North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-08-01
Selett Storp.
THE FALLEN b RID GE.

81 am sorry for you, Mrs. Hail." said the
landlord. 81 would give you your rent if |
was able but YOU know | have family
to support, and you know it would not be
doing right to them"
"Give me three days, Mr.. JONES'" said the
widow, "and something may turn up during
that time which may enable me to pay
you"
The landlord reluctantly assented, and
left the widow alone with her two children.
1t was scarcely year since she lost her
husband. His income had been small, and,
beyond hundred dollars and the furniture
he had left his wife nothing. Yet by sew
inc, and what odd jobs her son Henry could
obtain, she had been enabled to get along
and keep her children at school. Her
heaviest expense had been the rent, which,
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 mo
ment to depression.
Il am afraid" she said 'that we will
have to leave the house. 1t has been our
house so long that it will be very painful !;
| besides, | don't know where we shall 90"
To-day is Saturday" said uenry, sand
as school don't keep, mean to 90 out and
see if ! can't find something to do. Far
mer Terry told me that perhaps he might
give me a job at raking hay"
"Do so, Henry; | hope you may 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 If, 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
mile from the station, and Just above a
bridge a hundred feet in length, over
which the cars passed. He glanced in the
direction of the bridge, as he crossed the
railroad.
why" he exclaimed to himself 81 be-
leve the bridge has given way."
Running TO the spot he found his sus-
picions correct. The bridge, whether be
cause it was badly constructed, or from
some other cauee not apparent, had partly
given way, and must have inevitably caus-
ed the destruction OF any train which
should attempt to cross it. That many
/ lives must lie lost in this event was certain,
since the ravine spanned by the bridge was
some fifty feet deep. The thought fairly
took away Henry's breath.
''NVhat shall do ?" thought the bewil-
dered boy. Shall have time to get to
the station before the next tram gets along!
No, that is impossible, for it is about time
for it now."
As if to verify the last assertion,he could
hear family the sound of the approaching
eain.
81 must save it if I can," he thought.
After brief thought, lie ran along the track
in the direction Of the advancing cars, AS
he ran he waved his hat, ard threw up his
hatds, and in every possible way endeavor.
ed to attract the attention of the engineer.
Apparently they did not see him, or sup
posing it was merely boys fun took no no
tice of it. There is only one thing | 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, D."
he thought; yet the feeling Of his ownper-
sonal danger in case they should fail to
think him in earnest, blanched his cheek.
"Never mind" said he, resolutely, "bet-
ter risk my own life than let 50 many perish
with out warning.
OF course this took place in much less
time than / have taken to record it. Will
the reader picture to himself the terrible
situation in which onr hero stood-in the
way of train travelling at the rate of twen-
ty-five miles an hour waving his hat fran
tically, and exposed to the hazard of not
being able to get out of the way in case he
failed to succeed in stopping the cars. 1t
was indeed the time to test the courage Of
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 mutter. eve 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 p
Henry pointed mutely to the broken
bridge and then, overcome by the excite
ment through which e had passed he sank
back, fainting. His motion was under
stood.
"Good Heavens ~ exclaimed the en-
gineer, eve have been saved from a terri
bic fate ~
With remorseful eagerness he now devo-
ted himselfto the task of recovering the
fainting boy, and when he had opened his
eyes, asked his pardon for his rude unkind-
ress.
"Is the train safe :" asked Henry, eager
ly.
| "Entirely so - thanks TO your noble con.