Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-06-14
.rfLIrE UPoS a RAILROAD.

railroad conductor. 1 have found the
above to be true to the letter--but mind,
/ am not saying that have no enemies
undoubtedly have few. and don, think
. manliyes but has more or less. : a little
kindness now and then 10 the many needy
ones. . conductor will find almost every
trip over his-roaa. will not DO lost. and he
will. in many cases find from his "bread
cast upon the waters" return four-fold.
Yet he must use good deal Of judgment
in bestowfng his charity upon even those
he thinks entirely worthy Of such bestowal.
will. in this connection, relate an incl
dent by which little kindness saved my
life, and the lives of all the passengers on
board the train.
The Western Division of our road rms
through q very mountainous part of Vir-
GINA, and the stations are few and far be-
tween. About three miles from one of
these stations, the road runs through
deep gorge of the Blue Ridge. and near the
centsr is . small valley. and there, hem
med in by the everlasting hills, stood
small one-aad a-half story log cabin.-
The few acres that surrounded it were well
cultivated as a garden. and upon the fruits
thereof liked widow and her three chill
dren, by the name of Graf. They were.
indeed, untutored in the cold charities OF
the outside world--I doubt much if they
ever saw the snn shine beyond their own
native bills. In the summer time the chill
dren brought berries to the nearest market
TO sell, and with the money they earned.
{,x Of r~f
outside refinement.
The el,lest of these children I should
jndge to be about twelve years efag-. and
the youngest seven. They were all girls,
and their Enaturat de.icacy gave them a
ready welcome They appeared as if they
had been brought up to fear God, and to
love their humble home and mother.
had often stopped my train and let them
Cd at their cabin having found them at the
station some three miles from home. after
disposing of their berries. -
had children at home, and I knew
their little feet would get tired in walking
three miles. and therefore felt it would be
the same with these fatlIerless little ones
They seemed SO pleased to ride and thank
Ell me with such hearty thanks. after let
ting them of near home They frequently
offered me nice. tempting baskets of fluits
for my kindness; yet never accepted any
without paying their full price.
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.
Ga the night of the Goth of December
Of that year it turned around warm and
rained torrents. a terrible storm swept
the mo.ntain tops. and almost filled the
valleys with water Upon that night my
train~vas winding its way with its usual
speed afounli the hills and through the
valleys. and as the road Led was all solid
rock. / had no fear of the banks giving
out The, night was intensity dark. and
the wind howled piteously through the
deep gorgcs OF the mountains. Some oil
my passengers were trying to sleep. others
were talking in q low tone. TO relieve the
monntony Of the scene. Mothers held
their children on their knees, as if to
shield them from some unknown danger
without It was near midnight, when a
sharp whistle from the engine brought mt
by that wnistles md sprungto the brakes
at ONE. bsit the brakesmen were al at their
posts, and soon brought the train to a
stop. sIcrowdsi my way forward o. soor
as possible, when what a sight met my
gaze! A bright fire of pine logs illumin
AID the track for some distance. and no.
over forty rods ahead of our train
horrible gulf had o?enel to receive US!
The snow, together with the rain, hac
tornthe whole side of the mountain, anC
eternity itself seemed spread ont before us
found it out, and had brought light brusl
and wood from their home below. an,
buit arlsree fire which emight warn us o
ourkdsnksL They bad been there NOR
thh - hper watching besidesthst besco'
OF safety rs / went up to where tn
good old lsdy stood drenched through b,
the rain and sleet, she grasped me by tn
arm and cried:2 n ss.E
Thank God! Mr.. Sherburne. we stop
pe&y6qi time. Il Womb have lost m,
life before one single hair of your hea'
should have been hurt Oh. / prayed t.
heavens ths.y ve -night stop che train. an
my Coll 4hshk Tl5sel'' n S<2Es
The children were crying for Joy.
confess I de not very often pray. but / di
then and there. ! knecle,l down by tn
side'of that good old woman, and offcre
up thanks. to an -All-Wise being for on
safe delivery from most terrible death
and called down Blessings on that goo
womSn and her children. Near by stoo
she spginsasv fireman and Gbrakemen, tn
tears running down their bronzed cheeks
e{iHNe5iately prevsilea aponMrse Grsl
ana her children to 60 back into the car
out Of the storm and cold. After reachin
the cars related our hair-breaith escape
and to whom we were indebted for GU
liveszfA1 k1gged The medtog g. fofxar
and sec for themselves. They needed n
51kAse aghg, saah s'igrsat Number fe
ladies' ent also regardless Of the stern
T6<J soon :etufncd ana their pale face
gave fall evidence Of the frightful deaf
that wshsd eztaped Ths ladies and gen
tlennn sied With eech ether - their thank
,AEL<eA 1~~Ex,<4> IL -, a. Mrs fra