Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-04-03
Misesllang.
Bound to Duty.


tn her husband who, with overcoat on
arm and lighted lantern in hand stood
ready to leave her.
But, Mate" (his pet name for Mary }
"think of the responsibility resting upon
me, Tom Fisher, my foreman, you know
was lust here, and told me the train was
heavy tonight, and more than usually
crowded, as none had run for week."
"What does that matter to you, JOHN ?
II isn't your regular run, and you will
make the men mad. and there will GER
tainly be an accident, even if you do not
rpt slot at, and escape bodily harm"
but somebody has got to 90, Mate,
and the superintendent sent for me. !
Invent an enemy that l know of-the
boys all like John Malcolm, and the COM
many think | can go safer than any one
else"
Yet if anything should happen, what
would become of me, John?"
Il have never yet shirked my duty,
have always been lucky in my runs, and
wouldn't have coward tackled to my
name for all the rolling stock on the road,
and the wealth of the directors TO boot"
The little one,n as John Malcolm fire.
ouentlv called her, looked up proudly to
her stilwart husband for moment; but
womanly fears. wifely love and mothers
anxiety conquered, and she continued:
And lust as we are so happy and
comfortable in house of our own, and
ont of debt for the first time, John. Only
think if YOU should be injured-if you
should be brought home dead! Oh John,
il would kill me" and with but a slightly
subdued exclamation at the picture her
brain had coniured up, she sank into II
chair and covered her eyes.
Mate, my darling one," he said, kneel-
inc beside her, putting strong arm
around her waist, and taking her little
trembling hands within his own; Mate,
do not entirely unman me. God knows
how gladly l would stay with you. But
duty calls me, and cannot turn deaf
ear
Duty, John? Would you weigh that
against love?"
Not against such love as l bear you,
my little one. But think how you, how l,
would feel if the train should be wrecked
because l was not on the engine, and per-
haps hundreds of lives lost"
"And yours, John?" she replied trying
to look steadily at him through her tears.
II have always to take that chance" he
said fatering But have little to fear
of danger | think far more of the wo-
men and poor little children that will be
on board, whirling through the darkness,
than anything else.'
A subtle flash sparkled in her eyes as
she arose, passed to another room, and
quickly returning, laid in his arms a
beautiful babe of scarcely q year old.
Great helven;' groaned the strong
man, trembling and turning pale, 4" this is
too much," and he hugged his darling to
his heart, bent over it and wept like a
little child.
In storm and darkness, when the winds
were wild, the lightning painting hell
upon the sky" when thunder shook the
solid earth, through the horrors of eXplod-
iug engine. the crushing, splintering,
burning cars; when the track was red
with human blood and crowded with
manglcd human forms, he had passed
with mistaken nerves. though blanched
face, and never hestated in doing his
duty, no matter how dangerous the conse-
Quenccs But now he was unstrung, hest
tatcd with will almost paralyzed. 1t was
taking an unfair advantage of loving
husband and father-one whose manly
heart dozcd wife and child, for whose
sake toll was sweet.
" Heaven help me" he murmurad. -
do not know what to do. Very many lives
may hang upon my going or not going,
and we have not means enough to live
without my pay. The hard winter will
soon be upon US, and the fierce. black
throated wolves Of hunger and cold howl
Sround our door. Oh, that we were rich
only rich"
1t was the mournful cry of thousands
out of work with want staring them in the
face, with hunger gnawing at their vitals
with death standing but little way off
grinning, gibng and beckoning with his
skeleton hands.
Kiss the baby. John. Now kiss me, .
said the young wife, as she took the in
FAINT from his arms and held it up, with
eyes flashing and lips compressed with
sudden resolution.
Her request complied with, she placed
the child again in Its cradle. tucked it in
carefully, indulged her warm and true
mothers heart in kisses; then returned t
her huspand, took seat upon his knee
wound her soft, white arms round his
neck, and looked with pride and tender
ness, even though from beneath quiverins
lids, and through lashes heavily diamond
ed with tears.
My dear John, would not for world
have you decide otherwise than you have
Indeed, | would be thousand time
prouder of you in your grave rs a brave
1;,,;n
Il coward. | know, John, how hard i
would be to bear-how should have t.
battle to take care of our little darling
but it would be u brighter dover for he
to know that her father died AS man thai
lived scorned and despised by his fellows
Oh John! My dear John! it is like tearinI
my heart strings asunder to say so; but g
and do your duty. will pray, John, as
never prayed before, that all will be well
that Ills mighty arm will guide yo
through every danger and bring yol
back safe. But, if you fall, shall hav
no shame come to me on your account
and will keep your memory as green a
that of one who acted his part as a man
He drew her still nearer to him, smooth
ed back the bright hair from the fushe
and fearful face, looked long and tenderl
at the speaking eyes, kissed her again an
again, and answered in broken voice:
May God bless you. brave little wo
man, for the words. If die. He will tax
care of you and our little baby. But ~
and the sudden fire that kndled withi
him made the muscles of his arms as iro
-" but let any skulkers beware how the
cross my path or seek to wreck my train
Yes, Mate, my dear, dear little one, wi
be careful as ever before, and if the COW
ardly, insane wretches attempt any out
RACES they will find that they have arouse
"A lion IN John Malcolm"
o Heaven! keep them quiet, and max
all upon the road your friends, John"
mo one who belongs to the road wi
seek TO molest me, Mate. You can depen
upon that. 1t is not railroad men l fear
they have no sympathy with mob law.
left to themselves, though striking fo
wages sufficient for their needs. all woul
be quiet and orderly. No, it is not they
it Is the loating, miserable, WORTHLESS
tramps, and the thieves, that would rathe
steal than work. even when they have
chance, that have made all the trouble
but | mnst ha ooInu. il ia hiUh time | wa