The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-12-09
What A Freight Master Did.

AL OhSihO pd"POu oSoihob SOLiO
empty cars in the early dawn of win
ter morning. A boy who had been
asleep in one of them was thrown,
dazed and bewildered, against the door,
which he had pulled to when he crawled
into the car the night before.
Just then brakeman thrust his head
into the car, and reached for his Jacket,
which he supposed was hanging where
he had left it. He was somewhat sur
prised to find boy on it,, and took it
from him without ceremony.
"Now, get out of herel" he said,
thrusting the boy from the door. eff
l catch you in one of these cars again,
I'll give you to a policeman"
What's he been up to, Bill?" said
man who was putting freight into the
next car.
Sup TO my coat" he said, giving it
vigorous shake as he walked off.
The boy looked dirty and detected as
he limped along by the side of the track.
The man who had spoken called after
him:
"Hullo, therel Do you want a job?"
The boy turned back quickly.
:" If you'll help me load them firkins,
I'll pay you for it; but you'll have to
work spry."
The prospect of little money bright
ened the boy, and be set to work in
earnest, though he was stiff and cramped
and hungry.
"Do you live round here?" asked
the man.
The boy shook his head.
L" In case we should want to hire
boy about your size, can you give me
any recommendation as to your char
acter?"
The boys face flushed, but he made
no answer. The man watched him mar
rowly, and when the car was loaded
handed him twenty-five cents, saying,
We're short of hands in the freight
room. Do you think you'd like the job?"
Yes, would like it.'
The boys face was almost painful in
its eagerness as he followed the man
into the freight room.
"Now," said the freight man, seat
ing himself on box, "well have bit
of talk before we get to business. 1 don't
know anything about you except that
you're cold and hungry; you look that.
! think it is likely that you've got
some scrape: for if you hadn't
you. Wouldn't be loafing about stations
a. feeping in freight cars. 1 am not
going to ask you if you have done any
thing wrong, but | am going to ask if
you'v got mother?"
"No; she's dead"
SCOT any father or folks that belong
to you?'
1--WE an uncle and some cousins"
" Well, now, if you had mother, I'd
m hnn s,,S 4 L -. "a
nothing that mother won't forgive
but uncles and cousins are different
If | recommend you at the office, they'll
take you; but mind, if l do il I'm
going to watch you as a cat does 6
mouse. You'll have to spend your
evenings and Sundays with me.
went wrong myself when I was ne
older than you are" lowering his voice
d" An if it hadn't been for my mother
well, that was long time ago. You've
got switched upon the wrong track,
am very sure; aud as you haven't any
mother to help you get on the right one
God helpin' me, I'll do it if you let me
Preaching isn't in my line, but there,
Just one thing you don't want to forget
and that is the good Father is givins
you chance now to get back where
you can do right and feel right. Are
you going to take it?"
The boy answered family that he
would try. He was taken into thu
freight yard and was under his new
friends eye constantly, and it was no
long before the man had so won his
confidence that he told him his story.
There was trouble and dishonest,
connected with it, but for two years thu
lad proved himself faithful and trust
worthy in his new occupation. He wa
then advanced to more responsible
position, but there was something al
most pathetic in his devotion to tn,
man who had befriendcd him and il
his respect for the religion he professed
Here was practical Christian sympa
thy worthy any mans emulation
Youths COmpdniOn.