The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-09-19


for some months in the French capital.
At last they took passage from Liver,
pool to New York and with melting hearts
looked out daily towards the blue dis
tance where they knew home was. A
prosperous passage was theirs; and from
the buslling American metropolis they
took the express train on the Eastern
Railroad, which would set them down at
home before sunset.
But alas how little do we know of com
ing events How little do we realize up
on what slender cord hangs our destiny
At lightning speed the train which car.
ried our travellers sped on Eva joyou,
and cheerful in view of beholding once
more the dear old place; her father re-
joicing in his daughters happiness. In
crossing bridge built on broad bu'
shallow river the machinery of the engine
became disordered and in an instant the
foaming monster plunged into the river,
dragging the train after it.
At the first shock Of the overthrow, a
young man, who for the whole Journey
had been regarding Eva with fixed atteu.
ton, dashed towards her and clasped her
in his arms and reached the platform Just
as 1t was going Overcome frantic leap and
he with his sepseless burden went down
beneath the water to rise almost instanta.
neously and strike for shore.
Boldly he swan on and at last be safe
" reached the shore, when after giving
Eva into the care Of some benevolent
people who dwelt near the bridge, he re-
turned to the scene of the accident, hop
ing to be Of some service in resecuiDg
those imperiled.
Sad to relate, Mr.. Phillips was among
the killed, and Eva found on the return
OF conciousuess, herself orphaned and
alone in the world among strangers. Il
was a new and terrible experience to her
and her shrinking spirit was nearly bro.
ken by the shock. She suffered herself
to be guided entirely by the advice of heI
unknown preserver-depending upon him
with the trust Of a helpless child. Under
his protection Eva set out for home
home no longer,now that there we're none
on earth to care fer her. The house at
Wheatwold had been closed the greater
part of the time during the absence of its
owners, and had only been opened few
weeks before in the expectation of their
coming. Everything there was damp and
mouldy-the curtains were falling to
pieces in the continual moisture of the
atmosphere--everythiug bore the impress
OF gloom. Still heavier fell the gloom
when the closed coffin, holding the remains
of Mr. Phillips, was brought into the long
dark parlor awaiting the funeral serYi,
ces of to,morrow's morn.
EVa's afliction was dreadful to witness
Sae took notice of nothing, neither ate
cor slept, and refused all attempts at con-
ISOLATION from her sympathizing neighbors
The young stranger who accompanied
her home took charge Of everything, and
the good people of the vicinity, suppos-
ing him to have been an intimate friend
Of the deceased, made no inquiries con-
corning his right to act as he saw ft.
Mr.. Phillips was buried by the side of
his wife, and EVa,on the arm of the pity
ing old clergyman went down TO the grave
iciIy, tearlessly-like stone statue. She
exhibited no emotion-standing with
fixed immovable stare. The funeral over.
the stranger engaged two trusty servants,
a man and his wife, to take charge of
domestic affairs about the place, and then
made preparation for immediate depar-
ture, The morning upon which he was
to leave, he sent message to Eva, request
ng a private interview. 1t was granted
aud she met him in the little boudoir at
-ached to her chamber, where she had
passed the greater portion of her time
since her return. He came 10 with a lit.
lie hesitation in his step, and took the
,hair her silent nod Indicated. As he
lid SO, his eyes involuntarily fell upon
be tin dipper, which still retained its
'lden place on her dressing bureau. He
tarted up, and approached it, took it in
lis hand and examined it long and at
en:rvely. Still retaining it, be came to
IVas side:
Miss Phillips p
She looked up dreariiy on hearing her
lame spoken, but ber face Frightened iu-
tantly when she beheld her old plaything.
"May ask you how you came by this, /
Hiss Phillips p
at was given to me by pedler some
ears ago-his name is on the side"
"And you have preserved it through
il this time-you evidently prize it p
"Prize it sir, it has saved my life "
"Would you like to see the gver of
hat tri1lOg toy? Would it please you to
ee Eugene FulIer?"
Eyes, it would crafty me above all
hings. Then would [ thank him for the
ood his gift has been to me-"