The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-01-03
AFFECTING INCIDENT OF RAIL ROAD
LIFE

Au-olA railrosd cordacloL- -IelaleS the iQHa&R-l
ing touching incident o4sis5s.own lie and The
lives OF the passengers saved-lhe return for
little acts of klailness bestowed on The widow
and the fatberltTS:
oThe western division OF our road runs thro'
a very mountainous part OF Virginia, and the
stations are 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 a small valley, and there,
hgmmed in by the everlasting hills, stood a
small one and a half story log cabin. The lew
acres that surrounded it were well cultivated as
a garden, and upon the fruits thereof lived a
widow and her three children, by the name OF
Graft. They were, indeed. unluioTed III the
cold charities OF an outside world doubt
much if they ever saw the sun shine beyond
their own native hills. In the 7pmmer tune
the children brought berries TO the neaCes, sta
ton 10 sell, and with the money they earned
they bought a few Of the necessities OF the out
side refinement.
"Ihe oldes! OF these children | should Judge
to be about twelve years, and the youngest a
bout seven. They were all gIrlS, and looked
nice and clea1, and their healhiul appearance
and natural delcacy7gayc them a ready wei
come. They appeared as If they had been
brought up to fear God, and love their humble
home and mother"
81 had often stopped my train TO have them
set off at their home, having found them at the
station some three miles from their home, alter
dlsPosing of their berries"
Il had children at home, and knew their 1t
tie feet would be tired in walking three miles,
and therefore felt that it would be The same with
those fatherless little ones. They seemed 50
pleased to ride, and thanked me with such love
ly thanks after letting them of near home.
They frequently offered me nice, tempting bas-
kels Of fruit for my kindness, yet never ac-
cepted any thing without paying them full value.
"Now, if you remember, the winter oJ 1894
was very cold in that part OF the State, and the
snow was nearly three feet deep on the noun
talHs. On the night Of the Goth of December
II turned around warm, and the ram fell IN ter
rents. A terrible rain swept the mountain tops,
and almost filled the valleys with water Upon
that night my rain was winding It's way, al its
usual speed, around the hills aud 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 wiAd moaned
peOusiy through the deep gorge OF the noun
tans. Some of my passengers were trying TO
sleep; others were talking in low voice, to
relieve the mOnolony of the scene. Mothers
had their children upon their knees, as if 10
shield them from some unknown danger with
out
at was near midnight, when a sharp whistle
from the engine brought me TO my feet. L knew
there wns danger by that whistle, and sprang to
the breaks at once, but the brakesmen were all
at tAeir posts, and soon brought their train 10 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 iIlu-
minated my track for some distance, and no
over forty rods ahead of our train horrible
guilt had opened itself to receive US.
"The snow, together with the rain, had tort
The whole side Of the mountain out, and eterni
ty Itself seemed spread out before US. Tbs
WIcow Graf and her children had found il out