A conductor's duty on the Pacific Railroad involves certain personal risks peculiar to the far West. A gentleman who has recently passed over the road relates a scene witnessed on one train. The conductor told a roughlooking traveller that he wanted his fare. "Do you 1" was the only answer. The conductor persisted. "Wall, here's my pass," said the traveller, presenting a heavy revolver at the official's head. Another huge fellow interposed at this point, presenting a pistol to his fellow-passenger's temple, with a menacing look. "None of that, stranger ; fair play; shell out." This settled the matter, and the fare was paid. The following anecdote of President Lincoln is characteristic : — A Mrs M , of New York, once called on him in Washington to introduce a young lady who had been instrumental in in transporting the United States mails through rebel territory during the war. The lady was rather small, and when Mrs M — — introduced her to Mr Lincoln as "the young lady who carried the mails across the Potomac at Winchester," he half took her up in his arms, with the laughing remark—" Carried the mails, did she ? But who carried the females ?" A gentleman went a fishing the other day> and, amongst other things, hauled in a large sized turtle, To enjoy the surprise of his Irish servant-girl he placed it in her bed-, room. The next morning the first thing that bounced in the breakfast-room was Biddy, with the exclamation of— "Be Jabers, I've got the devil!" "What devil?" inquired the head of the house, feighing suprise. " The bull bed-bug that has been aetin the childer for the last month." Tarn Neil was carpenter and precentor in Edinburgh, and a very droll character in his way. Being questioned by a young lady at whose house he was employed as to the reason why people of his profession were bo exorbitant in their charges for coffins, he looked very mysterious, and agreed to give the necessary information in return for a glass of whisky. The stipulation being implemented, Tarn said, " Weel, ma'am, it's, just because thej are ne'er brought back to be mended."
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Bibliographic details
Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 542, 8 July 1869, Page 4
Word Count
355Untitled Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 542, 8 July 1869, Page 4
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