which was now my daily task. Set tasks, dull routine, monotonous duty I
ever hated.

About this time shorthand was introduced into the railway. A public
teacher of Pitman's phonography had established himself in Derby, and the
Midland engaged him to conduct classes for the junior clerks. It was not
compulsory to attend the classes, but inducements to do so were held out.
A special increase of salary was promised to those who attained a certain
proficiency, and a further reward was offered; the two clerks who earned
most marks and, in the teacher's opinion, reached the highest
proficiency, were to be appointed assistants to the teacher and paid
eight shillings weekly during future shorthand sessions, in addition to
the special increase of salary. It was a great prize and keen was the
contest. I had the good fortune to be one of the two; and the praise I
got, and the benefit of the money made me contented for a time. My
companion in this success, I am glad to know, is to-day alive and well,
and like myself, a superannuated member of society. In his day he was a
notable athlete, at one time bicycling champion of the Midland counties;
and his prowess was won on the obsolete velocipede, with its one great
wheel in front and a very small wheel behind.

A shorthand writer, my work was now to take down letters from dictation,
a remove only for the better from the old way of writing from pencilled
drafts.

Now it was that I made my first sincere and lasting friendship, a
friendship true and deep, but which was destined to last for only ten
short years. Tom was never robust and Death's cold hand closed all too
soon a loveable and useful life. Our friendship was close and intimate,
such as is formed in the warmth of youth and which the grave alone