“Oh, yes, for good men; but it comes slow. A man must wipe long enough to become familiar with every part of an engine, and know how one is run before he can get anything better. Even then there may be two or three others waiting ahead of him, and he is likely to lose his courage before he gets an opportunity to fire.”
“But engine wipers stand a show of becoming firemen?”
“Yes.”
“I wish you would give me a chance as wiper, sir.”
“But you will not stand the work.”
“Won’t I? I am strong, and I think I can stand it.”
“I do not mean that way. You will become disgusted and quit before you have worked a day.”
“Are you in earnest?”
“Yes, sir.”