The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-07-12
Story Of Old Man Finn.

l saw him last summer, working q
third-class wire in Western city. In
reply to my inquiry. tho chief operator
informed me that Finn had been given
employment the day before. 1 met tho
old boy on tho stairs later in the day,
and he said, in a weak voice, "Yes,
am back here again, what there is left
OF me. Ny drinking days are over, and
! am about over too" He certainly
looked bad, and 1 said to myself, IF
consumption hasn't marked you for Its
own, your appearance bellies you" My
gaze won't wandering away from him as
he said sadly, II can't telegraph very
well any more. My hand shakes, and
it is like saving wood for me to work
wirs-even way wire" Then he left
me and pursued his way up stairs to the
operating room. Old man Finn is OF
r.orc than So years OF age, but he has
burned the candle at both ends, and his
nervous system is fatally wrecked. He
has fallen into q decline of late years,
and there remains for him nothing, l
fear, but tho bitter dregs of exlstenc
Away back in the sixties, when l was
a mere lad, endcavoring to master the
mysteries of telography, Finn was in
his prime. Hs was regarded as one of
the finest telegraphers in the country,
and at the time l first knew him he had
just completed his 21s. year. l doubt
il many young men who have their way
to make in the world, attain their ma
jority under fairer auspices than he did.
Intelligent. fiac-looking, and tho master
of profession which at that time was
counted as one of tho fino arts, almost,
he had, apparently, an enviable future
before him. Indeed, if had been told
in those dear old days that l would
eventually reach what seemed in my
boyish eyes pinnacle of glory-such as
ho occupied should have been more
surprised and pleased than 1 could be
now over any prospect of future pros
periiy short of tight hold on Paradise
Somebody has recently written a
poem in which two tramp, figure. One
inquiries on meeting the other if there
is no shade tree near at hand, and the
second replies, "Yes, a little further
down tho road" The writer ella borates
this idea and says we are all tramps
looking for a shade tree. In hi, view
it is always farther down the road, and
but few of US ever reach it. The idea
i, we'll enough but the view is too pes
simistic to please me. / believe, on the
contrary, that we arc rather ike child
rem straying through house in which
there are many rooms of exquisite love-
illness, each more beautiful than tho pre-
ceding one. Outside of the mansion
wethink We would be content if we
could gain the hall, but once within we
stray on and on, with thoughts intent
upon the possibilities which lie beyond
and little needing the increasing beauty
OF our surroundings since wo left the
threshold. 1t is better that we should
sometimes consider the point from
which we started. The experiment is
consollng at all events, and makes us
philosophic and more contented with
our social status. There are not many
of US who have made the most of our
opportunities, who cannot say with the
Christian of old: ooh, God, 1 have
much to be than kful for"
Old man Finn has not so much to be !
thankful for as many, and that he has
thrown away hi, opportunities is to my
mind the chief reason therefor. In the
curt vernacular of Americans, we often
have the solution of a problem in one
world. We hear of men in our own
and other professions who have extra.
ordinary abilities, kindly natures and
many traits of character calculated to
endcar them to their acquaintances. We
are told, however, that they are at
present down 10 the world" utterly
used up" &C., and when we inquire
the cause, the answer comes with pin
ful regularity in that direful monosyl-
liable Rum Old man Finn's failure
in lie i, also susceptible of explana-
tion by the mention of that short sad
word. l do not mean to preach tem-
peraucs sermo1. Ia writing a sketch.
however, of man whom i have known
and admired, aud through whose kindly
aid / was launched on q career which