Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-07-14
,ffealeilt gotral.
- rHE RALLEN BRIDGE-

and it would not be doing right by them.
@Give me three days, Mr.. Jones, said th
widow eand something may turn up durin,
that time which vii enable me to pay sou- .
The Landlord reluctantly sssented, and lef
the widow alone with her two children.
II was scarcely year since she had lost he
husbands His income had been small and, be
yond hundred dollars and the furniture, has
left his wife nothing. Yet by sewing, and wha
odd Jobs her son Henry could obtain, she haC
been enabled to get along, and keep her chill
dren at school. Her heaviest expense had beer
the rent, which, however she was enabled tc
pay out ofthe hundred dollars above mentioned
At the commencement of the second year
however, she had no reserved fund and found
herself quite unable 70 meet the rent at the Gloss
of the first quarter.
After the elandlord went out, she gave way
for moment TO depression.
IL am afraid" she said, ''that we shall have tC
leave this house. Il has been our home so long
that it viii be very painful; besides l don't
know where we shall go"
God will provide for us in some way, moth
err said Jane, the youngest child. ~That il
what you have told me often"
And had nearly forgotten it myself" said
her mother, taking fresh courage. '0Yes, God
will provides We will not suffer ourselves tc
despair.
To-day is Saturday" said Henry; "and as
school don't keep, / mean to 90 out and see if ]
can't find something to do. Farmer Terry told
me that perhaps he would give me job at rak-
ing hay.P @ 9t a
"Do so Henry. 1 hope you will succeed, for
with us every little helps.'
Henry, who was a stout, handsome boy OF
twelve, Immediately took down his cloth cap
from the nail where he usually hung it, and
made has way across the fields towards the Ter
~ farm
The distance was about mde, and the route
by which he went took him across the railroad
track. The point at which be crossed was about
a mile from the station, and Just above bridge
hundred feet iB length over which the cars
passed. he glanced In the direction of this
bridge as he crossed the railroad.
Why" he exclaimed to himself 81 believe
the bridge has given way" 9A A5Asl 81
Running to the spot he found that his sus-
picion was correct The bridge, whether be-
cause it was badly constructed, or from some
other cause not apparent had partly given way,
and must inevitably have caused the destruction
of any train which should attempt to cross it.
That many lives must be lost in this event was
certain, since the rayine spanned by the bridge
was some fifty feet deep. The thought fairly
took away Henry's breath.
What shall dc" thought be bewildered.--
Shall have time to get up to the station be-
possibIa Iae, for il is about time for it now"
Is if to verify his last assertion, be could Just
begin to hear family the sound of the approach
Il must save it if 1 can" he thought. &
After brief thought, he ran along the track in
the direction of the advancing cars.
As he ran he waved his hat, and threw up
his hands. and in every possible way endeayor-
ed 60 sttract the attention ofthe engineer APP
Al. \ i
merely boys fun, took no notice oft
"There is only one thing 1 can do" thought
Henry; and be proceeded to do it.
Placing himself between the rails he contin-
ued the same demonstrations. tsaFc q
They II stop rather than run over me-" he
thought; yet the feeling of his own personal
danger in case they should fail to think him in
earnest blanched his cheek
"Never mind" said he resolutely; "better
risk my own. life than let SO many perish with
out warning" --,.-
OF course all this took place in much less time
than / have taken TO record it.
VIII the reader picture to himself the terrible
situation in which our hero stood the way
of train travelling at the rate of twenty-five
miles an hour, waving his nat frantically. and
exposed 70 the hazard of not being able to get
stopping the r,ars - - !
hEas,ldeed time to test the courage of the
ooy ZERO. But he maintained his ground firm
Meanwhile the engineer perceived him. Ev-
en- at this tire he supposed it was done in fool
ish bravado. ~
The little fool" he muttered. I'VE shall be
compelled to stop or run over him"
He hastily issued an order to stop the train..
Il was done Just in time; they were only two
rods distance from the how
Nov, you little rascal, " exclaimed the an
CRY engineer what do you mean by risking
your foolish life and putting us TO all this
trouble2"
Henry pointed mutely TO the broken bridge,
and then, overcome by the excitement through
which hehad passed, he sank back, fainting.
His motion was understood.
Good heavensl" exclaimed the engineer, I'VE
have been saved from terrible fatein
With remorseful eagerness he now devoted
himself to the task of recovering the fainting
boy, and when he had opened his eyes asked
his pardon for his rude address.
rs the train safe?" asked Henry eagerly.
Entirely so-thanks to your noble conduct
my little hero"
Henry found himself in the centre of group
Of passengers, who were profoundly shocked at
the danger from which they had Just escaped,
and proportiOnatsly thankful to their preserver
looking man, calling them aside, ''yOu perceive
how narrow has been our escape, and you must
be aware that it is solely owing to the courage
of this noble little fellow. He has displayed a
degree of nerve which doubt whether any one
Of US is capableof believed shall only meet
the wishes of many present when suggest that
nothing could be more fitting than pecuniary
testimonial of our gratitude"
So saying, he took off his hat and dropped a
ten dollar gold piece into it. His example was
speedily, and even eagerly followed.
1t chanced that the train was a very long one,
and contained an unusual large number of pas
sengers. To this fact may be attributed -
large amount of the contribution wbi,.., .r-as
taken up. - - = q
sGentlemen," said the first S.DoLesman after
counting the money, 'you ~,ilI be gratified to
learn that L have in my bat three hundred dol
lars, the result OF or united contributions,
Wnicn In your u Ame / have the pleasure of pre-
senIng 70 oU young friend for his courageo us
30 laying he placed the money in his own
Uurse which he emptied for that purpose, and
amid the cheers of the crowd presented it to
Henry.
aWhat, is it all mine9p asked our hero, bewil-
dered with his excessive Joy.
eIt is all yours. We have no doubt but a
YOU have this morning, will dispose of it in a
suitable manner"
"ITlgive it to my mother said Henry, his
eyes sparkling with JOY. "I'm so glad-she
needs It so much"
Preparations were now made to reverse the
cars and go back to the last station. The gen.
tleman who had been the means of beneftting
Henry SO essentially did not go back with the
train.
"If you are willing" said he addressing our
hero, Il will go back with you to your mother.
begin to feel strong interest in you, and may
have it in my power to be of service to you. "
On the way he asked various questions to all
Of which Henry answered frankly.
There is my mothers house, he said al
length. sShe viii be very glad to get this
money, for she has not been able to pay hel
rent for the last quarter, and now she can do il
without any trouble"
'You must introduce me to your mother
To do this you must know my name, which Is
Gordon"
Mrs. Hall heard the story of her sons brave
w with r1InOlpd Tartda md Rr1fh hoy