The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-04-14
"Put on the Brake, jim"

upon somebody, and l asked the porter
to tell me whom he referred.
Il mean the driver, jim DeDniDg,
there replied the porter; "he's tho
only man who works Oh cold water OH
this line"
"i'ut does lie work well?' asked,
''As well as any, aud better than
most" returned the porter.
"Dut why did you call him "Cold-
water JinT
"Oh, it's q name he . got because he
joined the temperance band" said the
man. "Jim has had a deal of 'chaff'
from the men, but he has stooi II well.
Jini's not the man to turn away from
what he thinks Is right. lie won't
Gfiuk, aud he Won't work on SUNDAYS
either"
THAT is 10 crlne," remarked; "on
the contrary, he onght TO be commend
cd TOR it,"
"The direstors did not think so," re.
turned the porter; "and he was told il
no did not work ON Sundays he should
not work OH weekdays; but no held
out, and they gave In. Jim's too good
man to part with--no fear about
him .neglecting his work. You mus
excuseime now, sir,as am wanted .ovel
there"
walked up the line and took a long
look at the driver. He was stout
well-built man, with q very intelligen
lace, bearded, aud brol Z d by exposur,
to the weather. went up and asket
| IL | could speak with him within al
hour or SO.
81 shall TO of duty In half all hour,
he replied; land if you will meet IN,
by yon gate, close to the signal-box,
shall be happy to oblige you, sir"
Before the time he named had quit
expired, James Denning appeared, an,
politely lifdng bis cap, asked if b
could be of service To me.
.Iheard you called 'Cold-wster jim :,
I replied, Sand by that guessed yol
to DO a member OF a temperance SO
ciety."
ayes, sir, am, am thankful t
say" he rtpl e.i
at Is SO rare TO meet with Que o
your class AN abstsiIer that | am nnx
lous to know how you becamo So"
said.
IL shall b. most happy 10 tell you Al
about IT," replied James Denning, 81
You can on y.wait a little longer. Iik
cold water iD many ways, aud was
l,tcr my run is very refreshing. Tue
get my tea, and as tho two will tax
about halt all hour, perhaps you -"
"l'll call In al hour" said. "Wher
do you liver
THAT'S my cottage ON the slope you
der, SIR"
with the wcil-kept gardeny"
"Wel!, sir, does my best" reptile
James Denning; "snd the missu
spends little time over it too, althoug
she has four youngsters hanging abou
her from morning to night. In an houl
sirr"
"In Oil hour will be there" replied
aud strolled into the town to look abor
The time quickly passed, for in thl
world of ours there is always plenty {
food tor thought ii a man will think
and rs the church click was strikin
seven, ! walked up tho little lane leaC
ng To Deuning'e house. lilo met me ;
ho gsrden-gale, with his wife standin
oy his side, holding rosy babe In he
arms. just Behind them were thre
childr-n, two boys aud girl, froI
three to seven Years age, busily engas
ed In constructing small grotto {
sticks and oyster shells. Alter au il
PRODUCTION 20 his wife, Dsnning aske
me if would prefer the outside or il
side OF the house. AS it was q fin
night preferred the outside. and Del
ming went in to fetch chairs.
"Nincy's heard the story doze
times" said Denning, as We sat down
| s.fuf .I,a .a N iieta.. ~ 1, a0ain I th,nE u
Never tired Of hearing il, JIM" sl
replied, laying hand with a gent
toach upon his arm, "for it was Il
saving Of u., a bob -, Pl2Qdy e .asld Dennins
then turning to me no went on: 81 b.
gan life as cleaner Ut The shop of Pow
son Brothers, engine filters, aud afte
three years Of II got aboard this line q
a fireman. My mate was Tom Bettl
an excellent man In many respects, bu
given to drink. The directors wouldn
have man who drinks heavily If the
knew II; but they never knew ToI
drank out of bounds and why1 Is,
tity, and not show it Ia his walk.
''Tom was great wonder 10 thos
who knew him as did, and it nscd q
be said that he ould break up one day
although nobody ever thought how
would break up, poor fellow! He WI
very good.naiured, and was just Oh
age TO take Ia fellow with an even ten
per. / liked Tom very much, and b
liked me. Up 10 the time of on
coming together had not dram
very much. took my beer at dime
and my glass at night, but nothin
more. But now there comes g change
and when III duty, Tom and wer
much at the public-house together
spending all the money We had.
tom had u vito and home, bu
such miserable home it was TO look d
-brawling wife, dirty children, scarce
~ stick Of furniture la tho place, an
never scrubbed month la aud mont
out. But this did not matter TO Ton
He only went there TO sleep, and
was generally Ia such a state that b
could have slept anywh here lin q stab
or cowshcd, but for the look aud nam
Of the thing. saw all this, but yet
could not take warning, and went ia
on the same down.hill road with TOT
just keeping clear of exposure, and ge
ting through my work In sloyenly Of
hand way, which is common to me
who fuddle their heads with drink.
"l've got heaps of faults, sir. and on
OF 'em is that I'm obstinate as mnl,
and don't listen to reason like OthS
folks, My vile knew this, and In tr.
ing 10 reclaim me she didn't try 10
much at once; hut one day she say Is
quiet casual way
Jim, willyou'be OF duty to-nightp
"ies, l shall, lass, and III come hon
straight" for l hadn't yet got dee
enough into drink TO neglect eyerythin
for IL. Nancy kissed me and said 81
would look out for me. and I car
home as / promised. After tea she say
| I'm the eame sort OF casual wav. As II n