The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-11-27


behindi''
The cars were waiting at station on one
Of our Western railroads. The engine was
putting and blowing. The baggage master
was busy with baggage and checks. The
men were hurrying to and fro with chests
and valices, and trunks. Men, women and
children were rushing for the cars and has
tI'y securing their seats, while the lOcomo-
tive snorted, and puned, and blowed.
man caTelessly dressed was standing
on the platform OF the depot. lie was look
ing around him, and seemingly paid little at
. tention TO what was passing. 1t was easy
to see that he was lame. At hasty glance
one might easily have supposed that he was
man Of neither wealth or influence. Tue
conductor Of the train gave him contemp-
! tuous look, aud slapping him familiarity on
/ the shoulder, he caleb out
Halloa, Llmpy, better get aboard or the
| cars will leave you
Time enough, | reckon" replied the in
dividua SO roughly addressed, and he re-
tained his seemingly listless position.
The last trunk was tumbled INTO the bag
gage car. "All aboard ~ cried the con.
ductor. "Get on, Limpy." said he, AS he
passed the lame, carel,ssly dressed man.
The lame man made no reply.
Just as the train was moving slowly away
the lame man stepped on the platform Of
of the last car, and walking in quiely took
a seat.
The train had moved Oh few miles when
the conductor appeared al the door Of the
car where our friend was sitting. Passing
along he soon discovered the stranger whom
he had seen az the station.
= Hand out your money here
=" don't pay" replied the lame man very
quietly.
Don't pay"
"No, sir:''
"We'h see about that | shall put you
Cul at :ne next station" and he seized the
yaise which was on the rack over the head
OF our friend.
- Better not be so rough, young man re-
turaed the stranger.
The conductor released the carpet-bag for
a moment and seeing that hs could do 10
more then, he passed on 10 collect the fare
from the other passengers As lie stopped
a seat a iew PAGES of, gentleman who had
heard the conversation just mentioned,
looked up at the conductor, ASKED him.
Do you know to whom you were speak
ing just now:
" NJ s.r.'
- Tha, was Peter Warburton, the prss;-
dent of the road"
" Are yo. sure of that, sir:" replied the
conductor, trying to conceal his agitation.
hnoS him"
The color rose a little in the young mans
foce but with strong effort ne controlled
himself and went on collecting lis fare Us
usual.
Meanwhile Mr. WarbuIton sat quietly in
lis srat-noae OF those who were near him
could unTavel the expression Of LIS face,
nor tell what would bc the next movement
in the scene And hc-of whs, thought
he He had been gudtly treated he had
been ukindly taunted with the !nfirmty
which had come perhaps through no fault
Of his lie could revenge himself if he
chose he could tel the directors the sim
pie truth and the Young man wouil he de
priv,d o! MS place at once. Should he DO
it:
Aud vet. why should he cares He knew
what ne was worth. lie knew how he had
risen hv his own exert!ons to TIE position
he now held. When, a little orange ped
der he stood by the strcei-crocsiucs, lie
had many a rebuff lie had outlived those
days OF hardness; he was respected now
Should he care for d strangers roughnesS or 7
tauut: Tho who sat near him waited
curou>ly to see the end.
Presently the conductor came back
w lt'I a steady energy he walked up TO NJ.
Warburton's side He took his books from
mis- pocket, thc bank bills, and the tickets
which lac had collected, and laid them in
Mr.. Warburtou', hand.
| resign my place, sir, he said.
The president looked over the accounts
for a moment, then motioning 10 the vacant
scat at his side. said
"Sit down, sir would ike to talk with
YOU
A. the young man sat down the Prcsi .
dent turned TO him with . face in which
there was no sngry feeling and spoke to HIM
in an undcr tone:
"My young friend have no rev"ngeful
feelings to CRAFTY in this matter: but you
have been very imprudent. Your manner,
had il been thus 10 a stranger. would be
very injurious to the interests OF the compa-
nv. might tell them of this, but | will
not. BY doing so, should throw you out
of your situation, and you might find 1t diiii-
cult to find another. But in future, re-
member TO be polite to all whom YOU meet.
You cannot Judge Of 4 man by the coat he
wears; and then the poOrcs should be treat
ed with civility. Take up your books, sir.
| shall tell no one Of what has passed. II
you change your course, nothing which
has happened to day shall lnjure you Your
siturtion is still continued. Good morning
sir :"
The train.of cars swept on, as many
train had done before; but within it les
son had been given and learned, and the .
purport of the lesson ran somewhat thus r
DoN'r JupGE FRJMArrEARASCEs.