Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/103

 TRAVELING WITH A REFORMER

a sample into a slumbering gentleman s lap, and the man woke up with a start. He was very angry, and he and a couple of friends discussed the outrage with much heat. They sent for the parlor-car con ductor and described the matter, and were deter mined to have the boy expelled from his situation. The three complainants were wealthy Holyoke mer chants, and it was evident that the conductor stood in some awe of them. He tried to pacify them, and explained that the boy was not under his authority, but under that of one of the news com panies; but he accomplished nothing.

Then the Major volunteered some testimony for the defense. He said :

&quot;I saw it all. You gentlemen have not meant to exaggerate the circumstances, but still that is what you have done. The boy has done nothing more than all train-boys do. If you want to get his ways softened down and his manners reformed, I am with you and ready to help, but it isn t fair to get him discharged without giving him a chance.&quot;

But they were angry, and would hear of no com promise. They were well acquainted with the presi dent of the Boston & Albany, they said, and would put everything aside next day and go up to Boston and fix that boy.

The Major said he would be on hand too, and would do what he could to save the boy. One of the gentlemen looked him over, and said :

&quot;Apparently it is going to be a matter of who can wield the most influence with the president, Do you know Mr. Bliss personally?&quot;

�� �