The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-11-04
Reward OF Honest Industry.


of mine, whose faithful performance of
present duties led him into higher posi-
tions than he ever dreamed Of filling, and
gave him what we would all like to reach
honor ard Success.
In the years of my experience as d
printer in Chicago, more than twenty
years ago, our firm did good deal Of
printing for the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy Railroad, and because of this
came to know young man who IL the
subject of my story.
He came from Massachusetts he was
poor, and had no influential friends to
even give him q letter of recommendation.
He sought employment on the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and
after Yaitingssa time, at last secured O po-
: sition as brakeman on freight train
salary only thirty dollars a month. He
was faithful in this position, aud being
both intelligent and industrious, he was
soon made e conductor on the train, with
wages nearly doubled. He soon attracted
the attention of his superior officers, who
saw in him an honest, faithful conscicn-
tious conductor, one not seeking his own
ease or pleasure, but constantly devoted
to the interests Of the company that EN-.
ployed him, SO that not many months
q passenger train-a more comfortable
position, and one yielding higher salary.
Here first knew him, o modest, quiet,
unassuming young man, free from the
popular vices, and who tried to be just as
faithful and true aud devoted to his work
as conductor, as though the position had
been that ofgeneral superintendent. He
did not apparently have very high
opinion Of his own abilities; there was o
total absence ofthat swagger and strut so
often seen in those who come TO similar
subaltern positions. 1t seemed rs though
to properly conduct his train, to secure
the comfort ofhis passengers and rightly
serve the interests of his company, re.
quired the full exercise of all the powers
God had given him.
One of the yternest and mort exacting
and yet one sof the noblest, ablest, and
most conscientious men who ever filled
similar position, Yas then general su-
perintendent of the road. This man,
Col. G. C. Hammond, watched every
employee of the road with an eagle eye.
He measured every man, knew the .abil-
ity OF each and seemed intuitively to
know the faithful workers from the shirks.
keen eye. When he least thought of it,
him, and finding out what kind of metal
lie was iiiade vi. But no one ever knew
whether he WAS approved or not, for the
chiefs look was always stern and cold as
ice.
On Frida, night, train number four
moved SLOW, out of Chicago under the
care ofmy young friend, who, only intent
on doing, his work as we'll as he knew
how, seemed to have TO higher ambition
than to be conductor-salary nine hum
dred dollars year. About noon, when
he stopped ct the station, he found tel
egram from the head office, ordering him
to leave the train in care Of -, and
take the frat train for Chicago.
This was an unusual thing. Wonder
ing what was the matter, conscious that
he had tried to do exactly right, and yet
remembering how. exacting was the,su-
perintendent, he feared that unintention-
ally he had fallen under his displeasure.
Reaching Chicago late Saturday evening
he found Colonel Hammond had gone
home, and knowing how strict he was in
his observance of the Sabbath, the con-
ductor waited impatiently for the coming
Monday morning, when, with fearful
heart, 10 presented himself at the Office
of the superintendent
"Good movning, Mr.. Hammond I've
answered your telegram. and come to see
what it means"
"Good morning" growed the chief
II seeyon have, sir. concluded TO take
your train away from you."
The conductors heart sank tlowerthani
ever. What:befo was only fearful fore-
boding 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 reports had
been carefully and correctly made; and
yet, after oil, he had lost his position, he
knew not why, and felt that his case
was sad indeed. He inwardly re.
solved that, having missed his calling, he
would quit raiiroading end try some SER
vice, where faithful work would be ap.
preciated. He dared not hope to reverse
the decision of the official, yet in as calm
voice ms he could command. :. he politely
asked tbe.reason of his SUMMARY disfnis-
sal.
Colonel Hammond waited while be.
fore he answered. Then tho muscles
of his face relaxed little, and he aaid:
IL want an assistant superintendent in
my Office, and have called you to take the
place."
True worth is always modest, and cur
thunder-sfruct conductor could only
stammer:
"But am not competent, sir, to fill the
position you offer." 49, st%'&
"You can do Us tell yor;. you, can
obey orders, and carry ont the details os
the work laid out by the chief" seses
To these duties he brought the same
thoroughness and faithful ness that had
made him conductor. His elevation did
not make him vain or spoil him. He
was as plain and modest and hardwork-
ing as before. The salary at first was one
o. '15sud sight hundred dollars.
After few years ofservice under Col.
Hammond, and an advance Of salary to
two thousand five hundred dollars, the
plain young man was invited to take the
ONCE OF general superintendent OF a
young road, at a salary Of four thousand
dollars. Distrusting his own ability, but
determined to do his best, he accepted
the call and succeeds |, until the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy Railroad, realiz.
ing how much they had lost in parting
with him, invited him to resume his old
position, with the tempting Offer of six
thousand year. I''s
In the meantime, Col. Hammond had
become Superintendent of Union Pacific
road, running from Omaha to Ogden,
where it connects with the Central Pa
cific road. The latter road was owned by
four or five miliionaires who had built it,