st itself upon me as one of great
importance.

I had taken a few short trips with my father on holidays by railroad,
so that a train of cars was not quite a new thing to me. However, I was
no traveller then, and being of an inquiring mind, I was disposed to
examine minutely everything I saw, and to understand the use of every
new object. I bought my ticket, and stepping back, I amused myself in
watching the ticket-seller, anxious to solve the mystery of a stamping
machine he continually used. Before I had solved the problem to my
satisfaction, I heard the bell ring.

"All aboard for Chicago and way stations!" shouted the conductor.

That meant me, and I hastened to obey the summons, but rather vexed
that I had not penetrated the working of the stamping machine. I was
rather late, and I found the car I entered quite full; indeed, there
was only a single vacant seat, and that was by the side of an old woman
whose company did not appear to be particularly desirable. However, I
had made up my mind that it is not best to be too particular in this
world, and I walked up the aisle with the intention of taking the seat.
I found it was already appropriated to the old lady's numerous bundles.

"Is this seat taken, madam?" I ventured to ask.

"Well, yes; don't you see it's taken?" said she, rather sourly.

"I don't see any other vacant seat in the car," I added.

"I can't move all them things," snapped the matron.

"I will place them in the rack above your head," I suggested.

"I've fixed 'em all once, and I don't want to move 'em agin. You are a
young feller, and you can find a seat in some other car," added the old
lady, very decidedly.

Some of the passengers laughed at the answers of the old lady. I did
not care to get up a quarrel with her, and I decided to stand up, in
deference to the old lady's bundles, until the train stopped at the
first station, when I could safely look for a seat in some other car.
After this exhibition of rudeness, I did not think my seat at her side
would be comfortable; I was afraid her bristles would annoy me, and it
was more comfortable to stand. The train moved off; but it had gone
only a very short distance before the conductor appeared, followed by a
very dignified-looking gentleman, for whom he was evidently seeking a
seat; and this assured me that the cars were all full forward.

"Here is just one seat," said the gentlemanly conductor, as he stopped
beside the vacant place, and be