Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-12-10

Alsec,ing Incident of Railroad Life.

An old railroad conductor felates tue loltoW'hS
touching incident of how his own life and the
lives of his passengers were saved-the return
for little acts of kindness bestowed on the widow
aud fatheress :
The western division of our road runs through
a very mountainous part of Virginia, and the
stations were few and far between. About three
miles from one of these stations, the road runs
through u deep gorge OF the Blue Ridge. ana
near the center is II small valley and there
hcmmed in bv the everlasting hills, stood small
one and a.half story log cabin. The few acres
that surrounded it were well cultivated rs gar
dem and upon the fruits thereof lived widow
and her three children, by the name OF Graf.
They were, indeed, untutored in the cold chari-
ties of an outside world doubt much if they
ever saw the sun shine beyond their own native
hills. In the summer time, the children brought
berries to the nearest station to sell, and with the
money they earned they bought few of the ne
cessites of the outside refinement.
The Oldest of these children | should Judge to
be about twelve years, and the youngest about
seven. They were all girls and looked nice and
clean, and their healthlul appearance aud natu-
raj doli"acy gave them ready welcome. They
appeared as if they had been brought up to fear
God and love their humble home aud mother. |
had often stopped my train to have them set oil
at their home, having found them at the station
some three miles from home, altec disposing of
their berries.
had children at home, and knew their little
feet would be tired in walking three miles, and
therefore felt that it would be the same with
those fatherless little ones. They seemed so
pleased to ride, and thanked me with such lovely
thanks, after letting them OFF near home! They
frequently offered me nice, tempting baskets of
fruit for my Kindness yet | never accepted any
without paying their full value.
Now, If you remember, the winter Of 1854 was
very cold in that part of the State, and the snow
was nearly three feet deep on the mountains. On
the night of the 26th OF December, ii turned
around warm and the rain fell in torrents.
terrible storm swept the mountain tops and al
most (llcd the valleys with water. Upon that
night my train was winding its way, at its usual
speed, around the hills and through the valleys,
and as the road bed was all solid rock | had no
fear of the banks giving ont. The night was in
tensely dark, and the wind moancd piteously
through the deep gorges OF the mountains. some
Of my passengers were trying TO sleep, others
were talking in low voice, to relieve the mo-
notony of the scene. Mothers had their children
upon their knees, as if to shield them from some
unknown danger without.
1t was near midnight when a sharp whistle
from the engine brought me to my feet. | knew
there was danger by that whistle, and sprang to
the brakes ut once, but TIE brakesmen were all
at their posts, and soon brought the train to
stop. | seized my lantern and found my way
forward as soon as possible when what a sight
met my gaze A bright fire of pine logs iu-
minated the track for some distance, aud not over
forty rods ahead of our train horrible gulf had
opened its nav to receive us
The snow, together with the rain had torn the
whole side Of the mountain out, and eternity it,
self seemed spread out before us. The widow
Graft and her children had found it out. and had
brought light brush from her home below and
built large fire to warn rs of our danger. They
had been there moro than two hours watching
afaf. f.tt.t
the old lady and children stood drenched through
by the rain and sleet, she grasped me by the arm
and cried
"Thauk God Mr.. Shcrbourn we stopped you
in time. would haze lost my life before one
hair of your head should have been hurt. oh,
prayed to heaven that might stop the train,
and. my God, thank tbeeV
The children were crying for joy. | confess
don't very often pray, but did then and there.
kneelcd down by the side Of that good old wo-
man and offered up thanks to an All Wise Being
for our safe dcliverancc from most terrible
death and called down blessings without number
upon that good old woman and her children.
Nca. by stood the engineer, fireman and brakes
men, the tears streaming down their bronzed
cheeks.
Immediately prevailed upon Mrs. Graf and
the children to 90 back in the cars out of the
storm aud cold. After reaching the cars rela-
ted our har-breadth escape and to whom we
passengers to go forward and see for themselves.
They needed no further urging, and great many
Of the ladies went also, regardless Of the storm.
They soon returned, and their pale faces gave
full evidence Of the trightful death we had es-
capped. The ladies and gentlemen Wed with each !
other in their thanks and heartfelt gratitude !
toward Mrs. Graf and her children, and assured |
her that they would never, never forget her, and
before the widow left the train she was presented
with purse OF four hundred and sixty dollars, |
the voluntary Offering Of a whole train of CRATE
fu passengers She refused hc proIercd gift !
for some time, and said she had only done her
duty, and the knowledge Of having done so was |
all the reward she asked However, she finally
accepted the money, and said it should go to ed
ucate her children.
The railroad company built her n new house,
gave her and her children life pass over the |
road, and ordered all trains TO stop and let her
get Off at home whenever she wished. But the |
employees needed no such orders they can APP
preciate all such kindness-more 50 than the dl-
rectors themselves
The old lady frequently visits my home at
IL, and she is at all times a welcome visitor
al my frcsde Two of the children are attend |
lug school at the same place.