GOSSIP FROM THE BACK SHOP

It was Ben Fleisher, a neighbor some six miles out, who was quite perturbed. 'I bought this old B-P from that chap over in Woodland last fall,' exclaimed Ben. 'And when he showed me this engine he had put a brand new Pickering governor on it, as the old one was badly worn out. But soon as the weather opened up and I could get over to get her, I found that he had put the old governor back on and tried to make me think it was the only one that had ever been on this engine. I guess he must put that new governor on any of his old engines that he tries to sell, like a goat leading lambs to slaughter.'

'Well,' consoled Mel, 'I suppose being an old steam man doesn't automatically ensure any of us a free passage into Heaven. If there weren't a few gypsies amongst us too, life would be pretty droll, wouldn't it?' 'Well, fortunately no one became injured when those old gears lost mesh a few times, but think what might have happened under the belt!' said Ben. 'I will mill you out a new set of bevel gears by tomorrow,' Mel replied, and then prudently added, 'When a man buys anything he had best take his wares right along with him.'

(Author's note: The experiences related in Gossip from the Back shop are based upon incidents from true life, and are intended to carry anecdotal bits of appreciable information. A more detailed work is coming up in a symposium 'The Man on the Smokey End,' under separate edition.)