Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-04-27

The Fallen Bridge.

II am sorry tor you Mrs. Hail." said the
landlord. Il would give you your rent i
felt able; but you know l have family
to support. and you know it would not be
doing right by them"
Give me three days, Mr.. JONES'" sale
the widow, "aud something may turn W
during that time which may enable me tC
pay you"
The landlord reluctantly assented ani
left the widow alone with her two children
1t was scarcely year since she lost hel
husband. His income had been small
and beyond a hundred dollars and the fur.
niture, had left his wife nothing. Yet by
sewing, and what odd jobs her son Henry
could obtain, she hf d been enabled to gel
along and keep her children at school,
Her heaviest expenses mad been the rent,
which, however, she was enabled to pay
ont of the hundred dollars above mention.
ed.
At the commencement of the second
year, however, she had no reserve fund.
and found herself quite unable to meet the
rent at the end of the first quarter.
After the landlord went out, she gave
way for 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 lis in some way
mother" said Jane. the youngest child
II hat is what you have told me so often"
"And had nearly forgotten it myself"
said her mother, taking fresh courage.
"Yes. God will provide we will not suf-
fer ourselves to dcspair."'
"To day is Saturday." said Henry, land
as school don't keep, mean to go ont and
see if | can't find something to do. Far
mer Terry told me that perhaps he might
give me job at raking hay"
'Do so, Henry; hope you will succeed,
for with us every little helps"
Henry. who was a stout and handsome
boy of twelve, Immediately took down his
cloth cap from the nail where he usually
hung it, and made his way across the fields
toward the Terry Farm.
The distance was about mile, and the
route by which he went took him across
the railroad track. The point at which he
crossed was about a mile from the station,
and just above the bridge, a hundred feet
in length, over which the cars pas ed. He
glanced in the direction Of the bridge. as
he crossed the railroad.
why" he exclaimed to himself, II be-
lieve the bridge has given way"
Running to the spot he found his suspic-
ions correct. The bridge, whether it was
badly constructed, or from some ether
cause not apparent, had partly given away,
and mnst inevitably have caused the de-
struction OF any train which should attempt
to cross it. That many lives must be lost
in this event was certain, since the ravine
spanned hy the bridge was some fifty feet
deep. The thought fairly took away Hen
rvs breath
"What shall do - thought the bewil-
dered boy. 'Shall l have time to get up
to the station before the next train gets
along No, that is impossible, for it is
about time for the train now"
As if to verify his last assertion, he could
just begin to hear family the sound Of the
approaching train.
II must save it if can" thought he.
After a 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
endeavoring to attract the attention of the
engineer. Apparently he did not see him,
but supposng it was merely boys fun,
took no notice of it.
There is only one thing l can do"
thought Henry, and he proceeded to do it.
Placing himself between the rails, he
continued the same demonstrations.
They'll stop rather than run over me, :"
he thoug ght, yet the feeling Of his own per-
sonal danger, in case they should fail to
think him in earnest, blanched his cheek.
"Never m nd" said he resolutely, "het-
ter risk my own life than to let SO many
perish without warning"
Of course all this took place in much less
time than have taken to record it,
Will the reader picture to himself the
terrible situation in which our hero stood
in the way of u train travelling at the
rate of twenty five miles an hour. waving
his hat franticaliy, and exposed to the haz
ard of not being able to get out OF the way
in case he failed to succeed in stopping the
train. 1t was indeeda time to test the
courage of tlfe boy hero. But he main
tanned 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. 1--WE
shall be compelled to stop or run over him.
He hastily issued an order to stop the
train. 1t was done just in time; they
were only two rods distant from the boy.
"Now, you little rascal" exclaimed the
angry engineer. "What do you mean by
risking 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, fainting. His motion was under
stood.
.Good heaven Z" exclaimed sthe engi-