Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-04-13
VOLUME 27, NO. 81.
the snow wa, nearly. ,hrs. f.s. deep upo.

the snow was nearly three fsst deep upoa
the mountains.
On the night Of the Goth Of December Of
that year. IL turned warm aud the rain fell
in torrents. A terrible storm swept the
mountain top'. and aimOs, sllsd the valley
with water. Upon that nigh. my train
was winding its way. at iis usual speed.
around the hills and through the valleys.
and rs the road bed was oil solid rock, l
had no fear Of the banks giving out. The
nigh, was intensely dark, and the wind
luoanvd pi,eOu'ly through the deep gorgss
Of the mountains. Some OF my passengers
wero talking in q low voice TO relieve the
monotony Of the scene. Mothers bad their
children upon their knees, n II TO shield
them from some unknown danger without.
10 was near midnight, when . sharp
whistle fiom the engine brought me 70 ny
feet. { knew ,bsrs was danger BY that
whistle. and spraps to the brakes si once.
but the brakesmen were all At their posts.
and soon brought the train pa stop.
seized my lantern and found my way for
ward m soon as possible when what .
sight me, my gaze! A bright Gre Of pine
log. illuminated the track for some distance
and no, over forty rods ahead OF our train.
a horrible guilt had opened ITS nav TO 70.
eeivs us!
The snow. together with tie rain. bad
torn the whole side OF the mountain cut.
and eternity itself seemed spread out before
Us. The widow Graf and her children bad
found II out. and had brought brush from
their home below. and built large drss TO
warn us Of our danger. ThSy bad been
there for two hours. watching beside that
beacon Of safety. A. went up whsrs the
old lady and children stood, drenehsd in
the raia and 'lss,, she graspei me By tie
arm and cried
Thank heaven Mr. Sh,rbourn. We
stopped you In time. | would have lost
my lifO before one hair Of your bead should
have been hurt. oh, prayed to heaven
that We nigh, stop the train. aud, ny God.
| thank thss !"
The children were crying for joy. Ieoa-
fe., don't very often pray. but did
then and there. kneeled down by the
side OF that good old woman, and offered up
thank. to an All Wis. Being for our ssis
drliverane. from q most terribl, death, and
called down blessings without number up
on that good old woman and her children.
Near by stood the engineer iremen and
brakesmen. the tears streaming down their
bronIed cheeks.
Immediately prevailed upon Mrs. Graf
anG the children 10 20 back into the cars
out Of the storm and cold. After reaching
the cars related our hiir.breidlh escape
and to whom We owed our lives. and beg.
sed the men passengers TO 60 forward and
$50 for themselves. They needed no fur.
,her urging and g great many ladies wsst
also regardless Of the storm. They soon
returned, and their pale faces gave s'id'nes
OF the fearful death we bal escaped. The
lalos and gentlemen ried with each other
In thsir thanks and hsartisl, gratitude tow
ard. Mr.. Graf and her children, and as
.ur.d her that tLey would never forget her.
and before the widow left the uain she Was
wa, presented with a rar. OF four hum
drsd and .lIty dollars, the voluntary oaer-
ing ola whole train Of grateful passengers.
She refused the proarred gift Tor SONS time.
and said she had only done her duty. and
the knowledss Of having lone - vi" all
the reward she asked. However she finally
accepted the money. and said IL should g
to educate her children.
The railroad company built hers . new
house, gave her and her children life pass
over the road. and ordered ell trains TO
stop and L., her oiT at home when she wish
ed. Bu, ,h. employees need no such or
der,, they can appreciate a!l such kindness
more 30 than The directors themselves.
The old lady frequently 'isi'ts my home
a, Il. and che 10 alway'a welcome
visitor q, my fr,sids. Two Of the children
are a,,endi pg school q, the same place.
So you sss that little kindness cost ne
nothing and saved my life.