My
mechanical bundle seemed to bring a good deal of this phrenology to
mind, for many of the onlookers would say, "I wish I could see that
boy's head,--he must have a tremendous bump of invention." Others
complimented me by saying, "I wish I had that fellow's head. I'd
rather have it than the best farm in the State."
I stayed overnight at this little tavern, waiting for a train. In the
morning I went to the station, and set my bundle on the platform.
Along came the thundering train, a glorious sight, the first train I
had ever waited for. When the conductor saw my queer baggage, he
cried, "Hello! What have we here?"
"Inventions for keeping time, early rising, and so forth. May I take
them into the car with me?"
"You can take them where you like," he replied, "but you had better
give them to the baggage-master. If you take them into the car they
will draw a crowd and might get broken."
So I gave them to the baggage-master and made haste to ask the
conductor whether I might ride on the engine. He good-naturedly said:
"Yes, it's the right place for you.
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