Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-07-20
Story of Old Man Finn.

l saw him last summer, WORKING a
third-class wire in a Western CITY. In
rep'y to my inquiry, tho chief operator
informed me that Finn had Leon oiv n
employment the day before. | met the
old boy on the stairs later in the dav
and be said, in a weak voice Yes I
am back here again, what there is left
oil me. My drinking days are over, and
| am about over too" He certainly
looked bad, and | said to myself "If
consumption hasn't marked you for Its
own, 'ur appearance bellies you" Nv
gaze went wandering away from him a,
ne said sadly 81 can't telegraph vcry
wei any moro. My hand shakes and
1t Is IKE saving wood for me to work a
Wlre-eVen a way wire" Then be |, Fl
me and ursued his way up stairs to tho
operating room. Old man Fin, i,o4
more than 90 years Of age, but bo bo :,
nar~Sa ne4~ sSs t42 saSJad SsaaDdIa RQthanda-as E
has fallen into a decline of late years,
and there remains for him nothing, l
fear, but the bitter dregs of existence.
Away back in the sixties, when was
a mere lad, endcavoring to master the
mysteries of telography, Finn was in
his prime. H, was regarded as one of
the finest tclegraphers in the country,
and at the time l first knew him he had
just completed his 2ts: year. doubt
if many young men who have their way
to make in the world, attain their ma
jority under fairer auspices than he did.
Intelligent fiuc-looking, and the master
of q rofession which at That time was
counted as one of the fine 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 see mel in my
boyish eyes pinnacle of glory--such as
he oocupied--I should vo been more
surprised and Pleased than l could be
now over any prospect of future pros
perity short of tight hol / on Paradise.
Somebody has recently writton a
poem in which two tramp figure. One
inquiries on meeting the other if there
is no shade tree near at haud, and the
second replies, Eyes, a little further
down the road The writer elaborates
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 u, ever reach it, The idea
Is we'll enough but the view is too pes
simistic to please me. believe, on the
contrary, that we are 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
we think we would be content ii we
could gain the hall, but once within we
stray on AMI on, with thoughts intent
upon the possibilities which lie beyond
and little needing the increasing beauty
OF our surroun Iings since We left the
threshold. 1t is better that we should
sometimes consider the point from
which we started. The experiment l:
consoling at all events, and makes u'
philosophic and moro contented witt
our social status. There are not many
OF us who have made the most OF ouI
opportunities, who cannot say with thu
Christian of old; "Oh, God, hav'
II uch to be thankful for"
Old man Finn has not o much to b.
thankful for as many, aud that he ha
thrown away his opportunities is to m.
mind the chief reason therefor. In tn
curt vcrnacular OF America :, We tn
have the solution of pIoblem In on'
world. We he Il men in our ow
nd other professions who have extra
ordinary abilities, kindly natures aa'
many traits of character calculated t
endear them to their acquaiatances. W
are told, however, that they are
present down in the world" 'u;teri
used up" &C., aad when we inquir
the cause, the answer comes with plin
full regularity in that direfuI monosyl
liable Rum" Old maa Finn's fai'ur
in lie is also susceptible of explan'
tion by the mention of that short sa
word. l do not mean to preach ten
perance sermon. In writing a sketch
however, of man whom have know
and admired, aud through whose kind
aid was laun ched on a career whleh