Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-05-10
The Brakeman Who
Went to Church.


extent:-
To me comes the brakeman. and, seat
ing himself on the arm of the seat says;
ii went to church yesterday"
"Yes % said, with that interested
infection that asks for more. "And
what church did you attend %
(Which do you guess % he asked.
"Some union mission church %
hazarded.
Now" he said, 81 don't like to run
on these branch roads very much. l
don't often go to church, and when l
do, l want to run on the main line,
where your run is regular and you 60
on schedule time and don't have to
wait on connections. | don't like to
run on branch. Good enough, but /
don't like it.
episcopal ?" guessed.
Limited express, he said, "all pal
ace cars and two dollars extra for seat !;
fast time, and only stops at the big sta
tions. Nice line, but too exhaustive for
a brakeman. All train men in uniform
conductors punch and lantern silver
plated, and no train boys allowed. Then
the passengers are allowed to talk back
to the conductor and it makes them
too free and easy. No, couldn't stand
the palace cars. Rich road, though.
Don't often hear of receiver being ap-
pointed for that line. Some mighty
nice people on it too"
"Universalist ?" l guessed.
"Broad gauge" said the brakeman,
"does too much complimentary business.
Everybody travels on pass. Conductor
doesn't get fare once in fifty miles
Stops at all flag stations. and won't run
into anything but union depot. No
smoking-car on the train. Train orders
are vague, though, and the trainmen
don't get along we'll with the passeh-
gers. No, l don't 60 to the Universal
list, though know some awfully good
men who run on that road"
perhaps you went to the Unita-
rians %
i
mo, didn't, but might have done
worse. That is mighty good road,
we'll ballasted with reason, though it
runs through region little bit cold.
and there is apt to be some iOe and
snow on the track. but in case of acci-
dent there is SO danger of upsettlng the
stoves arI being burnt up; and there's
one good thing about it, the neighbors are
generally ready to come and help when
you get into trouble. They like to have
things nice and comfortable in this
world, doing what they think is about
right and taking their chances for the
other. They don't seem to take much
stock in being as miserable as you can
here in the hope that you will be the
happier for it there. They seem to
think that mans going to reap the
same kind of crop that he plants, and
that if he puts in a selfish, worthless
\ kind of life Oh this earth it amt a. going
to come out very fine specimen IN
heaven. Seems to me some sense as
well as poetry in that; but was raised
an "orthodox" and 'twouldn't do for me
to be seen on that train or 1 might lose
my place on the other line, as there's
good deal of competition between the
two roads, and our folks are getting
afraid of losing travel"
] presbyterian ?" l asked.
Marrow gauge, eh p said the brake
man, "pretty track, straight as a rule ;
tunnel right through mountain rather
than 60 around it; spirit-level grade
passengers have to show their tickets
before they get on the train. Mighty
strict road, but the cars are little mar
row; have to sit one in seat and no
room in the isle to dance. Then there's
no stop-over tickets allowed got to g
straight through to the station YOU'RE
ticketed for, or you can't get on at all
When the cars full, no extra coaches
cars built at the shops to hold just 81
many and nobody else allowed on. Blu
you don't often hear of an accident OIL
this road. It's run right up to tn
rules"
"May be you joined the Free Think
ers ?" l said.
Scrub road" said the brakeman
"dirt road bed and no ballast; no tim
card and no train dispatcher. All train
run wild and every engineer makes hi
own time, just as he pleases. Smoke
you want to kind of a go-as-you-pleas
, road. Too many side tracks, and ever
switch wide open all the time, with th
switchman sound asleep and the targe
lamp dead out. Get on as you pleas
and get off when you want to. Don
, have to show your tickets, and the cor
r ductor isn't expected to do anything bu
amuse the passengers. No, sir; l wa
offered a pass, but | don't like the lint
don't like to travel on line that ha
l no terminus. Do you know, sir, [ asl
. ed division superintendent where th;
road run to, and he said be hoped to di