Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-07-15
Yes Susan says I, with my mouth full

4 VI
William, would it make much differ
ence If you came in half an hour Late, to-
night with the train?'
No, perhaps not You see | half
knew what was coming.
Because I'm afraid, almost, of some
| thing; don't ask me what it is, for don t
know myself, feel it somehow, and want
you to drive slow, and promise me Will
liam. dear, to look at the wheels and
things won't you -
Susan, says |, kissing her, I'll walk
her all the way
And that was what [ was gong to do.
L made Collins, the fireman, as mad as a
March hare by making him 90 through the
wheels with a hammer before we started
back from Pallerton that night. | went
through the engine myself, examined the
springs and levers, had two extra men put
on the brakes, and an extra lantern fast
ened on the engine in front of the boiler.
They all laughed at me, but | kept on till
L felt that things We're as they should be.
When l was speaking of Jim Nelson's
house in the woods, perhaps ought to
have said taat he was widower, and had
little tot Of hahy, and L no.iood 1t
ran by that morning, playing in the door
yard. | say this that which come after
may be better understood
Well, we started back at 20, that is
back to Croydon. 1t was storming as |
thought it never did before; the clouds
rolled up black, and the wind came down
through the mountains cold and buster
inc. shut her all up tight, and tnrned
down the light in the cab, 50 that | might
see better how things went outside. Pret-
ty soon it came on to rain, mixed with hail,
and the night became backer than before
kept my hand on the lever, and my eyes
on the broad streak Of light that lighted
up about two hundred yards of the track
| let her easy ut about twenty miles an
hour, taking a look now and then at the
cars, and keeping an eye on everything.
We ran on this way steadily for two
hours, and lost fifteen minutes, and every
thing was right. | kept my course, as the
danger commenced now if there was any
at ALL The storm and rain was worse
than ever, and beat against Us like mad,
and blew the smoke and steam down over
us, 50 that | felt like stopping altogether,
but of course that wouldn't do We kept
on this way for another hour feeling our
way carefully. About twenty minutes
after that | got off my seat to look at the
oil cups and gauge, when, quick as light
ming, Collins. the fireman, Jared my arm
and shouted Good God thers a child
crawling on the track :
| showed my lever back and pulled the
whistle valve short and quick, and opened
the cab window and jumped out on the en-
gine. In doing so, [ thought afterward |
must have kicked the lever back again. At
that moment what [ saw made me forget
everything else, for sure enough, about
two hundred feet in front of the engine,
kneeling on its hands and knees, and with
out moving looking straight at the light of
the lanterS, was little child
God help me- said l. seeing the poor
thing must be killed if l didn't he . it.
and [ scrambled forward past the boiler.
Of the cars grated, but the engine was
working harder than it had that night.
couldn't stop to think why, and putting my
feet between the bars, | caught hold of the (
shackie with my left hand, and leaned for /
ward over the track | shut my teeth /
together tight and held on like death /
knowing we'll that a slip of my hand or
feet would end me. The poor, covering
little thing crept away to one side, but was I
90 scared that 1t had sunk down and was /
ying on its belly across the rail.
God help it. again says l, bending
lown, and stuck my arm out straight and
tiff with my hand an inch from the track
n an instant L showed it along about FIVE
eet before | could close my hand on the
lress, when lifted it up over my head,
md put it on the platform behind me, then
luick As may be | hoIoed, for | felt
lind of weakness coming over me, | took
he baby in my arms, but was too weak to
20 back, so | sat down there. The engine
vas going like lightning, and the rain was
,eating in mine and the baby's face, and
he wheels were grinding and roaring, and
fore heaven [ never was so womanish as
was then, with the poor little thing in
ny arms, and sobbing as if its heart would
Freak. | was only there a moment and
vas nearly tainting, when [ heard shout
ouder than the storm and the noise of the
'ngine, and | opened my eyes and saw the
igure of man about thirty yards in front
If the engine He stopped down, then
umped up with something large in his
lands, and threw it off the track then he
lid it again and again; he worked quick
nd wild-like, and just before the engine
cached him jumped off and waved his
he lanterns fell on him at that instant, and
bowed face which was pale round the
ips and nose, such as | had seen before
Well, [ got back to the cab with the
,aby, and whistled brakes off and went in
o Croydon thirty-fve minutes behind
ime ..
| told Susan all about it, and she took
he baby in fine style, and we sat by the i,
re that evening, talking and wondering
yer what had happened, when a knock {
anne to the door, and | went to the door, ;
nd says |, who's there?' )
It's me- says voice that was trem- !
ling, as though the man was crying. :
Let me in, Rogers I'm Jim Nelson $
We nothing agin you and Susan, now, God E
nows.' r
So | opened the door and he came in !
taggering as if he was intoxicated, and &
Ihite as snow then he looked round the E
DOM, and seeing the baby in Susan's lap, '
e ran to it, and kneeling down, buried his d
ace in his clothes, and sobbed and cried O
S L never saw before or since. After V
7hile he got little calmed then he stood {
p, and turning to me, he says v
William Rogers, [ meant to do harm C
o-night, but you saved the little one for c
ne, which is all | love in this big world a
o,, SohLc ono aUau from me and | fhnurhf | L