The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-01-25

You can so hat way If you like. When
Conductor Carroll sees your shovel. he
will not ask you for your fare" So,
with the gang of men, feeling quite as
important as any OF them, Hubert
scrambled upon the starting train.
Meantime, fifty miles to the north
ward, straight up the great ice bridged
Come cticut River, another passenger
train was making ready to start out.
The storm was very severe here just on
the Vermont line, the snowfall was
heavier, the wind blew with greater
force, aud there we're fewer helpers;
but not very much behind time the
train from Vermont and New Hamp-
shire came into the little junction, pas
shifted, and the little ChicUpee engine
started bravely out to breast the storm.
AT Bernardston, The first station,
they met The snow plow; and the en-
gineer and fireman both noticed that
Henry Day, who was running the
Whately," pointed to the stars and
stripes that he had stuck up in the cab,
over the steam.Vauge.
What d es that mean p said Frank
Hall, the engineer OF the Chicopee, as
he sent the machine along.
81 can't think 10 save me-" replied
Oscar, the fireman. Gas | was start.
ing away from the house this morn
ing, my sister said something about
its being legal holiday, and . pity
that | should have to work so hard;
and she wanted me to take a picture
to put up in The cab. But l tod her
the snow was all l could attend to,
and paid no heed to her talk"
"I'd give a dollar TO know" said
the engineer; "but | don't like to
expose my ignorance by asking. OF
course it is something we both know
well enough, only we don't happen to
think Can't you brush up your his
tory little?"
"What do you think of having indie
pendence Day come in the winter? 2"
some one shouted, as they halted at the
Greenfield station, and they could see
that here and there up the street flags
were swapping and fluttering in the
wind, and just then cannon was fired
up in the gulf by the Jail.
Fine idea ~ replied Dick, the
brakeman. " No trouble about getting
the ice.cream and lemonade cold
enough, but rather depressing for the
procession"
"Say," he added. climbing into the
cab, what 10 all these flags mean?
Don't know? Welt, declare, I'd give
dollar TO find out. We shall all hands
get most dteadfulv sold in some way"
Just then Mr.. Fleming, the smiling
conductor, came along, watch in hand j,
and, before giving the signal to start,
he said: Look here, boys, what are
all these flags about? The mail agent
nor the expressmen have no idea, and
we won't ask any one not belonging to
the train. Id give most anything to
know before we meet the other train"
They did not find out the secret of
the day, for the southern train was
awaiting them at the next station. The
flags, though torn and bedraggled by
the flying snow, showed their colors
bravely; and on the platform stood the
gang OF workmen, the master mechanic
and little Hubert, with the thy flag
still waving airily in his cap.
Hallol' said Mr.. Mulligan, as the
train stopped. 81 supposed you fell
lows would have the Chicopee fairly
gorgeous with the stars and stripes"
I'VE had too much snow to attend
to-" remarked the engineer, gravely, as
d ok, the brakeman, ran up with HUI
bert in his arms, bringing him along TO
the cab, and shouting: Here's a lit.
tie George Washington who could not
tell a lie-any one can see by his face
and he wears the flag for luck, because
he set out this morning for the first
time to earn some money for bis
mother on Washington's birthday"
"And he is Luther Banks little
boy" said Mr.. Mulligan. Cant you
give him ride in the cab, and then
you will be able to show the nationa
colors?"
"And here is another splendid flag
that you can have" said Hubert pro
ducing the one he has slowed away fol
a possible neck-tie.
Frank Hall put his hand into his
pocket, and with a wink at the fireman
and brakeman, handed the little fellow
a dollar. The two wide-awake youns
fellows followed so excellent an exam
pie; and the conductor, who stood by
made his contribution two dollars.
Mr.. Mullgan, although he did not un
derstand the reason the train hands hat
for their gratitude, said: 81 might q
well pay you what owe you now as a
any time" And the train rushed
toward Northampton and Springfield
with flying colors, indeed, for staff TO
Hubert's extra flag was quickly ex
temporized.
Z" / don't know what it was all for.
didn't do anything at ALL" said tn
happy little boy, as he emptied his smal
pockets into his surprised mothers lap
"You tried to do your best" said tn
poor widow, with tears of joy; "an
the dear Lord never fails to bless an
honest endeavor." -Mrs Annie A