The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-05
A True Story for Boys.


want to tell the boys about friend of
mine, whose faithful performance of pres
emit duty led him into higher positions
than he had ever dreamed of filling, and
gave him what We would all like to reach
honor and success.
In the earlier years of my experience as
a 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 l
came to know young man who is the
subject of my story. He came from Massa-
chusetts He was poor, and had no in
fluential friend even to give him letter of
recommendation. He sought employment
on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
railroad, and, after waiting time, at last
secured a position as brakeman on
freight train--salary about $50 month.
He was faithful in this position and, be-
ing both intelligent and industrious, he
was soon made conductor of the train, with
wages nearly doubled. He soon attracted
the attention of his superior officers, who
saw in him an honest, faithful, and con-
scientious conductor, one not seeking his
own ease or pleasure, but constantly de-
voted to the interest of the company that
employed him, so that not many months
elapsed before he was made conductor of
a passenger train-a more comfortable po-
sition, and one yielding a somewhat
higher salary. Here | first knew him;
and / saw in him modest, quiet, unassum-
ing young man, free from the popular
vices, and who apparently tried to be just
as faithful and true and devoted to his
work as conductor as though the posi-
ton had been that of general superin-
tendent. He did not apparently have
high opinion of his own abilities. There
was total absence of that swagger and
strut so often seen in those who come to
similar subaltern positions. 1t seemed
as though he thought that properly to con-
duct his train-to secure the comfort of
his passengers and rightly serve the inter-
ests of his company-required the full
exercise of all the powers that God had
given him.
One of the sternest and most exacting,
and vet one of the noblest, ablest and
most conscientious men who ever filled a
similar position, was then general super.
intendent of the road. This man, Colonel
C. G. Hammond, watched every employee
of the road with an eagles eye. He
measured every man, knew the ability of
each, and seemed intuitively to know
which were the faithful workers and
which were the lazy shirks. Our young
conductor did not escape the keen eye.
When he least thought of it his chief
was measuring and sounding him, and
finding out what kind of metal he was
made of but none ever knew whether
he was approved or not, for the chiefs look
was nearly always stern and cold as ice.
One Saturday morning train No.
moved slowly out of Chicago. under the
care of my friend, who, only intent on do
ing his work as well as he knew how,
seemed to have no higher ambition than
to be good conductor, salary 5000 a
year. About noon, when he stopped at a
station, he found telegram from the head
Office, ordering him to " leave the train in
care of -, and take the first train for
Chicago"
This was an unusual thing. Wonder
ing what could be the matter, conscious
that he had tried to do exactly right, and
yet, remembering how exacting was the
general superintendent, he feared that
displeasure. Reaching Chicago late Sat.
uTudy oNcuiuS, ITO lOuuu SOlOuCl Ham
mond had gone home and, knowing how
strict he was in his observance of the
Sabbath, the conductor waited impa-
tiently for the coming Monday morn
ing, when, with a fearful heart, he pre-.
sented himself at the office of the super.
intendent.
"Good morning, Mr.. Hammond. / have
answered your telegram, and come to see
what it means"
"Good morning." growled the chief
Il see you have, sir. | have concluded
to take your train away from you."
The conductors heart sank lower thar
ever. What before 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, ant
yet, after all, he had lost his position. He
knew not why, and he felt that his case
was sad indeed. He inwardly resolved
that, having missed his calling, he would
quit railroading and try some other ser
vice, where faithful work would be appre
ciated. He dared not hope to reverse thu
decision of the all-powerful official yet
in as calm voice as he could command
he politely asked the reason for his sum
mary dismissal.
Colonel Hammond waited awhile befor
he answered. Then the muscles of hi
face relaxed little, and he said, 4" wan