Year: 1872

TO catch the familiar salute lToul GHo cH-
gine. You see 1 used to time my work
more by the trains than by the clock, for
though five o'clock was our tea hour, there
was not much use in getting it ready,
when Joe might be fifty miles up the
road Gin the ditch" as he used to say
when he went off the track.


So used to put on the tea-kettle when
the up train went past at four o'clock,
then when Joe began to ring, coming into
the yard, | knew it Was time to set the
table. AS | said, tea was ready, and the
biscuits were spelling; so [ vibrated be-
tween the oven and the window which
looked toward the engine house, to catch
the first glimpse of Joe's blue overalls and
glazed cap.


I knew as well as I wanted to know
that he was chatting comfortably away
with Dick or Tom, about the new style oi
smoke stacks, or the merits of pump in
jectOrs. That was always his way; once
get him started on the subject of steam,
and he never knew when to &C ne home.
But at last he came swinging up the track,
stepping from tie to tie with the long
stride and slight stoop, usually as charac,
teristic of railroad man as dinner-pail
and lantern.


He came in, set down his pail, and





to him pair of hands which would have
done honor to a coal HEAVIER, and which
effectually frightened the child away.


F'What in the world made you so late,
Joe?" said I, transferring the biscuit to
the table, and pouring the boiling wstet
upon the tea in the tin teapot.
"a hot Journal" said Joe, laconically,
turning to the sink.


/ was about as wise as before, but / was
used to hearing about broken rocket arms
and crankpins, slipped eccentrics, or
valve stems and throtties that needed
packing, though couldn't have told one
from the other if I had seen them.


"Well, hurry up; your supper is spoil
ing now, waiting; and if we are going to
mothers tonight, we must make haste; .
and hustled about, putting Eddie up in
his high chair, and pouring out the tea.


'I'll risk the supper" said Joe. turning
round from the sink and holding out his
arm, that might unbutton his wristband,
a thing he always forgot to do eve
can't go o-night, as | see," he went on
in his moderate way, holding up the
other wrist.


That aods the climax. sat down in a
chair and stared at him while he went
on wiping his hands and brushing his
hair and never said word when he
gave the towel toss on the nail, instead
of hanging it up properly by the loop.


Not go to mothers when I had been
waiting until tonight to install Eddie in
his first knickerbockers and belted blouse,
and had gored my black alpaca dress,
trimming the remnants into ruffles to trim
the skirt, and had converted my plaid
bonnet-strings into stylish bow TO wear
with it. Joe drew up chair to the
table, buttered biscuit, stirred his tea,
and proceeded to explain


"YOu see, Matte, Henderson's wife is
sick, and [ promised l would go up for
him tonight. We are rather short of
spare engineers since Elliott got hurt and
Marshal went on to the branch. He got
leave to stay down if any one would go
up for him, so | said | would go, just fo1
- accommodation sake" and Joe passed
his cup to be replenished.


That was a little too much to be borne
patiently. If it had been an extra
should have resigned myself to the inev-
liable, and wasted few regrets upon it.
But to think he could disappoint me to
accommodate Jack Henderson, who laid
off Oftener than any other man on the
line, and whose wife, for every little all
ment, real or fancied, must needs keep
him at home to pet and codGle her. And
going up for Henderson involved leaving
me alone all night and doubling the
road"


settled back in my chair, disappointed
and provoked. Little Eddie began to
perceive that we were not going to grand
mas, and set UP a childish wall, which L
silenced with sharp, stern words, causing
Joe to look up with astonishment.


replied to his unspOken accusation by





learn he could not have everything he
wanted. Joe did not answer, but finish
ed his supper in silence, pushed back his
chair, and began to make ready for his
trip.


did not offer, as usual, to help him,
but he did not appear to mind. He whis-
tied softly to himself, while he changed
the boots he had worn all day for an
easier pair, hunted up a coat from the
depths of closet, found clean collar
and handkerchief, and supplied his vest
pocket with matches enough to create q
respectable confagration.


Then he came and stood by the stove
while he filled his pipe chow did wish
he would leave off smoking), and verify
believe it Just dawned upon the man, as
his new position gave him view of my
face, that was taking my disappoint-
ment to heart, and indulging in a fit of
the sulks.


eve can go to mothers tomorrow night
perhaps; there is time enough. She will
stay several weeks, l presume, and you
will see enough of her before she goes.
By this time he had succeeded in max
ing his pipe draw to his satisfaction, and
shOuldering his coat, was ready for q
start He kissed Eddie, and bent his lips
to my face as usual. | began to clear ur
the supper table in very dignifled fash
ion. - @s Fs


Joe did not appear to notice, and l lei
him depart, hardly vouchsafing reply te
the good-by, without which he never let
the house. / did not run out to the
gate, as did sometimes, to see what
weather he was going to have for his trip
or to watch him by the moonlight on his
way to the engine house.


But ratified the dishes and shook out
the table cloth in an angry mood that die
not soften as | proceeded to undress
Eddie, and put him to bed. I did not
linger as usual over the task, nor yield tC
his entreaties to be cuddled for few
down. but hurried him into his crib. Will
no fond words to send him happily to hi.
childish slumbers.


Joe's train went whizzing byiust then
The sound of the wheels, and the knowl
edge that.he was really gone, increase,
INV bitter mood, and / sat down to m
sewing-that never ending patchin
which wives of mechanics and mother
of slnallchildren know all about-feelin
as if were about the most ill.used VIC
Il ~Nrl1 a