Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-03-02
TOO FRESH!"
A Drummsr's Experience In Person
atiny a Railroad Manager.

There is a slang expression about be
ing too fresh" said the drummer as he
lighted his cigar Il have adopted that
expression and written it at the head of
every page Of my notebook so that 1t will
| be constantly before me.
Last fall / changed cars at little
junction in the western part Of the state.
1t is a drcary spot and the trains never
connect within three hours of each other.
Finding time hanging heavily on my
, hands | wandered over to an orchard near
by, where there was some tempting look
ing fruit. l was SO busily engaged in
throwing stones at a luscious looking APP
pie in the top of one Of the trees that did
not notice an old farmer bearing down
where | was with blood in his eye. When
discovered him, it was too late to flee.
So concluded to face it out.
" Fine orchard you've got here, y said
/, opening on him before he had a chance
to get in the first word 1T will he IA pity
to spoil it by running railroad through
it,
Hay said he.
I" Il remarked, said I, that it will be a
pity to spoil such fine orchard by run
ming a railroad through 1t. l am the gen
eral manager of this road, and have been
looking it over with view of straighten
| ing out some Of the kinks ! have about
concluded to run tho road through your
orchard and thus get rid Of the bad curve
/ just beyond.
This disarmed the old man at once ano
placed him in more conciliatory mood
" General manager be ye?' said he
| WAL come up ter the house an we'll talk
it over.
81 thought the old man had something
in the line of wet goods that he wanted
me to sample in the hope that it might
put me in good humor and save his or
chard | looked at my watch and seeire
that had plenty of time l concluded tC
carry on the joke, 80 followed him up t.
the house.
AS we were passing brick smoke
house the old man threw the door oper
and invited me to inspect fine lot O
hams that he had inside stepped in thu
doorway, and as did so the old man gav'
me shove that sent me inside upon my
hands and knees Before could recover
myself he had thrown the door shut ano
locked it.
General manager, be YEP he bawlet
through crack in the door.
II didn't think it wise to deny it, so
! SnOuteu DaCk tnat 1 was, anu, IuOreONeT
that l would take pains to see that tn
railroad ran straight through his house.
"'Waal, We'll talk about that later, sait
he. Member that thar bill that sent y
fer KILN them Sheep
Il truthfully replied that didn't.
WAL said he, you II stay where y
are till ye do. I've got ye jes' where
want ye, an if we don't pay me that thar 3 Il
that We owe me fer KILN them sheep tn
railroad is goin ter be short one genera
manager
~ tried to explain the true situation
but no refused to listen. 1t was SIS o
stay where l WAS. While was arguin,
with the old man heard my train whis
tie mile or so off. l had an importan
engagement to meet, and simply had t
'9tch that train, SO / poked $15 throug
, he crack
The old man unlocked the door, and
! AS stepping out when he suddenly threy
is weight against it,
Poke out 80 cents more' he shouted
"'What for? l howled as | heard IN
rain getting nearer and nearer.
." Fer postage stamps that l waste
writin 20 about that thar bill
II didn't have time to argue the ques
/ tion so I pokcd out so cents more an
: legged II for my train"