Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-09-05
MISCELL ANY.
An Incident Of Railroad Life

for little acts OF kindness bestowed on til,
widow and latherless -
"The western division Of our road runs
through very mountainous part of Vir
ginia. About three miles from one Of th,
stations, the road runs through a deep gorg,
Of the Blue Ridge and near The centre is ;
small valley, and here, hemined in by ih,
everlasting hills, stood small, one-and-a
half story log cabin. The few acres thai
scrrour ded it were well collivated as gar,
l den, and upon the fruits thereof lived wild
ow and her three children, by the name Of
Graf. They were, indeed, untuiored in
the cold charaities of an outside world
doubt much ifihey ever saw the sun shine
beyond their native hills. In the summer
time the children brought berries to the
nearest station to sell, and with the money
| they earned they bought few of the neces-
sites Of outside refinement.
"The Oldest of these children / should
Judge TO be about twelve and the youngest
about seven. They we're all girls and look
ed nice and clean, and their heathful APP
perance 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 my train to have
them set of at their home, having found
them at the station some three miles from
their home, after disposing of their berries.
81 had children at home, and knew their
little feet would be tired in walking three
miles, aud so with these fatherless little
ones. They seemed SO pleased to ride, and
thanked me with such lovely thanks after
letting them off near home. They frequent
ly offered me nice, tempting baskets OF fruit
for my Kindness, yet | never accepted any
thing without pay ing them its full value.
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 Goth of
December, it turned around warm and the
rain fell in torrents. A terrible rain swept
the mountain tops, and almost filled the val
leys with water. Upon that night my train
was winding its way, at tue 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 out. The night
was intensely dark and the wind moaned
through the deep gorges of the
Some of my passengers were
.rying to sleep, others were talking in low
voice to relieve the monotony of the scene.
Mothers had their children upon their knees, |
as if 10 shield them from some unknown
LANCER without.
" 1t was near midnight when sharp
whistle from the engine brought me 10 my
Get. / knew there was danger by that
whistle and sprang to the brakes at once,
nut the brakesmen were all at their posts
nd brought the train to a stop. | seized
ny lantern and found my way forward as
Don as possible, when what sight met my
axe A bright fire Of pine logs illumina-
ed the track for some distance, and not ov
I forty rods ahead Of our train horrible
uif had opened itself to receive us.
1.-The snow, together with the rain, had
Urn the whole side OF the mountain out. and (,
ternity itself seemed spread ont before US.
he widow Graft and her children had
'und it out, and had brought light brush
ON her home below and built a large fire
warn us of orr danger. They had been
lere then two hours watching besides that
sacon of safety. As went up where the
d lady and children stood, drenched thro'
J the rain and sleet, she grasped me by the
I'm and cried
Thank God Mr.. Sherburn, we stop
ed you in time. ! would have lost my life
efore one hair Of your head should have
cen touched. Oh, prayed to heaven that
'e might stop the train, and, my God,
hank thee r
The children were all crying for JOY.
confess don't very often pray, but | did
ben and their. | kneeled down by the side
t that oil woman, and offered up thanks TO
n All Wise Being for our safe deliverance
rom most terrible death, and called down
lessings without number upon that good
Id woman and her children. Near by stood
he engineer, fireman and brakesmen, the
ears streaming down their bronzed cheeks.
i Immediately prevailed upon Mrs.
Sraii and the children to go back in the
airs out OF the storm aud cold. After reach
ng the ears, related our hair breadth es-
ape and to whom we were indebted for our
ives, and begged the men passengers to 90
onward and see for themselves. They need
d no further urging, and great many
aides went also, regardless of the storm.
They soon returned, and their pale faces
ave full evidence Of the frightful death we
ad escaped. TIE ladies and gentlemen
led with each other in their thanks and
eartfelt gratitude toward Mrs. Graf and
Ter children, and assured her that they
you'd never, never forget her; and before
he woman left the train, she was presented
With purse of four hundred and sixty dol
ars, the voluntary offering Of whole train
{ grateful passengers.
She refused the proffered gift for some
lme, and said she had only done her duty,
nd the knowledge Of having done so was
II the reward she asked.
However, she finally accepted the money,
nd sand it should 20 TO educate her ehil-
ren.
The railroad company built her neat
Iouses gave her and her children free
lass over the road, and ordered all trains TO
top and let her off at her home whenever
he wished. But the employees needed no
ueh orders /; they can appreciate all such
SO than the directors them
elves.
The old lady frequently Visits my home
1 Ii ---, and she is at all times well
onre visitor at my fresiae. Two of the
hildren are attending school at the same