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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1885-5-22, Page 3MAO 22. 11186, THE BRUSSELS POST Vo dim A. STATIONMASTER'S 1TO11Y. Yes, it's n quiet station, but it snits mo well enough 1 want o bit of the smooth now, for I've had my share u'rongh. 'This berth that the eempauy gave me, they gave .10 Ille work wait light ; I never was Int for the signals after 000aty- fel night. I :1liven in the box from a yonlun', and I never felt the strain Of the lives at my rivht bawd's mercy in every passing 10011). One (lay there WW1 something happened, and it (made niy ile'1'veo go queer, And it's an through that as y011 (111(1 1110 the stationmaster here, I tons of at the box down yonder --that's where are turn the mails, .1111 sin Hats, nod fast esp.%H00(1, 011 to the centre halo ; This side's for the other traffic—the luggage and local slows. It's hard work at Christmas, when double the traffic grows, 1've 1(0011 down in the box yonder nigh six. teen hour's a day, 'Till my oyes grew dint and heavy, and my thoughts went 011 astray : But I've worked the points half sleeping— and once I slept outright, Till the roar of the Limited woke ole, and I nearly died of fright, Then I thought of tho lives in peoi1, and what might have been their fate ; Had I sprung to the points that evening a tenth of a tick too late And a cold and ghastly shiver ran ieely through my frame As I fancied the publie clamor, the trial, and bitter shone. I could sou the bloody wreckage—I mould see the Wrangled slain— And tiro picture was seared forever, blood - red on my heated brain. That moment my nerve was shattered, for I couldn't shut out the thought Of the lives I hekl in my keeping, and the rain that might be wrought. That night hi our little cottage, as I kissed our sleeping child, lily wife looked up from her sowing, and told me, as she smiled, That Johnny had rade his;miud up—he'll be a pointsman too, "IIe says when he's big like daddy, he'll work in the box with yon." I frowned. for lay heart was heavy, and my wife she saw the look ; Why, bless yen, nay little Alice could read me like a book. I'd to tell her of what had (happened, and I said that I must leave, For to ponitalman'8 arm atu't trusty when terror lurks in his sleeve. But she cheered me up in a minute, and that night, ore WO went to sleep, She made mo give her a promise, which I vowed that I'd always koop— It was ever to do my duty. "1)0 that, and then, come what will, You'll have 110 worry," says Alice, "if things go well or 111. There's something that always tells us the thing that we ought to do"— My wife was a bit religious, and in with the chapel crew ; But I know she was talking r0n0on, and I said to myself says I, "I won't give in like up coward—its a scare that'll soon go by," Now the very 110x4 day the misses had to go to the market town ; She'd the Christmas things to see to, and she wanted to buy a gown. She'd gone for a 0po11, for the "party', didn't come book till eight, And 1 knew rn a Christmas Eve, too, the trains would be extra lute. So she settled to leave 1110 Johnny, and then she could turn the key — For she had some parcels to carry, and the boy would be safe with me. Re woo five was our little Johnny, and quiet, and nice, and good— lie was nma to go with daddy, and I'd often promised lie should, 1t was noon when the mi0su0 started—her train went by my box; She could see, ns she passed my window, her darling's curly looks. I lifted him up to mammy, and she kissed his little baud, Then Bat like a mouse in the oornar and thought it was fairyland. But somehow 1 fell a -thinking of a scene that would not fade, Of how I had slept on duty until I grew afraid; For the thought would weigh mien me, one day I might come to ho In a folnn's Dell for tbo slaughter of those 1 had doomed to die. The fl1 that had come upon me, like a hide- ous nightmare seemed, Till I rubbed nay eyes and started lilco a sleeper who has dreamed. For n time tho box had va111011ed—I'd work- ed like a mere machine -- Aly mind had been on the wander, and I'd neither heard nor seen., With restart. I thought of Jolinly, and I turned the boy to Beek ; Then I uttered a groan of anguish, for my lips refused to speak ; Thorn had flashed snob a scone of horror, swift on my startled sight, That it curdled my blood 111 terror and sent any red lips white. It was all in olio awful moment—I saw that the boy 101114 1081 lIe had gone for a toy, I fancied, some ahold from it train hall tossed ; Tho local was easing slowly to stop at the station hero, And the Limited Mail was coming, and, I had the line to clear, i could hear the roar of the engine, I °Cold almost feel its breath, And right of the centre metals otood my boy in tho jaws of death ; 011 cane the fierce 11011(1, ,tearing straight for the carttr0 line, And the hand that roust wreck or 08,08 It, 0 merciful Plod, was mine, 'Twos a hundred lives or 1011nuy's, 'l'sva8 that 1 what could I coo ? lJp to' Cod's Dar that momenta wild fierce 0010100 t1o49-- "Vlhat shall I do, 0 Reason 1" and sudden 81111.lould and elonr 00 the wind 0111110 the wards, "Yon)• duty," borne to my listening ear, '].'hen I set 111y teeth, and my breathing was fierce and Hhurt and quick. "My boy 1" I cried, but he heard not ; and then I wont blind and sick ; The bot black sund(e of the engine carne with a rush before, I turned tbo mail to Ow centre, nod by it flew With a rear, Tnen 1 Hun k ou ray knees in ho or, mud 11201 my ashen face -- 1 had given my child to henccu ; his life 10118 it hundreds grltee. Ilud I held my hand a numl1ent I had hurl- od tine flying mail 1'11 shelter the rrPeping local that slued ea fire other rail ! Where -isnmy b>y, lily darling? 131y boy: let mo hide any oyes. Row can T look-- his father --on that which there mangled lice ? That video 1-0 mcroifltl heaven 1 -'tis the ehild'0, amnia calls my 1101110 ! I hear, but I commit too him, for my eyes aro tilled with flame. 110new no more Haat night, sir, for I fell, as I heard the boy; Tho place reeled round, and I fainted -- swooned with the sadden joy. But I heard on the Christmas morning, when I woke in my own wares bud, With Alice'sarm8 around me, uud it strange wild dream in my head, That she'd come by the early local, being anxious about the lad, And had seen him there on the metals, and the sight nigh drove her mad-- Shlo had seen hint just as the engine of the Limited closed my view, And she leapt on the lino and solved 111111 just as the mail drilled through. She was buck in the train in 0second, and both were safe and sound— Tho moment they slopped at the station she ran hero, and I was found With my eyes like tt madman's glaring, 0110 my face a ghastly white ; I heard the boy, and I fainted, and I hadn't my wits that night, Who told mo to do my duty? What voice was that on the wind ? Was It fancy that brought it tolme? or were there God's lips bohind If I hadn't done my duty had I;ventured to disobey— My bonnie boy and his mother might have died by my hand that day. RIG B1111jt'S PRISONERS. The following 1d the list of the per - sone held prisoners by Big Bear near Fort Pitt ;— Mr. McLean, Factor Hudson's Bay Co. Mrs. 'McLain], Mies McLean. Miss Margaret McLean and Mise McLean. Master PapUllnitl McLean. Master Willie McLean. Masi or Angus McLean, Master Duncan McLean. Master .1. Rose McLean and infant. Stanley Simpson, Hudson's Bay clerk. Mr. Hodson, H. 13. cook. Henry Dufrense, H. 23. Co. servant. Rnbisco Smith, I-1. B. servant, and family of six Mr. Mann, instructor, Onion Lako, and family of five. Bev. Mr, and Mrs. Quinney, Epis- copalian miesioul;y, Ouioll Lake. Na eo•1au and family, three friend- ly Indians. Three squaws, friendly, Malcolm McDonald, Ii, B. Co. servant. Pendorun and family of six. Prisoners taken at Frog Luke :— Mrs. John Delauey, Ottawa, in- structor's wife. Peter St, Luke, family of fivo. Mrs, Gowanlocic. James Simpson and family of three H. B. agent. Mr: Cameron, H. B. clerk. Otto Dufrense, coolc Indian Depart - merit, originally from Montreal, 57 years in empl)y H. B. Co. Pierre, a French Canadian, DOUBTFUL ('A910, Pritchard, native interpreter, Ind. Dep., and family. Louis Gouley, hal f•breed. Nolan, Manitobau half breed. Andre Nand, Manrtoban half -brood, Cold Lake, Halpin, 11. 13. agent, Long Lake, J. Fitzpatrick, Indian agent. John Pritchard, jr,, interpreter, FAtilllt)N NOTES. Straw huts for travelling (1r0 iu compact shape. Mohair is used ektensivoly for trav- elling oe&tu: es. Black entered sill( is now fashion• able for young 10(1100. Morning wrappers are again etyl' ash with uattOlttl pleats. Gold or tit ver braid sliould not be 1001'n (111 flannel. (1reaHe.H. Brilliant yellow roses aro the favor - Ito flowota f 'v brunettes. 131ue, gray or fight brown mohair is used for brides' travellingsuits. The Hupple,s11r1i10H and Idia silks are chosen for summer dresses. Tailor-made woolon dresses for street or church wear are preferre 1 to silk, Travelling cloaks are made of 0it11• 00 mohair, pongee or checked English cloth. Bluish gray is a stylish c0lcar. Black stockings, with black slippers, aro worn by graduates, Over auy house dress that is war at the seams may be worn the Zou ONO jacket, entirely plain or boado in 81nn11 designs as desired, Summer silk II1akee up nicely in this way :—A short basquo, with vest, collar, and miffs of velvet 11 darker allude than the other material with a ideated skirt having an apron (Intpery. 'file most sensible thing Id agall fashionable, the rough straw seal) hate, to be worn with summer woolot dresses. They (nay be trimmed will a pilin band and buckle, or looped bo100 er velvol ribbon in front. For tonnia or country wear the new Tam O'Shanter cap in lace-like de- signs iu straw or brained patterns, and lb, lined with satin &tune color as the dress with which it is worn, The open work allows the lining to allow plainly. A becoming areas for a bl'0nette 1a made of rtcb blue summer cloth, with vest, collar, and cuffs of dark red or golden brown. The basquo should bo made plain and tightfit- ting, the vest pleated, and a pleated skirt over tho plain ono of the velvet makes a baudeome street or house dress,, The stylist doubled. treated Glad • stone jacket 10 made with two rows of buttons running V shape from the shoulder to the waist lone, then widen- ing from that clown. It 18 usually without trimming, but may have a border of half inch braid, placed lap - Ing and lengthwise, the material uood being tufted bouretta or striped and chocked cloths. Killings, as side -plaiting& are call ed, have now been in vogue twenty years and upward, yet do not seem to decline in favor. They have grown finer, and the finer they are the more elegant, but the clustered "knife" or edoplaiting Is to -day ono of the most elegant methods of making a cloth skirt ; while the kuifc-plaited ruffles or fionuces still distance all competi- tors. Scotch gingham are in special re- quest, and amongst the best grades are 81n0w1] handsome looking embroid- ered gmgh11111s matching the solid colours heretofore in stool(. 'These come iu boxes, and aro warranted "fast colours" and exceedingly dur- able. 'These with the new chambreys and zephyrs are special favourites for ladies who prefer neat and dressy washable goods for morning wear 1 during the suulm0). All tho new Zouave and Russian ljackets of velvet, silk, or oath are overwrought or bordered with gold or silver embroidery, beaded laces, ap- plique bands of jet, or raised work in side and alleuile. These jackets are trim and stylist and 0 lady of even moderate means eau easily afford one of rho richest description, as, being very short and sleeveless, they require but little material and but few yards of trimming. Sono of the new mantles aro chief- ly original as regards the sleeves, a tendency toward the wider shapes being observable. Some are made with the old pagoda sleeves hanging, loose from the artn and displaying the bright coloured linings. A number of new French tea gowns are shown with these aleevee, which have a cer- tain grace, but are by no means util- itarian, but act rather as a hindrance to exertion of any kind. Dominion VARIETIES. A young lady, not very well versed in music wants to know if dance music is written iu foot notes. A prominent clergyman calls the face "the playground of the soul." Then a book•agent's cheek must be II prairie. They toll us that money is inactive; but it eeem9 t0 bo active enough to slip through one's finger as nimbly as it over did. An old lady told her daughter 1— "My child It man is like an egg. Kept in hot water a little while 1(0 Dilly boil soft, but keep him there a little too long and he hardens. "No," remarked Fogg at 111e skat- ing rink, "the musi0 is not the best I ever heard, but it serves admirably to drown the groans of the unfortunates. Now that the President of the United States has 1)ee1) H1100e0Sfillly inaugurated, the mighty intellect of the nation will be oonoentrated on speculation as to whieil baseball team will be ollampiou of 1885. Minneapolis girls (lav,, red ribbon clubs with the motto, "Tho lips that touch wine shall never touch mine." Wo have begun to take ours through a straw says 1110 editor. Patient—"Doctor, toll ills the truth. Shall I got well 7" Doctor —'3T 1811) eltreyotl will, Out of five persons thttt'havo your trouble, one generally recovers, 1. had just five of your closes, and the other fear are dead. So you see your chances are extreme. ly good. . 11141LIJNERY OPENIBSt The Real Millinery Opening of the Season will take place on TWORS S co APPA 24. te YJ and Following Days, at It is almost needless to say our Stock, as usual, is Very complete with All the Leading Novelties. Miss Filer has charge of this department having had many years experience in the Leading Houses in Canada, will be prepared to Show so1ne ELEGANT PATTERNS HATS & BONNETS. Of course other Stores do the best they can hilt to have an idea of the Really First -Class Styles EVERY LADY SHOULD PAY US A VISIT On the above named days. OUR DRESS GOODS DEPARTMENT 18 WELL WORTHI. OF YOUR IxSPECTIOJI We have 1;11 Endless Variety to Choose from, in fact our Whole Stook is the LARGEST, CHEAPEST MOST COMPLETE Mit SHOWN IN BRUSSELS.�1 F. ROGERS, The Note Sheaf Stare.