Humorous Masterpieces from American Literature

NEW YORK & LONDON
G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS
The Knickerbocker Press
1886
COPYRIGHT G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS 1886 Press of G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York
Bridgeport! Change cars for the Naugatuck Railroad! shouted the conductor of the New York and Boston Express Train, on the evening of May 27, 1858.... Mr. Johnson, carpet-bag in hand, jumped upon the platform, entered the office, purchased a ticket for Waterbury, and was soon whirling in the Naugatuck train towards his destination.
On reaching Waterbury, in the soft spring twilight, Mr. Johnson walked up and down in front of the station, curiously scanning the faces of the assembled crowd. Presently he noticed a gentleman who was performing the same operation upon the faces of the alighting passengers. Throwing himself directly in the way of the latter, the two exchanged a steady gaze.
Is your name Billings? Is your name Johnson? were simultaneous questions, followed by the simultaneous exclamations,— Ned! Enos!
Then there was a crushing grasp of hands, repeated after a pause, in testimony of ancient friendship, and Mr. Billings, returning to practical life asked:
Is that all your baggage? Come, I have a buggy here: Eunice has heard the whistle, and she'll be impatient to welcome you.
The impatience of Eunice (Mrs. Billings, of course) was not of long duration; for in five minutes thereafter she stood at the door of her husband's chocolate-colored villa, receiving his friend....
J. Edward Johnson was a tall, thin gentleman of forty-five.... A year before, some letters, signed Foster, Kirkup, & Co., per Enos Billings, had accidentally revealed to him the whereabouts of the old friend of his youth with whom we now find him domiciled....