Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-05-02
A Valuable Present.


ployed under his charge on that divis-
Ion, as a testimonial of the regard with
which they hold their worthy Superln-
tendent and after personal examina-
ton thereof we can safely pronounce 1t
a handsome present, most worthily be-
slowed rejecting as much credit upon
the generous donors as 1t does honor to
the recipient. 1t Is one of the American
Watch Company's best productions,
known as their Prize Watch, Strattons
patent, and is Of the finest quality yet
made in America, or indeed in any other
country, being of extra finish and,
weighing over four ounces, with suit
able chain, weighing over two ounces.
1t was purchased through the agency
of Mr.. Ben. X. Chase of this place, and
reflects renewed honors upon that gen.
tleman as worthy in every respect of the
confidence and respect of the public as
dealer in jewelry and precious metals.
The presentation took place at the resi-
dence Of Mr.. Horner in this place, where
were assembled the foremen of each
section in the northern division, with
several invited guests. Nr. H. c. Cong
don, Conductor, at the request Of the
donors, delivered the present to Mr..
Horner in the following brief but point
ed speech
Mr.. Horner Having been appointed
by my companions and associate en-
ployees on the Rutland and Burlington
Railroad to perform the very pleasing
duty of making this presentation to you,
l now, in behalf of those men who have
known you long, and who fully appre-
ciate your worth as an officer Of the
road and as man, present to you this
gold watch and chain and ask that you
accept it, not so much for its intrinsic
value, but to he preserved by you and
your children, we hope forever, as to-
ken and pledge of our respect and es-
TEEN, and as just tribute to your skill
| and goodness Of heart. Long may you
live to benefit the world by your serv-
ices and to enjoy the confidence and re-
| spect which you have so well merited !;
! cheered and solaCed with that most hap
py Of all reflections that you have acted
well your part in life, and may you en-
joy that repose and peace of mind which
are the rich fruits Of life Of usefulness
and duties well discharged.
Take this token, sir, cherish and pre-
serve it, and when in after years you
look upon it, remember the givers.
To which Mr.. Horner, upon accepting
the present. gracefully responded
Gentlemen I am fairly surprised and
taken, here among my friends, where I
felt quite secure but l surrender. l
accede to your terms Of capitulatiOn, -
that is | take the watch as you propose.
| You shall have it all your own way for
! once and yet 1t seems unmanly to yield
without struggle, but as you are here
In force and | am unarmed, you will al
low me one effort at self-defence. | said
| l was surprised and so | am; not so
| mnCh st the manner ia which this trap
has been sprung upon me, for [ have
heard it mentioned that there was a con-
| spiraCy brewing, bat did not suppose it
would assume such proportions, and
what surprises me most is that an en-
terprise Of such magnitude should be so
| quietly cotton up and successfully car
ried out by few Woodworking men,
and that | should be made the victim,
the object of it all. We learn in the
Book that man, even 8 prophet, is not
always hOnored in his country; and
surely this is my COuntry,-here on the
old Northern Division l have lived
and labOred among you for eighteen
years, ever since the days Of my boy
hood the "men and things" along the
line are all familiar as "househOld
words;' and is 1t not my country aud
may | not well be surprised at your pro-
Ceedings? for | have never done any
thing to merit such generosity during
all these years | have not offered one OF
you "a drop to take ;" No. not even "a
smoke or chew" but have uniformly
opposed such marks of friendship. /
have never visited with you any place
of gaming or amusement, nor accom-
panied you to the woods with gun, dog
fishing tackle and whisky bottle, to have
a good time at the expense Of employ
ers, las the manner of some is" nor
have l carried a euchre deck for our
mutual amusement, or, in fact, done
anything that would be likely to gain
for me the degree Of "good fellow" but
have worked on the principle Of root
hog or die" and expected the same Of
you. nave no favorites the man that
does the best for the road is my best
man, and 1 am led to believe that men
having the brains and muscle to carry
out an enterprise like this, are safe men
to trust with the responsible dntieS of
your several stations and while I
notice with pleasure the improvements
already attained, allow me to hope for
still greater improvement while each
year adds wrinkles to your brows and
gray to your crowns, let each add, also,
to your efficiency and good morals.
Rallroading is great and growing
institution, and the track is at the foun-
dation Of it all, and though track-men
are not always respected as they should
be, we will at least respect ourselves and
the positions we occupy. But to con-
clude, let me say am glad to hear from
the old Northern, not that | desired a