The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-06-19
FALLEN. B RID e.
BY REV. HoRAT1o ALeERs, JR.

81 am sorry for you, Mrs. Hall, said
the landlord. "I would give you your
rent if l felt able, but you know I have
a family to support, and you know it
would not be doing right By them.''
"Give me three days, Mr.. Jones'" said
the widow, Sand something may turn up
during that time that will enable me to
pay you"
The landlord reluctantly assented, and
left the widow alone with her two chill
dren.
1t was scarcely year since she lost
her husband. His income had been small
and, beyond hundred dollars and the
furniture, had left his wife nothing. Yet,
by sewing and what odd jobs her son
Henry could obtain, she had been able to
get along and keep her children at school.
Her heaviest expense had been her rent,
which, however, she was enabled to pay
out of the hundred dollars above men
toned.
At 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 a moment to depression.
"I.am afraid" she said, athat we shall
have to leave the house. 1t has been our
home SO long that it will be very painful,
beside, don't know where we shall go. /"
"God will provide for us some way,
mother" " said Jane, the youngest child.
That is what you have told me SO often.
"And had nearly forgotten it myself.
said her mother, taking fresh courage
eyes, God will provide; we will not suf-
fer ourselves to despair"
To-day is Saturday, said Henry, 'and
as school don't keep, / mean to 60 out
and see if I can't find something to do.
Farmer Terry told me that perhaps he
would give me job at raking hay"
"Do SO, Henry. I hope you will sue
ceed, for with US, every little helps
Henry, who was stont, 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 mile from the sta
tion, and just above bridge a 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, aI
believe the bridge has given way"
Running to the spot he found his sus-
picions were correct. The bridge wheth-
er it was badly constructed, or from some
other cause not apparent, had partly CIV
en- way, and must inevitably have caused
the destruction of any train which would
attempt:to cross it. That many lives musl
be lost in the event was certain, since the
ravine spanned by the bridge was some
fifty feet deep. The thought fairly took
away Henry's breath.
"What shall | do?" thought he, bewil.
dered. "Shall have time to get up tc
1 the station before the next train gets
along2 No, that is impossible, for it il
about time for it now"
As if to verify his last statement, b,
could just begin to hear family the SOUND
of the approaching train.
~ must save it if I 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 wa.
endeavored to attract the attention of tn,
engineer. Apparently they did see him
but supposing it was merely boys fun
took no notice of it.
"There is only one thing I can do,
thought Harry, and he proceeded to d.
lit.
Placing himself between. the rails h'
continued the same demonstrations
"They'll 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 resolutsly, abet
ter risk my own life than let so many per
ish without warning"
! Of course this took place in much les
time than I have taken to record It.
Will the reader picture to himself th'
terrible situation in which our hero stoot
lin the way of train travelling at tn
rate of twenty five miles an hour, wavinl
his hat frantically, and exposed to th'
hazard of not being able to get out of th'
way in case he failed to succeed in stop
Iping the cars.
1 It was indeed time to test the courag
of the boy hero. But he maintained hi
i ground firmly.
| Meanwhile the engineer perceived him
Even at this time he supposed it was dom
in foolish brayodo.
/ "The little fool" he muttered. "W'
shall be compelled to stop or run ovel
him."
i He hastily issued an order to stop th,
train. 1t was done just in time-the,
were only two rods distant from the boy.
aNow, you little rascal" exclaimed tn
angry engineer, "what do you mean b,
risking your foolish life, and putting u
to this trouble?"
! Henry pointed mutely to the broker
bridge, and then overcome by the excite
ment through which be had just passed
he sank back, fainting.
| "Good heavensr exclaimed the engi
lneer, 1--WE have been saved from terribl
fate ~