CHAPTER X.
SAM'S ADVENTURES AT THE DEPOT.
It was six miles to the station at Wendell, where Sam proposed to takethe cars for New York. He had to travel on an empty stomach, andnaturally got ravenously hungry before he reached his destination.About half a mile this side of the depot he passed a grocery-store,and it occurred to him that he might get something to eat there.
Entering he saw a young man in his shirt-sleeves engaged in sweeping.
"Have you got anything good to eat?" asked Sam.
"This aint a hotel," said the young man, taking Sam for a pennilessadventurer.
"I knew that before," said Sam, "but haven't you got some crackers orsomething, to stay a feller's stomach?"
"Haven't you had any breakfast?" asked the clerk, curiously.
"No."
"Don't they give you breakfast where you live?"
"Not so early in the morning. You see I had to take an early start,'cause I'm goin' to attend my grandmother's funeral."
This of course was a story trumped up for the occasion.
"We've got some raw potatoes," said the clerk, grinning.
"I've had enough to do with potatoes," said Sam. "Haven't you got somecrackers?"
"Come to think of it, we have. How many will you have?"
"About a dozen."
While they were being put up in a paper bag, the clerk inquired, "Howfar off does your grandmother live?"
"About twenty miles from here, on the railroad," answered Sam, whodidn't care to mention that he was bound for New York.
"Warwick, I suppose."
"Yes," said Sam, at a venture. "How soon does the train start?"
"In about half an hour. Hold on, though; that's the New York train,and don't stop at Warwick."
"I guess I'll be goin," said Sam, hurriedly. "Where's the depot?"
"Half a mile straight ahead, but you needn't hurry. The train forWarwick don't go till ten."
"Never mind. I want to see the New York train start;" and Sam hurriedoff eating crackers as he walked.
"I'm glad the train starts so quick," thought Sam. "I don't want towait round here long. I might meet somebody that knows me."
He had no difficulty in finding the depot. It was a plain building,about twenty by thirty feet, with a piazza on the side towards thetrack. He entered, and going up to the ticket-office asked for aticket to New York.
"For yourself?" asked the station-master.
"Yes," said Sam.
"How old are you?"
"Twelve."
"Then you'll have to pay for a whole ticket. Three dollars."
"All right," said Sam, promptly, and he drew out a five-dollar bill,receiving in return two dollars and a ticket.
"Do you live in New York, sonny?" asked the station-master.
"No, I'm only goin to see my aunt," answered Sam, with anotherimpromptu falsehood.
"I know something about New York. In what street does your auntlive?"
Sam was posed, for he did not know the name of even one street in thecity he was going to.
"I don't exactly remember," he was forced to admit.
"Then how do you expect to find her if you don't know where shelives?"
"Oh, she'll meet me at the depot," said Sam, readily.
"Suppose she don't?"
"I'll find her somehow. But she's sure to meet me."
"Going to stay long in the city?"
"I hope so. Perhaps my aunt'll adopt me. How soon will the train bealong?"
"In about fifteen minutes."
Here an old lady came up, and asked for a ticket to New York.
"Three dollars, ma'am."
"Three dollars! Can't you take less?" asked the old lady, fumbling inher pocket for her purse.
"No ma'am, the price is fixed."
"It's a sight of money. Seems throwed away, too, jest for travellin'.You haint got anything to show for it. I never was to York in mylife."
"Please hurry, ma'am, there are others waiting."
"Massy sakes, don't be so hasty! There's the money."
"And there's your ticket."
"I wish I know'd somebody goin to New York. I'm afeared to travelalone."
"There's a boy going," said the station-master, pointing to Sam.
"Are you goin to York?" asked the old lady, peering over herspectacles at Sam.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Was you ever there afore?"
"No, ma'am."
"Aint your folks afeared to have you go alone?"
"Oh, no, they don't mind."
"I wish you was older, so's you could look after me."
Sam was rather flattered by the idea of having a lady under hischarge, and said, "I'll take care of you, if you want me to."
"Will you? That's a good boy. What's your name?"
"Sam Barker," answered our hero, with some hesitation, not feelingsure whether it was politic to mention his real name.
"Do you live in New York?"
"No, ma'am; but I'm goin to."
"When will the cars git along?"
"In about ten minutes."
"You'll help me get in, won't you? I've got two bandboxes, and I don'tknow how to manage."
"Yes, ma'am, I'll help you. I'm goin out on the platform, but I'llcome in when the cars come along."
Sam went out on the platform, and watched eagerly for the approach ofthe cars. Up they came, thundering along the track, and Sam rushedinto the depot in excitement.
"Come along, ma'am," he said. "The cars are here."
The old lady was in a flutter of excitement also. She seized onebandbox, and Sam the other, and they hurried out on the platform. Theywere just climbing up the steps, when the conductor asked, "Where areyou going?"
"To York, of course."
"Then this isn't the train. It is going in the opposite direction."
"Lawful suz!" ejaculated the old lady in dismay. "What made you tellme wrong, you bad boy?" and she glared at him reproachfully over herglasses.
"How should I know?" said Sam, rather abashed. "I didn't know about noother train."
"You come near makin' me go wrong."
"I can't help it. It would be just as bad for me."
"When does the train go to York, somebody?" asked the old lady,looking about her in a general way.
"Next train; comes round in about five minutes."
Sam helped the old lady back into the depot, rather ashamed of themistake he had made. He saw that she had lost some of her confidencein him, and it mortified him somewhat.
It was nearly ten minutes afterwards,--for the train was late, beforethe right cars came up.
Sam dashed into the depot again, and seized a bandbox.
"Here's the cars. Come along," he said.
"I won't stir a step till I know if it's the right cars," said the oldlady firmly.
"Then you may stay here," said Sam. "I'm goin'."
"Don't leave your grandmother," said a gentleman, standing by.
"She isn't my grandmother. Isn't this the train to New York?"
"Yes."
Sam seized the bandbox once more, and this time the old lady followedhim.
They got into the cars without difficulty, and the old lady breathed asigh of relief.
Sam took a seat at the window just behind her, and his heart boundedwith exultation as he reflected that in a few hours he would be in thegreat city, of which he had such vague and wonderful ideas. The onlydrawback to his enjoyment was the loss of his usual morning meal. Thecrackers helped to fill him up, but they were a poor substitute forthe warm breakfast to which he had been accustomed at the deacon's.Still Sam did not wish himself back. Indeed, as he thought of thedeacon's bewilderment on discovering his disappearance, he broke intoan involuntary laugh.
"What are you laffin' at?" asked the old lady, suspiciously.
Sam answered, "I was thinkin' how near we came to bein' carried off tothe wrong place."
"That aint anything to laff at," said the old lady, grimly
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