“If old Jim goes, I go too. There isn’t one of us that has done his work faithfuller than old Jim has!”
“That’s so, he’s done his duty right slap up. What would the others be without old Jim, I’d like to know? They always take their cue from him,” said another.
“I’ve always made it as easy as I could for old Jim,” said the driver, “and have done my best to make the other two do their share of the work; but the knowing old fellow won’t have it, and isn’t satisfied unless his nose is just a grain ahead of the others, so he can feel he is doing his share and a little more.”
“He’s acted just like a Christian,” said another, “and if we do our duty as well as old Jim has done his, we sha’n’t have anything to answer for.”
“Get rid of him!” exclaimed a young man. “A nice return to make for his faithful service! It makes me sick to think how horses are turned off when they begin to lose their usefulness! Just think of old Jim sold to some old junk pedler or such, and being starved and beaten after all the good work he has done! It wouldn’t break the Fire Department to pension him, and they ought to do it!”
“They ought to, but whether they will is another thing,” said Reordan. “They will say that they can’t afford to pension off all the old horses in the department.”
“Well, if they can’t afford it, we can,” replied the young man. “What do you say to starting a fund for old Jim’s support, and boarding him out for the rest of his life?”
What could they say, but one thing, for courage and generosity go hand in hand, and to men who daily risk their lives to save those of others, as do our brave firemen, a dollar doesn’t look so big as it does to smaller natures.
After this decision the hearts of all were lightened, but parting with their old friend came hard.