The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-10-26
THE ~rORGoTTEN ORDER.

We often hear boys, and older people
too-excuse themselves for some neglect Of
duty by saying 81 forgot all about it. +"
One ought to educate the memory and
practice remembering things as one prac-
tees examples in arithmetic, or peuman-
ship or anything else. And when one has
forgotten anything lie ought to try to
think Of some way to correct the evil OF
prevent the disaster which so often comes
from forgetfulness.
Paul Burton was telegraph operator,
ticket agent, baggage man, and no telling
what else at the little station of Beaver
Junction. One day he received an order
to hold the east bound freight for orders.
Just as the freight train came to his sta
ton Paul was busy with other matters
and forgot all about the order. The west
bound passenger had come and gone, and
the track was clear, so the conductor of
the freight thought, for his train. Not
knowing anything Of the order holding his
train the conductor of the freight started
out on his regular time. When Paul had
attended to the baggage he went to his
office to report the trains which had just
left. As he stepped to the table, there lay
the order to hold the east bound freight.
Pale with fear he rushed out to the track,
but the train had gone. What might be
the result of that mistake Paul did not
know, but he saw the freight just going
out OF sight around a curve. Something
must be done. On the track stood a switch
engine, with steam up ready for switching.
Paul called to the engineer and on his own
responsibility sent him out to overtake the
freight and bring it back, explaining to
him the mistake and giving him the for
gotten order for the conductor of the
freight. "All right, said Harry Gay as
he climbed to his engine, 'Ill catch that
train if possible" As he turned the
lever, and opened the throttle, the engine
bounded forward, and Harry said to him
self, 'Paul shall have one friend at least y
and he gave his engine all the steam it was
safe to give, and flew on past the last yard
switch, along the track, and around the
curve, and Paul could see no more. Then
be hastened to his Office to report the dam
geIous condition to he Superintendent.
Soon the news spread to the few homes
of the little town, and the railroad men
had all learned what the danger was, and
they gathered at the station to discuss the
situation and await results. Harry can
catch them if anybody can" said Mike
Hardy, the section boss. "Wonder what
they'll do to Paul" said Dick Patton, who
tended the water tank.
And so they talked, for every one loved
Paul, and felt sorry for him, fearing some
dreadful accident might happen, and that
Paul might be discharged. But soon
smoke was seen just beyond the curve.
Then the train moved around, and came
on the straight track, and the shrill wills
tie announced the safe arrival of the over
taken train. Men breathed more freely.
No accident-and many thought, no "nar-
row escape Paul was not discharged.
In a few days the people had forgotten all
about the danger, and they did not even
think the story a thrilling one, since there
was no tragedy connected with it. But
Paul never forgot that hour. When an
order came to hold a train he could see the
east bound freight going around the curve
when it ought to have been held for orders.
Boys, to forget may not be a crime, but
it often leads to results almost like crime.
If you have ever forgotten any important
order, do not think it a t~rifling thing be-
cause no tragedy follows your forgetful-
ness. Your fault is the same when the
danger is averted, as when it is not. You
may be saved when others suffer; but the
fault Of forgetfulness is not great only as
it affects the one who forgets, but as it
makes everything depending on that one
uncertain and insecure.