The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-06-13
LIE ON RAILROAD.


Of dag Is better than his lil.Wlii aud ior
many tsarsin my capacity as rairoad con-
suct0r, have found cue above % be trae 70
d iettpr.-but mind. | am nnt saying that |
have no enemies. undoubtedly have few,
and don't think that there is a man that
lives bur has more or less. A little kind
nsss now and then 10 ths many needy ones
conductor viii fiud almost every trip over
bis road will not be lost. and he viii IN ma
ny cases end FROM his " bread cast upon the
waters, return fourlold. Yet he must use
"a great dea, Of judgment in aeslowiag III,
charity apaa even these he th;aks cntireiy
worihy Ut such bestoWal.' will IN connec-
tiea relate little incident by which a little
Kindness saved my life and the lives of all
the passengers on beard my train.
The western division Of our road runs
through very mountainous part OF Nir-
GINA, and the stations were few and far be-
tween. About three miles from one of t..ese
stations. the road runs though a deep gafge
of the Blue Ridge. and near the centre Is a
sma,l valley. and there hemned in BIZ the
everlasting hills stood small one anl.a.hal
story Iog-cabin. The few acres that sur.
rounded il were well cultivated as garden,
and upon the fruits thereof lived a widow
and her three children, BIZ the name Of Gtsf.
They we're. indeed. antutcred in the cold
charities Of al outside world. doubt much
If they ever saw lh- sun shine beyond their
own native hills. In the summer time the
children brought berries 70 the nearest sta
lion to sell, and with the money they earned
they bought few Of the necessities Of the
outside refinement.
The eldest Of these children | should
Judge to be about twelve years, and the
youngest seven. They are all girls and look
ed nice and clean. and their healthful ap.
pearance and natural delicacy gave them a
ready welcome. They appeared as If they
had been brought up to fear God, and love
their humble home and mother. had often
stopped nv train and let them Get eli at
their home. having found them At the station
some three miles from home after disposing
II 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 satherless little ones. They
seemed 50 pleased to ride, and thanked me
with much hearty thanks, after letting them
of near home. They frequently offered me
NIX AGi4pGAA- S2-kNA1 W tAAts ASA ny hAuh-
ness. yet never accepted any without pay
ing their fail value.
Now, ven remember, the winter Of 1854
MAS very cold in that part Of the State. and
The snow was nearly taree feet deep upon
the mountains.
On the night Of the 26th Of December d
that year, il turned around warm and lie
rain fen ii torrents. A terrible storm swept
the mountain tops, and almost filed the
valleys with water. Upon that night ms
train was winding is war. At its usual speed
around The hills and through the valleys, and
as the road bed was 81 sulid rock. ! had nj
fear Of the banks giving out. The night val
intensely dark, and the wind rnoaned pite
ousiy through the deep gorges Of the noun
tains. Some OF nv passengers were tryln.
20 sleep, others were talking in low voice
u relieve tie monotony Of the scene. Mothers
hal tier children apDn their knees, as il {,
shield them from unknown danger without.
Il was near midnight when a sharp whist,
from the engine brought me to my feet
kne~ there was danger ~ that whistle. an,
sprsag u the breaks at once. bot tie break
inen we're ell at their post. and soon bi0ugh
the tran to q stop. ] seized nv lantern am
found ms say forward as soon as possible
when VIA, sight met ny gaze 4 brigh
Ere Of pine logs Illuminated the track 70
some distance, and not over forty rod
ahezd Of . horrible gulf had opened i
nav to receive rs
The snos, together with the rain. had tori
Tie Whole side of the mountain out, ans
eternity itself seemed spread oat befnre u
Tie widow Graf and her children lad found
il oat. aud Yrasght light brush from thei
h0me below. and built large hres TO warn u
81 our danger. They lad been there NOR
than two hours watching beside that beaco
Of safety. A. ] vent UP % where the o.,
lady and children stood, irenched BIZ ii
rain ard s.est, Sic graspel me by the ava
ani erred
.Thsak God Nr. Sierb0rn, we stuppe,
yoa IN time | would lave lost my lie be
lsre one hair 81 yOar head should have beei
hsrt Oh. PRAYED 10 Heaven that We Nigh
stop The train, aud my God. thank Thee .
The children we're crying Tor j8t.
confess ! don't very often pray but / dit
iAen and tiiere. kneeiei Gown by tie 81,
Of that good old woman, aud offered Of
taanks TO - Ail.Nise Being fnr our al
usiitefanre from most terrible deafh. VII
called down blessings without number upO
that good Old aOtnan and her children. Aea
BY stood the engineer, fremen and breas men
tie tears strtamingiiOa their 5rOnked cheek.
Immediately prevailed upon Mrs. Grsl
and the children 70 20 back INTO The cars 90
IL lie Storm aud cold. Alter feaebiag thi
err ! related orr hairbrssdth escape. az
begged TIE men passengers 10 - forward 70,
,ee 20 themselves. They needed 10 lgf,bsl
ufsiug, thd great many VI the ladies' wen
also, regardless u tie storm. They soon re
turned. and their pale faces gave fall e,idene,
u the lrightlul dsath Ee had escaped. The
ladies' and gentlemen WED Nth saea oihel
10 their tiAbks ard heartfelt gratitude 10.
wards Mr.. Graf and tef children. aud a..
sured her hat tiey would never forget her.
Aah before the widow Jeff tie tain ne ws,
u 4. LaL. -. .r -. |.