Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-06-14
''Chirps'' ~
from the
Democrats Pen

flee window the other day and asked
the high-muck- saw peeping
through the bars, for two tickets to
Norfolk, Va. He looked at me as if
I had just arrived-exactly from what
point of the compass he didn't know.
Evidently, he thought I might be a
fugitive from some lunatic asylum,
and the keepers were close on to my
heels.
He looked me over for a second
or two and then broke out with:
"You are already in Norfolk, where
do you want to go?"
"Well! brother, since you mentioned
it, blest if I don't believe you're right;
but I came down to this depot in a
car driven by friend of mine, and
he had to drive round and round so
many times before he could find a
place to park that sorta got woozy.
Then this war has gotten so deep I'M
der my skin that Pm all turned inside
out, upside down, hind part before,
topsy-turvy, and altogether so ire
sponsible, that I don't know whether
I'm comm or goin'. Now, could
you
"Say, young Teller, ("young" mind
you) you're holding up this line. If
you can't tell me where your destina-
ton is, I can't furnish you a ticket.
You'd better move along"
Cali right, mister" said, "I'll drop
down to the end of the line, and think
things over. Maybe, by the time I
get up to this window, shall have
returned to consciousness and will be
able to locate myself and my destina-
ton"
I stepped into the rear and slowly
drew near the window again.
Here 1 am once more, Mr.. Ticket
man. Blest if I haven't forgotten the
name Of the place want to reach.
Now, where would you advise me to
go, if / wanted to get on the other
side?"
"To hell" came the quick and Gag
er response.
"Well," I replied, II didn't know
your steamers made that port. I
thought the water 'twixt me and home
was the Chesapeake bay, and not the
river Styx. Your advice seems to in
dictate you're booster for the place
you name. Do you expect to make
that your home, when you get ready
to settle down-into hole about 5
feet deep? Il"
"Say, Mister, Il had grown up
some since our first interview, you'll
notice. haven't any time to waste on
your crazy gable. You're in the
way again; get out of the Incl"
Well, there was nothing to do but
take my place at the foot Of the class,
which foot 1 proceeded to locate and
mosey along until once more came
in front of that man behind the bars.
When he saw me a third time, he
said something I didn't quite catch,
but it sounded like -
"Well, I'll be damned!"
Hold on, brother" I broke in, ~
think I've freed the place I'm headed
for. You see, the boat starts from
here, goes over there, comes back
here, goes over there again, comes
back here, and, for all I know, has
been doing that always in the past,
is doing that now, and will continue
to do it in the future; carrying all
sorts of people regardless of race,
color, or previous condition or servi-
tude. That's where want to go, can
you help me out now, there's nobody
behind me, and if you don't talk quick
I'm going to stay on this side indef-
initely?"
thought 1 saw an expression of
sympathy spread over his counte-
nance for one so dumb, as he asked:
EDO you want to go to Old Point 2"
"No," I said, cts some kind of a
point of land, but I don't know
whether it's old or young, and it goes
by some other name"
Maybe it's Cape Charles" he VEN
tured.
"By hockey! you've struck her.
That's the boy. You know, I could
think of every other name I ever
heard of except Charley. thank you
heartily and if you'll pass out two of
those pasteboards, I'll get on my way
before that gang plank is removed.
. And, Mister, let me give you little
parting advice: If you should ever
happen to have another poor devil
come up to your window, suffering
from temporary mental alteration,
you be careful to use language that is