for his lunch and
to think up the scareheads for the
first page.
At 2:37 p. m. No. 39's brass-rimmed
stack suddenly shows up at the win
dow opposite the editors table and
gives notice that the last and busiest
hour of the day is on, and everybody
must hustle or the paper will be late.
At p. m. No. lao slips modestly
by northward, giving gentle tap or
two on the bell as notice that the train
crew would like to have a paper to
read on their way to Gainesville. They
seldom miss it.
At sos p. m. No. 9 comes scurrying
in from Jacksonville, on its way to
Leesburg, bringing the people home
and warning the editor man that it's
| l. 10 CT O.
around the street corners and go to
Ibis desk.
/ For many years we have prevented
Insomnia by the simple rule of never
going to bed until we are too tired to
stay awake any longer. And we have
wished that 81 and 38 came along at
1:21 a. m. instead of an hour later
for if they had they would have made
an excellent curfew.
AS it is, they often caught us at oul
table, and we have made it rule to
always go to roost when they come
along, whether we are sleepy or not.
When they find US asleep, it's 6
great satisfaction to wake up anc
realize we have over three hours Of
solid comfort ahead before we have
to wake up again.
No. 81 always had to work so hare
pulling his long line of coaches anc
sleepers up the grade from the cross
ing that it seemed to do him worlC
of good to stand outside our window
and pant a few minutes, while thu
train crew refreshed themselves will
coffee and sandwiches at the lunch
counter.
No. 38, arriving from the south
walked in very quietly, but he Away
cast a cyclopean eye thru the soutl
window of our boudoir. There is ;
!. much priced picture on the northern
wall of our room, and we have no
: ton that SO liked to see it, for h
never failed to take a look at it as h
: came along.
We have nearly always ridden Of
: to Jacksonville. 1t was very conven
: lent to work until SO came along, an
!. step aboard almost at the Office door
and lie down and sleep while beini
: carried swiftly to the big town b
the st. Johns. And after paddin
around in that village all day, it al
: ways seemed good to find the familia
coaches in the long trainshed, an
coax the porter into giving us doubl
lseat, and stretching out thereon t
drowsily feel the miles sliding unde
us until the fagman called the nam
;. of our little. old town.
Sunnyjim is the only Coast Lin
train we do not note. He is a pussy
= footed old son of gun and since h
: has become an every other daily W
have lost interest in him somehow,
!. he goes and comes unseen and VI
heard.
We always like to find Coast Liz
train when we are away from Ocala-
they all seem like part of home. "
# would miss any of them, but we al
II going to miss 81 and 38 most ar
) won't feel entirely contented until "
!" wake up some night to hear the TO
d mer painting under our window
r. see the others headlight shining
le our boudoir wall.