The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-18

dancing about and waving Its hands % We ioAms
swiftly on.
a few moments; and there 1t all Ii now, like Q
picture that having once seen can never forget
IL ves glorious golden, sunshiny afternoon, Win
all looking bright and mellow the nut, wlta us
patch Of flowers the children py sIs sag ., e
like but only to drop dewn in the track, half way
between the door and where her little one was
dancing and waving Its little hands as we glided on.
felt like man does In one OF those nign.msre
dreams, when the will 10 there to 90 something;
only dreadful kind Of face holds you DacK, ana
you can see danger coming nearer and nearer,
and yet not avoid 1t. We neither OF us spoke, put
stood there, one on each side, leaning forward as
helpless as the poor little child In 'front.' till, Win
almost q yell, / fought clear OF the power tna'
seemed to hold me, and with the feeling on me
that was too late, crept along the side OF the
engine, and lay down with arms EXTENDED Ia ront
Of the COW catcher. 49,
Only moments, but moments that seemed like
hours, a. with its strange. hurryiDg, jumping mo-
ton, the engine dashed down. as told myself, 10
crush out the life Of that poor little innocent.
wanted to shut my eyes to keep out the horrible
sight, but dared not; and though now seemed
to be doing what might save the ohild's Inc,
could not think 1t possible. There 1t was just In
front, and yet we appeared to come no nearer.
In an ordinary way, we should nave passed 'ns
shapty score of times; but now the horror OF
those moments acted 30 upon my imagination that
we seemed to crawl slowly but surely, like the
motion of some vast machine that hardly seems
to move, and yet forces its way on with power
that there is no stopping.
Twenty yards-ten yards-were we never 60
ing to pass over the spots or would some miraca.
lous power stop the engnei tried to shont but
only curious hoarse noise came from my throat /;
wanted to wave my hands, but they remained
stretched out obstinately towards the child.
Five ysrds-four-three. There was the lisile
thing laughing in its innocent gee. for 1t was ex-
then calling myself Its murderer, and lay there
motonless as statue.
Two yards-one-at last-all over. There was
o shock as we dashed down upon the little thing,
who seemed to stretch out its hands to mine. and
to leap, actually jump, into my arms, and then,
with it tightly grasped, we were still going on and
| on with my eyes shut, but feeling that had
| the child tightly held to my breast, and yet moi
| able to look to see II 1t was hurt.
| Then don't know 1t was, bat believe must
have got up. and crawled back to my place by
| the stoker but don't know, Icsn't recollect do
| Ing 1t, only finding myself sitting down there,
holding the frightened little child IN my arms, anc
| feeling stunned and helpless as child myself.
| what am doing of :" said ct last, for my
| stoker had spoken to me. "Why, Pm crying"
| said; and 30 was crying like some great girl.
| We dared not stop 10 take the little thing back
| but we sent IL from the next station; and your
| believe me when tell you that we were bette
| friends afterwards than ever, 80 that tor Ions
enough we used to make signals, l to the folks a
the cottage, and they to me; but shall neVe
forget that little one getting upon the line.