The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-03-06
Affecting Incident of Railroad
Life.

An old railroad conductor relates
the following touching incident Of his
own life and the lives of the passengers
were saYed-the return for little acts
| of kindness bestowed on the widow
and fatherless
:" The western division of our road
runs thro' 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 deep gorge of the Blue
Ridge, and near the centre is small
valley, and there, hemmed in by the
everlasting hills, stood small one and
a-half story log cabin. The few acres
that surrounded it were well cultivated
as garden, and upon the fruits there
of lived a widow and her three children
by the name of Graft They were in
deed, untutored in the cold charities
| of an outside world doubt much if
they ever saw the sun shine beyond
their own native hills. In the sum-
mer time the children brought berries
to the nearest station to sell, and with
the money they earned they bought a
few of the necessities of the outside
refinement.
"The Oldest of these children I
should judge to be about twelve years,
and the youngest about seven. They
were all girls and looked nice and clean
and their healthful appearance and
natural Gelicacy gava them ready
welcome. They appeared as if they
had been brought up to fear God and
love their humble home and mother.
{" | had often stopped my train to
have them SCI off at their home, hav-
ing found them at the station some
three miles from their home, after dis
posing of their berries.
~ had children at home, and knew
their little feet would be tired in walk
ing three miles, and therefore felt that
it would be the same with. those faith
erless little ones. They seemed so
pleased to ride, and thanked me with
such lovely thanks after letting them
off near home. They frequently offer
ed me nice, tempting baskets of frnit
for my kindness, yet | never accepted
anything without paying their full
value. s a.a.t
" 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 it
turned around warm, and the rain fell
| in torrents A terrible rain swept the
mountain tops, and almost filled the
valleys with water. Upon that night
my train was winding it's 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 OFT. The night
was intensely dark, and the wind
moaned piteonsly through the deep
gorge of the mountains. Some OF
my passengers were trying to sleep,
others were talking in a low voice, to
relieve the monotony of the scene.
| Mothers had their children upon their
knees, as if to shield them from some
unknown danger without.
cit was uear midnight when q
sharp whistle from the engine brought
me to my feet. | knew there was dan
ger by that whistle, and sprang to the
brakes at once, but the brakeman were
at their posts, and soon brought the
train to a stop | seized my lantern,
and found my way forward as soon as
possible, when what sight met my
gaze "A bright fire of pine logs illn-
minated my track for some distance
and not oyer forty rods ahead of oul
train a horrible gulf had opened itself
to receive us. f q
" The snow together with the rain
had torn the whole side Of the noun
tain out, and eternity itself seemed
spread out before u.s. The widow
Graf and her children, had found il
out, and had brought light brush from
her home below, and built o large FIRE
{ to warn us of our danger. They had
Z been there more than two hours watch.
ing beside that beacon of safety As
X Iwent up where the old lady and
children stood drenched through by
7 the rain and sleet, she grasped me by
/ the arm and cried agnenaa hsaol %
i q" Thank Godl Mr.. sSherboufh We
i. stopped you in time .bqI would bave
4 lost my life before one hair of YOU
/ head should have been hurt Oh, ]
prayed to Heaven that we might stoT
| the train, and, my God, Ithank theel
1 a"lThe children were all crying foI
Joy Il confess Idon livery often pray
! but / did then and thereaa / kneeled
]. down by the side of that old woman
and offered up thanks to AN "A Wise
\ Being for our safe deliSerance from q
II r,act fnrgihla death and called down