Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-09-26
Conductor Harry
Rowland.

of them, should anything happen to you
when under the influence of liquor. Oh,
Henry, do you not realize that the hab-
it is growing on you, and that you act
differently in every way than you did
>in the happy days, now. alas seeming
ingly gone forever. Even if it is not
remarked as much by the officials as by
the loving eyes at home, you must know
that you grow reckless and careless. and
expose yourself to danger needlessly.
OF late, when you are on the road. |
am in constant dread for fear that you
may be killed, and start and tremble
at every sound, for fear that they are
bringing me the mangled remains of my
dear husband. Promise me. then, dear
Henry, that you will not drink any
more-at least this trip. Try it this
trip, my dear, and see how much more
like the Henry of yore you will feel,
and what joy you will bring to the
hearts of those you love best when you
come home to them safe, and with mind
unclouded and breath free from the
taint of liquor"
"Oh, pshaw, Nellie That just like
you women, always making mountains
out of molehills. You need not fear for
me, 1 can tell you. I'm all right on
duty and if you have seen me once or
twice under the influence of liquor,
there are very few that can say the
same, and no one can say that | was
ever so on duty. l know just what [
can stand and when to leave off, and
it's only when after we reach the end
of the run, and | am tired and worn
out, that | yield to my own desire for
a stimulant, or to the opportunities of
my many friends. It is not necessary
to bind myself by any promise. l am
not going to drink to excess; of that
you can rest assured. So, Nellie, don't
coDjure up any phantom from your WV
id Imagination. to worry yourself into
fever over while l am gone"
And Conductor Rowland kissed his
wife and little ones, and with merry
good-by, ran out of the gate, and his
swinging pace soon carried him out of
sight in the gathering darkness, as he
fastened to the Office.
Calling in the children, Mrs. Row
land busted herself until bedtime; and
then, kneeliug, offered up fervent
prayer for the safety of her loving but
wayward husband, who was even at that
moment, in company with other rail-
road men, doing that which was to work
him so much harm ere the dawn of ano-
ther morn.
Conductor Rowland's vigorous walk
ing soon brought him to the depot Office,
where he asked for orders, as is the
rule ere leaving on any train.
He was informed that freight had
been ditched ten miles west. and receiv-
ed orders not to leave the yard with his
train until her arrival, which would
probably be within two hours after his
own leaving time.
"And," said the operator, "as this is
the second wreck this week, Harry,
look out that you don't come i'll at the
wind-up for the inevitable third"
"Never you fear for me-" replied
Harry. "You know that am called
the luckiest conductor on the road, and
1 don't propose to belle my reputation
at this late day.
And, leaving the Office, he made his
way to the yard to look at his train.
That duty performed, and time hang
/ ing heavily on his hands-as it will
with any railroad man during a pro
tracted lay-out-he willingly accepted
the invitation of his engineer to indulge
in social glass at saloon hard by, in
structing his brakeman to call hin
should he be wanted.
) One glass led to another, second tt
} a third, and when at last the whistle o
the incoming freight was heard. he hac
given the lie to his assertion to his wifi
! that he "was all right on duty" ant
r "knew just how much he could stand
and when to leave off.
He hastened to the office, in answe
l to the red LIGHT just hung out for order
1 realizing for the first time his condition
r as he blundered up the track, but trust
ing to the darkness, and the hurry am
hustle, to conceal it from the eyes Q
those in the office.
81 did my best to look sober an
+ dignlfed-as all drunken men dos
I as to shut the eyes of the operator an
t others in the office to my condition.
: Harry told his wife. while being nurse
l back to life again after that dreadful
: night. "But several of them notice.
that | had been drinking, thoug
through regard for me they did not sa
anything. 1t would have been far bel
e ter for me had they done SO. as it ha
= turned out, but l suppose l should hav
e resented it as deadly insult at th
= time"
1t IL received my orders. and made N