The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-02-07

thought that mamma could make him smile
"Seei seei seer'
Well. come and sit on her knee awhile;
One-two-three"
There! now we u sing in a rolhcking style:
20 dear WEI
Harriet AcE,oen Kim5dii, IN Youths Com
pdhioh.
A TRUE STORY FOR BOYS.
l WANT to tell the boys about friend
of mine whose faithful performance OF
present duty led him into higher posi-
tions than he had ever dreamed of fill
ing, and gave him what we would all
like to reach-honor and success.
In the earlier years of my experience
as a printer in Chicago, more than
twenty years ago, our firm did good
deal of printing for the Chicago, Bur-
lington & Quincy Railroad, and, be-
cause of this, l came to know young
man who is the subject of my story.
He came from Massachusetts, he was
poor, and had no influential friend to
even give him a letter of recomlnenda-
ton. He sought employment on the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad,
and, after waiting a time, at last Sc
cured a position as brakeman on a
freight train-salary about thirty dol
lars month. He sods faithful in this
position, and, being both intelligent and
Industrious, he was soon made con-
ductsr of the train, with wages nearly
doubled. He soon attracted the atten-
ton of his superior officers, who saw in
him an honest, faithful and conscien-
tious conductor, one not seeking his
own ease or pleasure, but constantly
devoted to the interests of the COM
pany that employed him, so that not
many months elapsed before he was
made conductor of passenger train
a more comfortable position. and one
yielding a somewhat higher salary.
Here first knew him, and l saw in
him modest, quiet, unassuming young
man, free from the popular vices, ard
one who tried to be just as faithful and
true and devoted TO his work as con-
ductor as though the position had
been that of General Superintendent
He did not apparently have high opin-
ion of his own abilities; there was total
absence of that swagger and strut so
often seen in those who come to similar
subaltern positions. 1t seemed as
though he thought that to properly
conduct his train-to secure the COM
fort of his passengers and rightly serve
the interests of his company-required
the full exercise of all the powers God
had given him.
One of the sternest and most exact
ing, and yet one Of the noblest, ablest
and most conscientious men who ever
filled similar position was then Cen
eral Superintendent of the road. This
man, Col. C. G. Hammond, watched
every employe of the road with an
eagles eye. He measured every man,
knew the ability of each, and seemed
intuitivcly to know which were the
faithful workers and which the lazy
shirks. Our young conductor did not
escape the keen eye. When he least
thought of it his chief was measuring
and sounding him. and finding out
what kind of metal he was made of;
but none ever knew whether he was
approved or not, for the chiefs look
was always stern and cold as ice.
One Saturday morning train No. 4
moved slowly out of Chicago under the
care Of my friend, who, only intent on
doing his work as well as he knew
how, seemed to have no higher ambi-
ton than to be good conductor
salary $500 year. About noon, when
he stopped at station, he found tele-
gram from the head Office, ordering
him to ''leave the train in the care OF
Il g., fNl~s
cago.''
This was an unusual thing. Wonder
ing what could be the matter; con-
scious that he had tried to do exactly
right, and yet remembering how exact
ing was the General Superintendent,
he feared that unintentiOnally he had
fallen under his displeasure. Reaching
Chicago late Saturday evening, he
found Col Hammond had gone home,
and knowing how strict he was in his
observance of the Sabbath, the con-
ductor waited impatiently for the COM
ing Monday morning, when, with a
fearful heart, he presented himself at
the office of the Superintendent.
sGood morning, Mr.. Hammond; l
have received your telegram and come
to see what it means.'
"Good morning." growled the chief,
81 see you have, sir; l have concluded
to take your train away from you.
The conductors heart sank lower
than ever. What before was only fear
full foreboding, was now painful truth.
He had served the company to the best
Of his ability. He had kept the affairs
of his train in complete order, his re-
ports had been carefully and correctly
made; and yet, after all, he had lost
his position; he knew not why, and ne
felt that his case was sad indeed. He
inwardly resolved that, having missed
his calling, he would quit railroading
and try some other service, where faith
full work would be appreciated. He
dared not hope to reverse the decision
of the all-powerful official, yet in as
calm q voice as he could command, he
politely asked the reason for his sum-
mary dismissal.
Col. Hammond waited a while before
he answered. Then the muscles of his
face relaxed little, and he said: 81
want an Assistant Superintendent in
my Office, and have called you to take
the place."
True worth is always modest, and
our thunderstruck conductor could only
stammer, But / am not competent
sir, to fill the position
"You can do what / tell you; yor
can obey orders, can't youp That's al
YOU have to do, sir. You will begir
work this morning. That is YOU
DESK
The new duties were not as Difficult
as he expected. At first he had only t
obey orders, and carry out the details
| Of work laid out by the chief, and t
these duties he brought the same faith
| fulness and thoroughness that hadmad'
him noticeable as conductor. Hi
elevation did not spoil him or max
him vain. Ha was as plain, and modest
| and hard-working as before the salar,
at first was 81. 800.
| After few years' service under Col
Hammond, and an advance of salar,
to %, 500. the plain young man was in
vited to take the Office Of General Su
! perintendent of younger road at
| salary Of "a, 900. Distrusting his owl
| ability, but determined to do his best
IA arrov>kod fha naII and ar1cceaded