M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-09-29
Thrilling Incident.

AhR AhSAuCbNs
One beautiful summers afternoon,
|, in company with my wife and child
"a little prattling fellow of six sum.
mers--started ont for o walk. A lit.
tie dog that was very much attached
to the child, persisted in following us.
Twice | had driven him back; the last
time, as | thought, effectually. The
afternoon was very fine, and as slow,
ly followed the serpent.like windings
of the railroad, conversation very nat.
nrally turned to the scenes and little
incidents of our walk. The gayly
Eplumed songsters, the ehatteriDe
Tsquirrel, and the humming- bee, all
conspired totake our attention.
Becoming wearied, at length We
sat ourselves down on a grassy knoll
by the side of the railroad, about two
hundred yards below where a sharp
angle occurs, hiding it from view
Our little boy was higher up on the
bank; busily plucking the blue bells
and dandelions, that grew in profusion
around, and we soon lost sight Of him
altogether.
My wife was engaged in pcrusing
a copy Of "BaXter's Saints Rest"
while ! had cast myself on the grass
beside hei, enwrapped in the beauty
of the landscape spread to view
There a field Of tasseling corn gently
waved to and fro, while here and
there a field of sweet.scented clover
shed its grateful fragrance on the air.
Twas like some enchanted bower
the silence broken only by the tink.
ling ofsheep's bells, or the lowing of
kline, as they peacefully grazed the
distant pasture. | was thinking OF
the infinite wisdom and goodness of
the Great Creator, in thus making
earth so beautiful for poor sinful man,
and how thousands are swept away
from its charms forever and forgotten
when | was aroused from my reverie
by the shrill whistle of the approach
ing train; iustinctively turned to
look for little Harry, when a quick
exclamation from my wife cauSed:me
to turn.
She was pale as death. evil
lam, lock at our child" she family
whispered. | did SO; and my God!
who can tell the agony that wrnng
my heart at that instant! The little
recreant had wandered up the track
unheeled, and sat himself down OIL
one Of the oaken sleepers to Gull his
flowers, inst below the curve, uncon.
scious Of the death that hovered near
him.
started up the track toward him,
beckouing him to me as | advanced,
Instead Of doing so, he apprehended
some playful sport, commenced run.
ming directly on the track, and laugh
ing gleeIully as lie went The smoke
from the advancing engine was al
this instant distinctly visible; 1t was
not possible that | couldovertake him
in time to save him from that cruel
death. AS it was, was but hurry,
ing him on to his doom. No, it was
evident my efforts could be of nc
avail. | breathed a prayer to Him on
high, and staggered back.
AtthiS moment the sharp bark Of a
dog broke upon my ear. With one
gleeful bound our boy cleared the
track and grasped the little wooly in,
truder in his arms.
The train rushed round the curve
with a whizzing sound. The iror
monster was cheated of his prey. |
am an old mag, but | must confes;
that as | once more held our little tru
ant in my arms, safe, the tear Of graf
itnde started to my eye. The little
dog had perscveringly followed the
child unseen, to be the means ofsaving
his life. Blind, blind, indeed is he
who could not see the finger of Coo
in this .--American Presbyterian.
II }The life of man. how short!-