St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-05-05
A HARDWORKED FIREMAN.

RI all the bills Tom Nj aSOn.
II A HARDWORKED FIREMAN.
I'll Did YOU ever hear of a railway
Epresident running as fireman on an
engine? Well, l know of one who
did, and, if you've got time to listen
to it, I will tell you the story now.
1t was in the summer of 1885 that
was firing on a single track line
that runs up from Junction City
through Georgetown, a matter Of
40 miles. The line was owned most
" bv a man named Thedford, who
was president and superin tendent
4 all in one.
l had been firing on the line for two
4 years back; all the time with one
3 driver, Bob Hunter by name, and
81 finer man never lived. | suppose it
would be only natural for me to
speak we'll of Bob, anyway, for |
was clean head over ears in love
with his pretty daughter, Molly, and
was only waiting for a bit of rise in
my pay to make her Mrs. Jim Mar
q tin. Though l didn't see any chance
e for that rise where | was, | didn't
s like to leave and go on another line.
for that would take me away from
Molly.
One day Bob says to me;
lin, amt you and Molly never
going to get married ?"
Just as soon as can get my
rise" says I "but [ don't see how
I'm going to get it here"
why don't you GO and ask Billy"
says he.
You see, Billy was always what
we called Mr. Thedford-behind his
4 back, of course-for warrant you we
q were mighty polite to his face.
"He won't do anything for me, !"
j saws l, for YOU know either one of the
cleaners up to Georgetown would be
glad enough to jump into my place,
and he amt going to give me a rise
Just to please me-"
WELL" says Bob, sit won't do
any hurt to try it"
So next day l washed up and went
to the company's Office, and asked
for Mr.. Thedford. After a few min
utes he sent word to me that he
would see me, and in l went. There
he sat-a large, heavily built man,
with big side whiskers and pair of
gold trimmed glasses on his nose.
What is it, my man? I'm very
busy" says he.
So 1 up and told him what
wanted.
How much are you getting now ?"
says he.
"Forty-fve dollars a month, "
says L.
Then he pursed up his lips, and
hemmed and hawed little, and
says:
II don't see how we can give you
anything more, my good fellow.
You see yours is not a very respon-
sible position; merely one that re-
quires a little bodily strength. And
we can find plenty of men who
would be only too glad to take your
place at that salary"
With that he turned to letter he
was writing, and l knew l had no
more business there. tell you felt
sore to be told it didn't take much
to know how to fire an engine, and
came mighty near throwing my
Job up and trying to get it on an
other line. But Molly persuaded me
to hold on little longer.
4NOWs NOIhN ~ lLAN pa ll(dicli
point of this yarn, l want to tell you
little about the line. l have said
it was a single track one running
from Junction City to Georgetown,
The latter place was little town Of
500 or 600 inhabitants ;but in sum
mer a great many Chicago people
came up there, and SO l suppose the
line paid. Anyhow, Thedford, who
had a summer place there, was rich
enough to run it for himself alone i
he wanted to.
Bob lived at Georgetown and
boarded with him. Our trips begar
at s in the morning, and we general
lv ran the no miles in FIVE hours
Then at 8 in the afternoon we came
back, getting home at 8. AS soon a:
we reached the roundhouse at George
town our days work was over, fo1
the cleaners took the engine then
cleaned and polished her, and laie
the fire already to start the mex
morning.
Well, as said, hung on to ny
job, hoping that something woulo
turn up that would give me lift
till one day in August. The who'll
summer had been uncommon hot
but that day went ahead of anything