The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-05-18
O ITEMS.
a Mngnth9ent GIFT

tcudrnt Of the Rutland e Burlington Rail
Road, was n gathering of much good feel
ing. The members, from the highest 10
the lowest, feel an honest pride in beina
the recipients Ct so fine n present. The
gift was more highly priced, as it was be-
slowed upon the Company without the
least knowledge or solicitation from any
source. The donors will long be rcmcm-
bercd in the hearts of the members of the
Company. This last and best gilt, is not
the only acknowledgement this Company
has received from this source. Capt.
SIMMONS called the company to order, and
stated the object of the meeting. O..
WOOSTER Esq, stepped upon the platform
and made the following appropriate re-
marks:
Captain and gentlemen Of tic Fire
Companv:
| appear before you in behalf of the
Managers of the Rutland & Burlington
Rail Road, and at their request, to thank
you, for valuable services rendered in prs
tecting prop rty on the nights of t., 23,i
OF February last.
The Company, aided By those efficient
officers the Fire WardJns, and that large
volunteer force. tie r~;.lzqns, have done Us
gooa service We thank you've thank
Il Importance Of n well organized fire
ue. artmcnt, in this place, has been mani.
ieS.ed to us on more than one oc:asi on.
'Jncc our Railroad bridge was saved from
contiagraticn, and, at another time our
Depot and its surrounding buildings were
preserved through your efforts.
Fer your services on those occasions.
We made our acknowledgements each time.
And now, in consideration Of FOUR Gu.
deavors to aid us, in this our recent. and
more severe calamity, [ have the honor to
present to you, in behalf Of the Manners
of our Railroad, this silver Trumpet, as a
token of their appreciation of your SER
vices.
And YOU may rest assured, gentlemen.
that it is a source of no small qualification
to me personally, to be made the medium
Of communication on this occasion between
those with whom it has been my pleasure
for so long a time to be officially connected
and you my fellow townsmcn.
CAPT. SIMMONS, REpLY.-Sir 1t is
with much embarrassment that | ATTEMPT
70 respond TO the eloquent remarks you
have made to me, as the organ of Wash
ington Engine Co. No. /. Emharrass.
ment arising from the fact that | am un.
used TO public speaking, and also from my
utter inability to reply in a manner saiis-
factory TO my W feelings. The munif.
cent gift you have just presented the Com
pany, over which | preside as Captain,
from the Trustees Of the Rutland g. Rur.
lington Rail Road Company. through
Hon. Thomas Thatcher, their Honored
President, and Hon. Il. A. Chaplin, their
highly accomplished and efficient Superin.
tendcnt. call for more than a mere formal
acceptance. | am not aware Sir, that
Washington Engine Co., has done more
than its duty in their honest efforts to
protect the property Of the Rail Road
Company from destruction by fire. Brought
into existence and sustained By the libcr-
atty Of the ~ritizcns Of our village, We
it to be our duty, as frcmcn, to re.
spond with alacr'ty to every alarm, be it
at noon-day or at the midnight hour, and
with the true spirit OF men rush to res
cue from the devouring element the prop
erty, and if occasion calls, the lives of our
citizens. In the course Of human
it has been our fortune upon DIFF
icrent occasions, to repeatedly labor in
well directed attempts and efforts, to pre-
serve the property of the Rail Road Com
pany in Il village from the devourins
element, In this We have not been in.
spired by any motive outside that every
fireman should possess Regarding as
much :hc preservation OF the Rpil Road
property, as that conducting to the pros.
pcrity of our much loved village, MS
those more im~cdiately int rested in its
preservation and prosperity.
In the hour Of peril from fire, our CON-
munity justly look to the Engino Com.
pany and fire department rs the night
arm of their defence. And Sir, | am
proud to say, that their contllsnce in
Washington Engine Company has never
been betrayed. In the preservation of
property. we have since our organization,
continued Il honest, humble and [ may
justly say, successful efforts, this is our
province and duty. A just appreciation
Of public duty demands it, the smiles
and confidence Of our community sustain
and cheer ~ on in the noble work OF con.
summatipg it. The world has often wit
'ssed the lamentable fact. that Republics
are uueratciul. The services of fearless
honts st statesmen, lovers OF their country
aud r.'cc. often 60 unappreciatcd. Men
in the ralnnct and upon the battle field
often 20 20 their graves unhonored and I'M
SUM, with the country they loved, and
in whose service they have spent a long
and useful hte, has gone OH in the full
tide of prosperity ard power. Their last
days have been $" 1T witnesses to condemn
for ingratitude and neglect, But while
this has been the history of some, in the
sense named, it is ~ the praise OF COM
that they nc vor forget the scrvi.
nos ~ tln ha,..f EA lII.