Couldn't Swallow It

Wliile they were tuimeling a mountuiii right on the bank of the Cumbcrland river, in Tennessee, on the line of tlie Oincinnati Southern Railroad, one of the natives began to interviuw one of the engineers. Tlic lattcr told him that hc was ungaced in building .-i tunnel, and that it was BnM)er to boro a hole throügh tho mountain lor the cars to ruu thmugh thaa to levcl it or makc a cut down to the grade. The nativo queried : "So the steam kyars is gmftf to oome right across tho rivcr and riijht through this tunnel away north?" Vos, that's just it." "Wall, major, that's askin' too iuuch for a man to bclieve," replied the corn cracker. "I don't swallow it nohow you can fiz it, thatevery time this 'ere iron liOB of yourn juinps across the river ho's Koídk to strike this little holo rili t sijuar' and fair. No, sir, I cau't swallow it.