The Young Train Dispatcher

than once he caught himself nodding, until, at last, he dared not sit still in his chair, but went out upon the stretch of cindered path before the shanty and tramped up and down it, pausing now an

n sky began to show a tinge of gray. From every tree and coppice came sleepy twitterin

; they are always glad when morning comes, and they never forget to utter a little song of praise and gratitude for another sunrise. Then they fly to the brook and take their bath, a

ight to take his trick at guarding the track from train-wreckers. Now, as he sat here, watching the brightening east, all the adventures of that time came vividly back to him, and he smiled to himself as he reviewed them one by one. He had made many firm friends-and one enemy, Dan Nolan,

owever, that the place on the gang would be hard to fill, and expected to be taken back again. But that very day, Allan, who had walked all the way from Cincinnati in search of employment, came a

tree, every plant, every flower and blade of grass, seemed to lift its head and bow toward the east to greet the luminary upon which all life upon the earth depends. Its warm rays drank the dew from the meadows, and over the brook, which ran beside the road, a filmy mist steamed upward from the water. Away off, across the fields, Allan could see a man ploug

pear. After that, every minute seemed an hour, and Allan began to understand Nevins's feelings the night before, when his own relief did not arrive. He began to fear that he would miss the morning accommodation train to Wadsworth. If he did, he could not get home before noon, and he was desperately tired and sleepy. He went

eered, "how d

e it at all,

ng past him, "you be on time and

s tone. "I can't get here until the evening accommodation at six-thirty; ? 92 ? so

ng his back ostentatiously, he hung up h

orders," added Al

arled Nevins. "I

s require that I explain outstanding

at him, an ugly l

ed. "Little Sunday-school boy. Ain't you

you wan

nd took the orders from the hook and looked over them. "As I sai

stle sounded down the line, and the roar of an approaching train. He had just time to

ral that Nevins should have been provoked, though the delay of the night before was not Allan's fault in the slightest degree; and, in any event, there was no use making an enemy of a fell

waiting for h

e said. "You're ha

e good as new. What's that I smell?" he added, wrinkling

affected sternness, "an' you'll see what

ed the boy. "I kno

of bacon cut very thin and browned to a turn; and potato-cakes-not those soggy, squashy potato-cakes which are, alas! too familiar-but crisp and brown, touching the palate in just the

Healthy animals, at least, have no difficulty in sleeping after eating; in fact, a nap almost always follows a meal. Watch your cat or dog after you have fed them. The cat will make a hasty toilet and curl up for a snooze; the dog will drop down behind the stove or in a sunny corner out-of-doors without even that formality. It is only when the stomach

tle noise to disturb him. Mamie, when she came home from school at noon, ? 95 ? was promptly warned to keep quiet, and ate her dinner as silently as a mouse. Not until the s

she calle

ered sleepily,

if you're goin' t' ketc

nute," and he sprang out of bed

e, and Mamie, who had just come home from s

very well, Allan," she said, as

ling down into the serio

ry evening," she explained. "Who's going to

aughed

ake some arrangement about it. Maybe

mornin' you're goin' straight t' bed, jest as soon as you git ? 96 ? your breakfast

ernoon. There's no sense in my sleeping so long, anyway. It'll make me st

rom her chair, flew around the table, thre

dear!" she cried.

ned and Jack Welsh came in, grinning br

gittin' t' be a very forrerd sort o' body. It'

, "an' I don't care how much she runs arter hi

t," answered Jack, winking at Allan, and he passed his arm

our child's forrerd when her father sets her sich an example? An'

97

th' yards first t' see th' roadmaster. I'll be back in

, and followed Jack down the steep path which led to the street. He turned at the gate to wave good-bye to Mary and

, in a low voice, as the boy caught up with h

d when he glanced at Jack, he s

esitated, as though reluctant to impart t

hiver ran through him, for he knew that J

n hesitated

, at last, his voice hoarse