The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-10-17

/ cream, anu lHtiE dUptdlGhNS uuh
natural delcaey gave them ready welcome
They appeared as # they had been brought
up to fear God and love their home and moth
er. | had oftened stopped NY train and let
them get of at their home, having found them
al the station, some three miles from home,
after dlsposing Of their berrirs.
n ! had children at home and knew their lit
tie feet would be tired walking three miles,
and therefore lrit that il would bp the same
with those fatheress little anes. They seem
4 ed 50 pleased TO ride, and thanked me with
such hearty thanks, after letting them of
near home. They frequently offered me
nice tempting baskets Of fruit for my kind
ness, yet never accepted any without pay,
ing the full value.
Now if you remember, the winter of "a
was very cold in that part 'i.the State, and
the SHOW was Learly three feet deep upon the
mountains
On the night Of the 26h of December of
that year itturned around warm, and the ram
fell in torrents. A terrible stprn swept the
mouniain tips. and alap,i hiletl the valley
with water. Upon that night the tain was
winding its way, at Il, usual speed, around
the hills AMI through The valleys, and as the
road was all solid rock, had 80 tear Of the
banks giving way. The night was intense
lly dark, and the wind mosued piteOasly
through the deep gnrees oi the mountains
Some of my passenger. were irYioS I" steep
others were talking in a low ynire, 20 relie'e
the monotnny of the scene. Mlirrs hat
their children upon their knees, ~ Il I"
shield them from some unknown dAn.er "iih
nut
1t was near midnight, when sharp ~hts-
lie from the engine brought ne e. %. Iert.
| knew that there was d niger BY that Whistle,
and sprang to the breaks at once, but the
brcaksmen were all at their posts. shd snnn
brought the train to stand. send ms
Iantern, and found ny way forward - soon
as possible, when what sight mel my gazr !!
A bright fire Of pine logs Illuminated the
tract for some distance, AID nnt over iDds
rods ahead of our train a horrible gull had
opened its nav to receive Us.
The snow. together with the rain, had torn
the whole side Of the mnuntaIa out; eternity
itself seemed spread out before u. The wid-
low Graf and her children had inund Il out,
and had brought light brush from their hume
below and built large fires to warn u Ot oar
danger They hid beea there mor than
two hours. watchiag beside that beacon 1t
safrts. As went up .hete thai Old lady
and children ,tooI. lrtached tlraagh BY the
rain and sieet, size grasped me by the arm,
aud cried
.Thank Col! Mr.. Sherbourr, ~e stopped
you in time. | would have lost my life be-
tore one hair Of your head should have been
hurt. On, prayed to Heaven that We
might stop the train aud ms GOh. thank
Thee ........ ...
The children we're crying for iav. can
fess don't ofttn pray. but did then aud
there. kneeIel down by the side Of taai
good old woman. and offered up thanks tu a.
All Wise Being for our deiverance from I
most terrible death, aud called down bles-
sings without number upon that good nl,
woman and her children. Near b. siuuI ID,
engineer, fireman and brris n"u, the tear,
,rrameil down their brnntrd cheek.
immediately prevailed uann NS. Gai
and the children II - hayN into the cdr, on
III tie storm ani cold. Alter reaching hy
car. related our haiF-hfeliin e,tape and Il
when wr we're indebted ir oar lNes. aui
begged the men passenger. 80 - forward ant
see iar themselves. They r1el up fsrtapi
urging. and great mant ladirs wvai alsu
regardless OF the starm. Ihef a"tu rrturI
e,, aud their pale faces gave tpii ey!drnre q
the fightlli death we hai escaped. i'he .
dies ard gentlemen We'd will, each other Il
their thaaks aud heartfelt gratitude toward
Mrs. Graf and her children. and assured be
that they waal! never, never forget her, ~,
before die widow lttt thr tram .he W., prf'
sented With i purse II four hundred and -
1, doIlar-, The voluntary oiisrinl " q "h,i,
: tram ii grateful passengers. Sne reius,l itt
ptnf,rrd gifi lpr some time, and .aia ~ b 4
D nnly zone her duty, and ,he knnHlslss q
+ having dune ~. was al the reward Sue a,k.t
i However. she finally accepted tie money ana
c sad il should 20 10 educate her children
G The raiirnai company buiit ber nev
i house, gave her aud her children Tile Pa'
/ over tue ruaI. and ordered sl tram, 10 ,t"I
i and let her ,li 4 shnHe Nheney-r shr wisard
: But tic eapiJYee. needed no such urder'i
4 they e5g appreciate all surh kin ine,,-nosI
|, 80 than the Directors themselves.
{. The oid iaiy frequently ,Isit' ~ home al
/. IL. anil slit i, 1t al time, welcome
i visitor al ID, iitesidc. Two "i tbc rhiidten
: are attending sshuul at tie sane slace. Il.
Il So ,uu mat Sc that ltttlc kin,.Hess cost
! me nothing and saved my life.