Moderator mervin Posted September 12, 2006 Moderator Posted September 12, 2006 Back in the days of steam locomotives, the engineer was the prince of the engine and made a princely wage; and the fireman who broke his back shovelling coal into the firebox was down at the bottom of the pecking order, and was paid as such. On one particular engine that pulled the daily local freight train, the engineer was forever bumming a chaw of chewing tobacco from the fireman. Every day, after they had cleared the yards and had a good head of steam, the fireman would lean on his shovel, mop his brow and take a wad from his pack of "Red Man", whereupon the engineer would say, "Hey, let me have a dip." The fireman conspired to put an end to this: He arranged to have a pack with one mouthful of tobacco left, and a new, unopened one. As usual, after he was able to take a bit of a break he took the last chaw from the first pack and tossed the empty package into the firebox. The engineer, as usual, asked for a dip, whereupon the firemean opened the new package, stood between the engine and tender and took a leak onto the roadbed from the slowly moving train. Near the end he pointed his pecker into the newly opened bag and let a small stream go. He closed up the pack and shook it, then handed it to the engineer, who looked aghast at him. "What the hell are you doin"??" he asked. "I always do that, keeps it fresh", said the fireman, who was never again asked for any tobacco.
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