THE ROANOKE NEWS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1891. OTHER DAYS. 'I'ra dreaming of days, of other days Of a tace that's gone forever; 3 feel the touch of a Boft, white hand That will come again to me never. "I'm dreaming of days, of other days, Brown eyes that are closed forever And whistling sighs of the wind us it dies, Moans mournfully, "never! ah, never!" "I'm dreaming of days, of other days; Of a voice that's hushed forever, And the rustling leaves a weird strain weaves That murmers again to me "Never!" - 4'Dreani on, poor heart, of other days; For the wail of the ceaseless "never" "When the lonely life gives up the strife, Shall be changed to a glad roitKVER." THE SUBSTITUTE. A LESSON THAT AN ARBITRARY SU PERINTENDENT NEVER FORGOT. In the railway depot of a busy, bust ling town io the southern part of Ohio a locomotive stood panting and snorting as if impatient to speed away on its journey. The fireman was giving his last touch to the brightly polished brass work, while the engineer and the district superinten dent stood upon the platform beside the eab. Another train had just diawn into the station and its passengers were emerging from the cars and hurrying away. Somp nf them overheard a portion, of the conversation that was taking place between the two men as they passed, and one, a middle-aged, well-dressed individ ual, seemed greatly impressed with the few words that fell upon bis ear, for he walked only a short distance before he paused, as if desirous of hearing more. "There is no use in talking, Baiter, you have got to make the run to-night," the listener beard the superintendent My in a voice that was by no means pleasant. "It makes no difference to me or to the stockholders of this road what trouble you may have at home. Your place is on this engine, and there you must remain or else quit the service of the company al together." "But, sir," replied the driver, in pleading tone, "do you understand, my wife is very ill perhaps dying and mere is no one wh n her but our two little children and a kind neighbor, who can not spend the whole night by her side." "Do I not tell you there is no one about at the present time whom I can put in your place?" returned the official. "There is Sturgis," suggested the other, "He is here in the depot at this moment." "What that miserable inebriate? He never'll run a train another mile on this road." "But, sir, he has not drank a drop for two months." . "That is neither here nor there. II is not quahhed to take your place, not even for a trip." "It is hard, very hard," murmured the engineer as he turned away, and was about to mount to his seat in the cab when the stianger, who bad loitered near, stepped up saying: "I beg your pardon, gentlemen. Did I not hear you say that you wanted to secure the services of an engineer?" "Well, what if we do?'' brusquely asked the superintendent, looking at the man in some astonishment. "Then I should like to offer myself if it would be any accomodation. I am an old railroad man, and an experienced engine driver." "But I do not know you," again return ed the official. "It would be too much risk to trust this train in the hands of an utter stranger." "I have papers that will convince you t am competent," and the applicant with drew from the inner breast pocket of his coat a leathern wallet, and took therefrom a document, which, however, was well covered with age, and handed it to the superintendent. "This has reference to yourself, I pre sume," said the official, glancing over it. "But it bears a somewhat antiquated date." "Very true,aBd for that reason I value it highly. But if I was a good man then I am doubly so now, for I have had all those years of experience." "You do not know the road." "Oh, yes, I do. Every foot of it" "Well, if you can convince me that you are capable of taking charge of the locomotive I will let Baxter' lay off this trip," was the reluctant answer. "Then the only way that I see to arrange the matter is for you and your engineer to take a ride in the cab as far as L . That is fifteen miles, am' there you can meet the accommodation returning here,, I think that in that short run I can prove to you that I understand the business." Just at that instant the two-minute bell struck. "Well, well get aboard, and we'll see what you can do," and the three men climed into the cab. "You must lend me your overalls and jumper," said the stranger to the engineer, "for I do not care to spoil a good suit of clothes." "Oh, certainly," replied Baxter, who up to this time bad been so astonished that be had not uttered a word. After drawing the clothes on, the new engineer grasped the throttle with his left hand, thiust his head out of the window and said : "Now we arc ready." Then came the sigDal to start, and the next instant the complicated machinery was set in motion, but so gentle was the start made that scarcely a person on the train realized that they were under way until the cars had drawn out of the depot. Gradually the speed was increased until they were running upon their regular time. The superintendent could not refrain from casting several glances of approval at Baxter as he noticed how deftly the stranger handled his "iron horse." As they drew near the Jnnction a short dis tance from L , the regular engineer reached for the whistle cord to sound the usual blast, but he found the hand of the substitute there before him, who said to him with a kindly smile: "You see I know the road." "Truly yon do," replied the superinten dent, "and although I am taking great chances I think I will let you go on with the train while Baxter and I will return by the accomodation." As Baxter was about to step out of the cab when the engine stopped at L , he grasped the band of the stranger, and said with deep feeling in his voice: "Oh. sir, yon havedone me agreat favor to-night, and rest assured if it ever lies in my power I shall repay it." "Don't mention it," was the hearty re joinder. "Hurry home to your wie, and don't worry about the train; everything will be all right." Accordingly the superintendent and Bax ter returned to their homes on the way train; but the former felt by no means easy in his own mind and remained iu his office until midnight; when he received a dis patch from the end of the line saying that train No. 68 had arrived all right and on time. As the official seated himself at his desk the following morning his eyes rested upon n note from the president of the entire 8ys tern, stating that be would arrive on the 2:15 train and wished to see him on im portant business. The hands on the clock in the snperin tendent's office were renting at a quarter past that hour when Baxter entered. Well," began the official, as he reeogniz' ed his caller, "are yon going to shirk another trip to-night." "No," sir; my wife is much easier and I shall be at my post. I cume up to thank you for letting me off last night." "Ob, it's turned out all right, I'm lhank ful to say. Bnt " He would have gone further had not the door opened and two gentlemen entered One was the president, who, stepping quick ly forward, said, in a cheery voice: "Ah, good afternoon, Mr. Curtis; allow me to introduce Mr. Donaldson, the gentle man whom the directors have elected to supersede me in office." As the superintendent arose from his chair to acknowledge the introduction, he almost fainted with surprise, for there before him stood the substitute who, the night before, had run the engine in place of the regular driver. "Why why is it possible?" he stam mered. "Yes, indeed, Mr. Curtis," replied the new president. "I am the one who drew on the overalls last night for the first time in ten years, but you see I had nut forgotten how to run the machine. overheard your conversation with this poor man here," turning to Baxter. "I pitied him in his dilemma and resolved to assist him. If you had refused to a low me to act as his substitute I should have made known my identity then and there, and requested you even to let the fireman take his place, rather than to keep the faithful engineer away from the bedside of his wife. "And you, sir, continued the kind hearted railroad magnate to Baxter, "may lay off for a few days. We will find some oue to take Jour place uuiii your wife is recovered. And, Mr. Cur tis, there is one thing I should suggest before we proceed to other business, and that is, from this out treat your men kindly." This was a lesson that the arbitrary superintendent never forgot. Boston Globe. It is hard to get peoplo Io look them selves squarely in the face. People who never look np are not much account it lifting up. Anybody can feel religious when they get in a tight place. Maii is not lost by doing wrong, but by being wrong. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.. 1891. HMR Y & AN ELEGANT LINE OF DRESS GOODS AND TRIMMINGS, clothing,;dress and neglige shirts, shoes for men. boys and ladies, all the best makes, hardware, farming implements GROCERIES OF ALL KINDS. .Coffins and Metallic Cases, at low prices. Call and examine our stock. EMRY & PIERCE. TOWN LOTS TOWN LOTS -:0: SPLENDID TO TFN LOTS FOR SALE IN THE TO H'N OF WELDON, AT LOW PRIDES, Oil fEJSOllJBLE JTfS -o ALSO o- FINE FARMING LAND FROM 1 TO -2 MILES FEOM WE TERMS TO SUIT PURCHASER. TERMS TO SUIT PURCHASER. TERMS TO SUIT PURCHASER. This is a fine opportunity to purchase value in two or three years. Apply by letter or in person to Mr. J. T. Gooch will take pleasure ia wishing to see them. 1891. FIERCE. , n. c. FOR SALE I FOE, SALE I DON, K C. land where it will be certain to double in T. N. HILL. ' HALIFAX, N. C. showing the loti and lands to any v tug 1 NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. & SUMMER NEW STOCK Dress Goods -- Full line Bay State and Zeigler's Fine Shoes. For Men, Boys and Children. CLOTHING And GENERAL MERCHANDISE of every description. METALLIC AND WOODEN COOKING STOVES, Etc., Etc. g A lot of Clothing in odds and ends at less than cost. P. I. SniflBUCK Dro.f AGENTS. IVCARQ OF VARIED I LttflO ul SUCCESSFUL InthoTJaootCtZM- we Alonoown, for all DIs- Who haro woftk or(7,'-( DtVELOPEQ. or uislascuh I HUME owing, wuoaresuuer- ing iromtmioiisonauwu and anyExc era, or of rORM-llAITCDtlMintFX ffuarnntea to if titer can I mrthod and nr tTOn.o. our aXXorJ a CCUIM iwl Don't brood over your condition, nor rive im In !! r 1 1 Thm-snni'g of tho Worst Cans to:vi yiuhiwS to oi:.- jfi TREAlMcNT, Mrct fortn In our y;ONVFf)fUl COOK, v lild; vet send scaled, post iNiid.7?f, f"r a limited limn. GC1IT10 tv i Uemcmber.noonoclscliustlje i: ftlHi.Js.nppliiiuct'S unil bxiH-r'i- L encethatwe employ, and we diiim tlio uniormr or ww I fieas. Em UtoiCAL Ca 64 Niagara St., Buf.-alo. n. .'. E 2,000 References. Nama this paper when yen write. dec 11 1 j THE PLACE TO GET DftUQS and pEDICIflES AT THE LOWEST PRICES, DR. A. It. ZOLLICOFFER'S WEST SIDE WASHINGTON AVE, OPPOSITE R.. sHEDv W E L D O N. N. C. STOCK KEPT COMPLETE BV FREQUENT ARRIVALS. . PRESCRIPTION DEPARTMENT FILLED WITH THE BEST SELECTED MATERIAL.- PRESCRIPTIONS COMPOUNDED AT ALL HOURS WITH GREAT CAKE, PERFUMERY. STATIONERY, FANCY BOAPS, BRUSHES, FANCY ARTICLES, TOBACCO AND CIGARS ' "KlMVrRtbal haartT wetooiMaJwayi twain yen at ZOLLICOFFER'S. n II COMPLETE. Newest Shades. BURIAL CASES EXPERIENCE) in nib j irtA,''Uuii , and Control, ordora ofH 9 0 tiu.n,l 1 Who rciFffwM.'n.'ind m. I 1 ! Tr.thiMCorn ol their C ftii.'.iovn mm tlio cou.! --.-., flruint of lriono1 nud I rcrmpnnli:.?, Jci.la utui nil ..niv-Ukl jfi AOCTutr .-' i : fi I -i j& Pifnnc- .:il,J.

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view