The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-08-04

"Why not?
| Because l n-n-never t-t-tried it.
ooh, you mean you think you could,
but you have never proved your theory
by experiment"
''4-y-yes-yea, sir.
The men and boys became wonderfully
interested in this conversation, for it was
clear that Tom Stayboltt knew what he
was talking about.
"Do you belong to the Railroad SCHOOL,"
! "Yy-yes-yes, sir.
"YOu mean to try for the prize, I sup
posel"
''No, sir. My handwriting is as crook
| ed as r-rram's h-h-horn."
After that nothing more OF importance
was said, and the boys, having looked
over the engine to their hearts content,
| went home"
The next day at ten o'clock the entire
school was marched into the lecture
room of the school building to see the
prize watch given by the President to
| the boy who had written the best com
| position. All the teachers were there,
| together with the fathers and mothers of
the boys, visitors, and people connected
with the railroad. This prize giving was
regarded as a great event along the line,
| and every man, from engine -wipers to
directors, wanted to be on hand to see
| whose son carried off tho prize At 1915
| railroad time, the President and the
Honorable Directors, with their wives
| and daughters, marched in and took seats
on the platform, while ell the boys stood
up as q matter Of respect to the founder
of the school. 1t was altogether quite a
grand ceremonious affair, and was, for
the boys, an impressive occasion. When
the directors and the ladies were seated,
| the boys sat down. Then there was
speech from the head-master, followed
by one from director, and one from the
Presidents wife. Then it came the
Presidents turn to give out the prizes.
All the compositions, neatly tied up in
red tape, were laid on the desk, and when
he stood up he brushed them all one side,
as if he did not care much for compost
tions. His speech was short and very
peculiar:
Ladies' and gentlemen, and boys of
the school, [ have carefully read all the
compositions, and, while I think they
are all excellent, have decided that this
time the chance to win the prize shall be
open to those who did not write com
position"
This was a great surprise, and the boys
wondered how this was to be done. They
knew the President was just and hon
orable map, and would do nothing IN
fair; so they accepted what he said in
silence, though those who had written
the compositions were, of course, some
disappointed.
Yesterday" continued the President,
81 heard one of the boys say he could
run locomotive engine without wood
the prize. Is the boy present."
There was a solemn hush in the room.
Every one looked about, and wondered
If the audacious and foolish boy was
there. OF course it could not be done,
and the President had taken this means
to punish him for his vain and Idle boast
ing.
As for Tom Stayboltt, he felt ready to
sink through the floor. Something must
be done about it, and in moment he
stood up, and said, in clear manly
voice.
81 said so, sir; and if you will give me
the engine, and Jerry Smiths Mogul,
I'll do it.
The sudden appearance of little Tom
Stayboltt, pale and yet calm, and the
clear voice without a defect, caused a
great sensation, and every one turned in
wonder to look at him. Some of the la
dies wanted to know what the boy meant
by Jerry Smiths Mogul," and the gen.
tleman with them explained that it was a
heavy freight engine of the ''Mogul'
pattern run by Mr.. J. Smith
The President called Tom up to the
platform, and for a moment or two there
was a whispered conversation between
Tom, the head master of the school, and
the President. Every one looked on with
the greatest interest, and wondered what
would happen next.
Tom seems to have convinced the two
gentlemen that he knew exactly what he
was talking about, for the President
smiled and shook Tom by the hand, and
then stood up and said to all the people:
"When | heard Master Stayboltt say
yesterday afternoon he could run the en-
gine, [ resolved to give him a chance. |
therefore ordered train to be got ready,
and now invite the school and all their
friends to go to the station. We will
take the engine out on the line, and Mas
ter Stayboltt shall try for the prize by
running the engine mile without wood
or water. The engine has never been
used, except on its trial trip, and there is
not quart of water in the boiler or tank,
nor pound Of coal or so much as
match, on the tender"
This proposal was received with the
greatest enthusiasm, and the entire CON-
pany, ladies and gentlemen, teachers,
boys, and all, marched down to the sta
ton, and took train of cars they found
ell ready for them. A heavy "Mogul''
| engine backed up and took the train over
to the repair-shop yards, where the new
I engine stood. Several of the directors
got out and examined the engine, and
declared there was no fuel in the tender
nor drop OF water in the boiler. The
| train was backed up to the front of the