Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-01-24
6From the Lancaster Intelligencer.l
Life upon a HaiIroad.

snip OI y QO9, Is netlef Lnan Ills lll-Wlll ana
for many years, in my capacity as 4 rail
road conductor, have found the above true
to the letter. but mind, ] am not saying
/ that have no enemies. / undoubtedly
have few, and do not think that there
is a man that lives but has more or less.
\ A little kindness now and then to the
many ones, conductor will find almost
every trip over his road viii not be lost
and he viii in many cases, find from his
bread cast upon the waters, a return four
fold. Yet he must use a great deal of
i judgment in bestowing his charity upon
even those he thinks entirely worthy 81 its
bestowal. | will, in connection, relate a
little incident BY which little kindness
saved my life, and the lives Of all the pas
sengers on board my train.
i The western division of our road runs
1 through very mountainous part Of Vir-
ginia, and the stations were few and iarbe-
tween. About three miles from one Of
these stations the road rdas through deep
gorge Of the Blue Ridge, and near the cen
Ter is small valley, and there, henmed in
bv the everlasting hills, stood q small one
and half story cabin. The few acres that
surrounded it were well cult waited as i oar
den, and upon these lived widow and her
children by the name Of Graf. They were
indeed, untutored in the old charities Of an
outside world. doubt much if they ever
saw sunshine beyond their own native hills.
! In the summer 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 re-
finement
The Oldest Of these children | should
Judge to be about twelve years, and the
4 Youngest about seven. They We're all girls,
and looked nice and clean, and their
healthful appearance and natural delicaey
gave them a ready welcome. They APP
peared as if they had been brought up 10
/ God, and to love humble home and moth-
Ell | had often stopped my train and let
them Get off at the station some three
miles from horne, after disposing OF 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 fatherless little
ones. They seemed so pleased tonde, and
thanked me with such very hearty thanks,
after letting them off near home. They
frequently offered me nice, tempting bas-
! kets Of fruit for my kindness, yet | new
er accepted any without paying their full
value.
| Now, if you remember the winter Of "a
was very cold in that part Of the State, and
the snow was nearly three feet deep upon
the mountains.
i On the night Of the 10Th Of December
Of that year it turned round warm and rain
& fell in torrents A terrible storm swept the
mountain tops, and almost filed the valleys
with water. Upon that night my train
was winding its way at its usual speed
around the hills and through the valleys,
and as the road bel was all selid rock,
hal no fear Of the banks giving ont. The
!. nioht was intensely dark, and the wind
! moaned piteously through the deep gorges
of the mountains. Some Of my passengers
were trying to sleep, Others We're talking in
low voice, to relieve the monotony Of the
scene. Mothers had their children upon
their knees, as If to shield them from soiae
unknown danger without
It was near midnight, when sharp
whistle from the engine brought me tom
feet. ! knew there was danger by thai
whistle, and sprgng to the break at once,
but the brakesmen were all at their posts
and soon brought the train to a stop. ]
seized my lantern and | found my way for
ward as soon as possible, when what a sight
met my gaze A bright fire of pine logs
illuminated the track for some distance,
and not over forty rods ahead Of our train
! horrible gulf bad opened It's NAV to re-
ceiye us.
The snow togo her with the rain had
torn the whole side Of the mountain out,
and eternity itself seemed spread ont before
us. The widow Graft and ner children
had found it out, and had brought light
brush from their house, and built large
fires to warn lis Of our danger. They had
been there more than two hours, watching
that beacon Of safety. AS wentup where
that old lady and her children stood,
drenched through by the ram and sleet, s. I
grasped me BY the arm and cried
aThank Godi Mr.. Sherbonn, Ye stop
red YOU ID time. would have lost my life
before one hair Of yoar head should have
been hurt. Oh, | prayed to heaven that
we might stop the train, and my God,
thank thee n
The children were crying forjoy. con
fess / don't very often pray, but did then
and there. ] kneeled down by the side q
that good old woman and offered up thanks
to the All-Wise Being for our safe deliver
ance from a most terrible death, and callel
! down blessings without number upon tha
: gocd old woman and her children Nea
! by stood engineer. fireman and brakesmen
the fears streaming down fheir brouzee
checks.
/ Immediately prevailed upon Mrs. Graf
land the children to 90 back into the car.
out Of the storm ar.l cold. After reaching
4 The ears i related cur hair-breadth escape
! and to whom we were indebted for on
!, lives, and begged The men passengers e 81