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as no student while I was in College ever dared to think of doing: and the Old Gentleman, for he is a gentleman at heart, and a great man too, has thought all the better of me from that day to this, and treated me better too than he did my cringing classmates who bowed so meekly to the Old Man's childish petulance, and awful frowns. I may be in Bangor this winter yet. Vermont & Mass., you know is nearly completed, was to be Jan 1st. will be soon after. The running part of the road has been let the past year to the Fitchburg RR Company, who have run it with their Engines, Cars, & Road furniture, it not being convenient for our company to provide themselves or the road with the full Quota until the road was finished. Jan. 1st the whole road comes back into the hands of the Vermont & Mass. R.R. Corporation. Their engines, cars of all kinds, apparatus of all sorts, for 60 or 70 mls. of railroad are constantly getting along. &c. Well. Our present mighty "Chief Engineer", I.F. Johnson Esq. vows his determination not to remain, though urgently requested, as Superintendent of the completed running RailRoad. If he leaves & some new dynasty takes his place, there is no knowing what changes may occur. Can't tell into whose hands the "Greenfield Branch R.R." may fall. My Mr. Field has had the promise of it from Prest. Crocker. If he has it, I am probably retained in full, until its completion if I chose. Mr. Field however regards his chance for it as about -- If it passes into other hands, it is possible, that as already upon the spot I might be retained for the present at least but altogether probable that among the Multitude of claimants older & favored by better influence I might be put aside.