Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-10-19
Srlctt Storp.
THE FALLEN BRIDGE.
BY REV. HonATIo ALGER, JR.

! the widow, and something may turn III
during that time which will enable me tC
/ pay you.
! The landlord reluctantly assented, and lef
the widow alone with her two children.
IL was scarcely year since she had los
her husband. His income had been small
and, beyond a hundred dollars and the fur
niturc, had left his wife nothing. Yet, b,
sewing, and what odd Jobs her son Henr,
could obtain she had been enabled to ee
along, and keep her children at school. lIci
heaviest expense had been the rent, which
! however, she was enabled to pay out Of the
| hundred dollars above mentioned
! Al the commencement of the second year
however, she had no reserved fund and
found herself quite unable to meet the rent
at the close of the first quarter.
After the landlord went out she gave way
for Il moment to depression.
Il am afraid. she said, THAT we shall
have to leave this house. 1t has been our
home so long that it will be very painful
besides, don't know where we shall go. -
God will provide for us some way, moth
er said Jane, the youngest child THAT
Is what you have told me 50 often. -
And | had nearly forgotten it myself -
said her mother, taking fresh courage
"Nes, God will provide; we viii not suffer
ourselves to despair"
''Io day is Saturday" ssid Henry ''and
aS school don keep, | mean to 20 out and
see if can't find something to do Farmer
Terry told me that perhaps he would give
me II job at raking hay.
''Do so, Henry. hope you will succeed
for with US every littlc helps"
| Henry, who was a stout, handsome boy
Of twelve, Immediately took down hi, cloth
cap from the nail where he usually hung il
and made his way across the fields towards
the Terry Farm.
The distance was about a mile, and the
route by which he went took him across the
railroad track. The pointat which he crossed
was about a mile from the station, and Just
above Il bridge Il hundred feet in length over
which the cars passed. He glanced in the
direction Of this bridge as he crossed the
railroad.
"Why," he exclaimed to himself, Il be-
lieye the bridge has given way.
Runnlng To the spot, he found his suspi-
cons were correct. The bridge, whether
because 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
attcmpt to cross it, That many lives must
be lost in the event was certain, since the
ravine spanned by the bridge was some fifty
feet deep: The thought fairly took away
! llenry's breath.
NV hat shall do" thought he, bcwilder-
ed. Shall | have time to get up to the
station before the next train gets along ,
No. that is Impossible, for it is about time
for it now.
AS if to verify his last assertion, he could
lust begin to hear family the sound Of the
approaching train.
II must save it if cam" 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 en-
deavored to attract the attention Of the engi
neer. Apparently they did see him, but
surprising it was merely boy s fun, took no
notice Of it.
There is only one thing I can do, "
thought Henry and he proceeded to do it.
Placing himself between the rails, he CON
| tinucd the same demonstrations.
They Il stop rather than iun over me, "
! he thought; yet the feeling of his own per-
sonal danger in case they should fail to think
him in earnest blanched his cheek.
Never mind, said he, resolutely, "bct-
ter risk my own life than let so many perish
without warning.
OF course this took place in much less
time than | have taken to record it.
Will the reader picture to himself the ter
riblo situation in which our hero stood--in
| the way Of train travelling at the rate OF
! twenty-five miles AN hour, waving his hat
| trantically, and exposed to the hazard of not
being able to get out ofthe way in case he
failed to succeed in stopping the cars.
| II waS iplnnl a finn ~ tast a., nnur,na al
| the boy hero. But he maintained his ground
firmly
Meanwhile the engineer perceived him.
Even at this time he supposed it was done
in foolish bravado.
The little fool" he muttered. "WC
shall he compelled to stop or run over him
lie hastily issued an order to stop the
train. 1t was done Just in time; they were
only two rods distance from the boy.
Now, YOU little rascal, p" exclaimed the
angry engineer, what do you mean by
rsking your foolish life, and putting US to
this trouble 2"
Henry pointed mutely to the broken
bridge, and then, overcome by the excite
ment through which he had passed, he sank
back, tainting.
Good heavens!' exclaimed the engi
neer I'VE have been saved from terrible
fate j.
With remorseful cagerness he now devo-
ted himself to the task of recovering the
fainting boy, and when he had opened his
eyes asked his pardon for isrude kindness. y
SIS the train safe p asked Henry ca
gerly.
Entirely so-thanks to your noble con
duct, my little hero|'
| Henry found himself in the centre of a
group of passengers, who were profoundly
shocked at the danger from which they had
just escaped.
| Gentlemen - said one Of the number, Il
fine 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 fol
| low. He. has displayed degree Of nerve
which doubt whether any one of us is cap
able of. | believe | shall only meet the
wishes of many present when | suggest that
nothing could be more fitting than pecun-
| iary testimonial of our gratitude,
So saying, he took off his hat and drop
ped ten dollar gold piece into it, His ex
ample was speedily, and even eagerly, fol
lowed.
/ At chanced that the train was a very long
one, and contained an unusual large mum
Der of passengers. To this fact may be at,
tributed the large amount of the contribu
tion which was taken up.
"Gentlemen," said the first spokesman
after counting the money, you will be graf
/