Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-07-30


So overcome was the willow at the sad
intelligence, that she could not for q moment
speak. Mastering her emotion she finally
. said: .-'.-4 $a.A.l l:- A.--i"1-.4@
"Go, my son-fulfll your duty; the i'm.
worthy one. Providence has designed and
willed that you should perform this merciful
mission. That some Providence will guard
over and protect you from danger. Go, my
son-goW
And the widow hid her face in her hands.
"Have no fears for me, mother" said the
little hero; and with brave heart beating
warmly in his young bosom, he again stepped
forth from the cottage. AS he passed through
the stoop, he took from the peg his mothers
clothes-line. Quickly he wound the coil about
his arm and with all possible haste, he sped
to the track, and to the spot where had stood
the unfortunate bridge.
He comprehended everything in an instant.
He must 60 to the other side OF the gorge
Twenty minutes-thirty minutes at farthest,
and the train would be dashing along-per-
haps to destruction No time was to be lost.
He hurriedly examined the position of the
large oak tree that had fallen across the tu-
multuous waters and slippery rocks. 1t was
dangerous it was perilous to make the at
tempt. 1t would be at the jeopardy-per-
haps at the sacrifice of his life; but he was
not the boy to falter or hesitate. 1t would
not do to stand where he was. No! no!-
The signal might be seen, but not until too
late The tree the tree! lit was his only
way to reach the opposite shore!
| Regardless of the storln-of the rain, the
wind, and the darkness-he firmly held his
lantern and coil, and struck boldly off on the
tree 1t tottered and sway ed wildly; but
the little hero, all undaunted, cautiously
worked himself along to the further and higher
branches. For a moment he raised his Ian
tern to descry his exact position. Beyond -
far beyond, the waters boiled, and scathed,
and rushed. He was disappointed. He thot
that, having reached the further and topmost
branch, he could, by the aid of the rope, or
by jumping, land on the opposite shore. But
no it was folly to attempt it. He looked
around him-before, below, on either side
He swung his lantern above him. He gazed
to the right and above. He saw something
1t was dim but he was sure. He bent over
and held out his light. He saw the projecting
end of the bridge!
1t was not more than twenty feet from him
the lower portion just above the level of his
head His heart jumped at the discovery
lie uncoiled and prepared a double moose in
his stout, slender cord. lie braced himself
firmly, and threw the coil. 1t touched the
projecting tinbers, but did not catch. Again
he tried, and with the same result; and a
third time, and it caught He pulled with
all his strength upon it, but it stood firm.
Without loss of time, he attached and Sc
curely tied the other end of the cord to the
heavy limb. Then, thrusting the lantern on
his arm, he began gradually to climb the rope.
fhrS tpctO Of win
tore the cap from his head, and it fell into the
roaring food below! HIS hands were be-
numbed with the wet and cold and to him
it was moment of life or death! Inch by
inch, foot by foot, he slowly and very carefully
worked himself along the cord.
Finally, he reached the end !! He caught
| hold of the foam-wreathed tresse-wOrk, and
drew himself up-upl
| He had reached the goal He stood upon
the projecting point of the broken, shattered
bridge!
No one can describe, but imagination can
picture that brave young boy, as, wrapped in
the gloom of night, and surrounded by the
| fieroo and breathing clements he stood upon
shivered structure A faint conception can
be had of the emotions that thrilled his young
bosom, as, lifting his we'll trained eyes rever-
emily to heaven, he returned thanks on High
for the preservation of life, and his safe deliv-
erance from danger.
But he did not inger apace. The train
was fully due, and he sprang from off the
broken bridge. AS he once more touched
the ground, and felt its unyielding soil be-
meath his feet he bounded on his errand of
mercy up the track. When he thought lie
had placed a sufficient distance between him
self and the creek, he stopped short, and at
tentively listened. But no sound of the train
could be heard. He stood on tip-toe, and
guarding his face from the beating rain, peer
ed into the almost impenetrable darkness be-
yond.
CoulT it be that he saw something like a
light? Yes! 1t was snall-very small
the merest spark-but he could not be mista-
with his eyes transfixed intently upon the
light. Gradually it grew more distinct, and
resembled glow-worm suspended far away
over the track.
1t was the train!
The light showed the train to be several
miles away. but, behind time, il was driving
along at furious pace. Gradually the light
grew larger, and soon it shone like a bright
star shooting out from the lower heavens. 1t
rose like meteor, and fast it was borne
along
And along with that train was a precious
freight OF humanity. Infancy-the babe on
the mothers breast--was there Grlhood,
in beauteous form and artless ways, Was
there. The loving, smiling bride, and the
we'll pleased groom, were there. Youth, with
ambitious aspirations, was there; and the
prime of manhood and men stricken in
years, with silvery locks, and decrepid, totter,
ing old age-were there
, On-on, came the train, with fleetness Of
!. the winds! On-stiIl on-nearer, still near
er, came the iron horse, breathing great blasts
of fire and smoke, and lighting up the dreary
pathway Every stroke of the nightly lev.
ers-every revolution of the ponderous driv
, ing-wheels, lessened the distance And now
now, when the blazing, flashing light tolt
that the train was not more than half q mile
away, the brave boy swung his lantern. Higt
u above his head he lifted it. and :. ,n,
l. ord - ----. ." "uns ~ io"''>
=, ...u lUunu.
1t was not needed!
e Would it be discovered z And if sc
Il would it be in time to save the train fror
destruction, and dragging its life-freight int
;. ;. the Jaws of death He shouted at the to
of his voice Again he lifted his Lantern
- and again he gave the signal
u, Oh! that was fortunate, a lucky momen
~ ~ The signal aoas seen
IL Two shrill and piercing shrieks from tn
locomotives whistle sounded the lou
70 alarm" and answered the warning of DANCE
rs rs The bar was thrown back, and the engiI
AS reversed. The breaks were set quickly ar
heavily down. and almost on the very brir
-, ~ of being precipitated into the yawning water
~ the train was stopped!
h. And in the rain, and cold, and gloom
that night, Jenny Wood, the boy hero of Sa
a. QUOT, stood before the shuddering, frighten
ht engineer and paralised conductor, and on
Ne nously pointed his finger at the shattered brid
in and at the roaring hoodtide Of the creek!
on told them all, and with their own eyes tn
as beheld what their ears heard, and their u
no | derstanding received.