The record-union., 1898-04-04

trap, but he wasn't caught. Boy, you
do no such thing. l have worked at
oEe-ten a day all my life, and raised
large family. You are getting better
wages now than any of your brothers;
they are all living and keeping big fam
lilies, most of 'em too. What better do
you WANT"
But regardless of what the old man
said, Tim went to work with a will. He
thought he saw something better before
him. He gave up becoming an engineer
and took up road work. The foreman
found him to be an apt scholar. He soon
learned to lay track, line track, level
grade, put in switches and railroad
crossing, and in few months the fore
man could leave him in charge, feeling
that everything would be done in the
right way.
One day, about a year after Tim be-
gan work on the section, the fast eX-
press ran down the section gang" TO
which Tim belonged, struck the hand
car and threw it off the track Tins
father and one of the men were instantly
killed The foreman and the other men
were badly injured, while Tim escaped
with few bruises.
Tim now found new responsibility
resting on his shoulders, that of sup
porting his mother and sister. The res5
Of the family We're married and DONG
for themselves in a way, living in the
hand to mouth fashion they had learned
at home. They all had families much
too large to support on the meaSer IL
come they received; so their being able
to help support their mother and inward
sister was out Of the question. Neither
mother nor sister We're able TO do any
thing in the way of supporting them
| selves
The road-maSter came to see about
the section, and on the request Of the
foreman placed Tim in charge of the sec
ton, with the understanding that ne
must give good satisfaction. The road
master came frequently to inspect the
work and always seemed we'll pleased
with ,the way the boy handled his sec
ton, and was surprised that a boy so
young had such good tact and talent
He handled his men easily, got more
work out of them than most men would
| get, kept his section in splendid shape
| and understood all tie details required
of q sectionf foreman.
Weeks and months passed. and when
|
had sufficiently recovered to take his
section, Tim expected to go back to work
| at one-ten a day; but the road master
| had q better place for him, for, when
| he had received word from the old fore
man that he was able to so to work he
wrote two letters; one to the foreman TO
TIA Ike charge of the old section the other
to Tim to turn the section over to the
former foreman and report at his office
at once, using the railroad pass ne
found enclosed
Tim turned the section over to his
former foreman took the first train ana
| reported at headquarters. The road
had built an extension of several hun
dred miles, and had divided the road
masters work into divisions. The old
| road-master was placed in charge OF
these several divisions, with a division
road-master in charge OF each division.
Tim was offered one of these divisions.
The young mans eyes brightened-then
he biushed and said: Il am afraid
cannot do the work. I am only boy,
and have not had enough experience
for a road-naster. Give me a section
f you want 10 do anything for me-
The old man rose from his chair and
| standing beside the boy, locked up into
his face-yes. looked up for Tim was
| fully seven inches the taller of the two
men.
Tim, my boy" he said. Il can trust
you. ! know you can do the work.
You are safe man. You haven't the