The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-05-31

and turning round | saw little Willie
struggling in the water. For an instant
the sight of my child's danger overpow-
cred every other consideration, and l
sprang for the river but before l got
half the distance the Eoarse whistle of
the approaching train rang in my ear
like trumpet, and the thought of my
duty, and the hundreds of lives that
would be sacrificed if deserted my post,
went through my brain like fash Of
lightning, while all the time there was
feeling about my heart can't tell in
so many words-I only knew it was
worse than notwithstanding me to
save my boy.
"The whole thing couldn't have last
ed more than two seconds, and how the
one feeling got the better OF the other |
never knew. have no recollection Of
turning back, but the next thing l re-
member l was at the switch working
away like mad. l never had such
strength. 1 felt that l could have
wrcuchcd up the solid iron rails in my
agony, and bent them like straw; and l
did not seem to see anything about. me
distinctly, neither rails nor tes-but
dimly and vaguely, as in dream, or
at great distance. What did sec as
plainly as l do now, although it was be-
hind me, was the clear and beautiful
river flowing on in the morning sun,
and in the midst of it little Willie
weakly struggling for help, while the
bright, cruel waves smote him in the
face and laughed I bad no car for the
nearing rrain, but all hcard-or SEEM
ed to, for l can't rightly say.-were his
cries to his father for help, growing
fainter and fainter; and then the hor-
rible bubbling sound. as he sank finally,
and his last breath found its way to the
surface.
sat length the switch vas in posi-
ton. aud although it's short job at
best, and | must have accomplished it
at that time with quiekncss l can
never again equal, yet it seemed long
er than the longest summers day; but
it was done, and rushed to the river
and gazcd eagerly around for some sign
that might tell me where to plunge iu
to rescue my child; but there vas
nothins, nothing but the sunlight that
glistcued brightly on the little wavelets
that smiled mockinsly in my face as
they hurried onward. dou't remem--
Der anything further. There was q
great choking in my throat, a huge
-Scight Of lead seemed to fall on my
brain, aud all was black. When 1 came
to my scncs it was three weeks after
ward, with my old woman-God bless
her-sit;ins along side of me, holdin'
my hand in hers. The doctor said had
made a close miss Of it and at first | felt
sorry that had lived at all ; but that
didn't last long. for knew there was
another one-she who sat beside me
who had suffered more than | had and
stood i. ncbly, go tried to get better
in order to console her. 1t was two
weeks more before | got out of brd, and
quite two months before | vas able to
% arounl. will never be the same
man again.
The company pensioned me, and
didn't wan; me to 30 any more work at
all. Bu; couldn't bear to be idle
you sec, sir, | wasn't bought up To it,
and strange as it may appear, didn't
feel ike working anywhere save in the
old place; seemed to oe closer to my
BOY there. l found the lily he had
just as had placed it in my
jacket pocket, and gave tito his moths
er. She has it yet, all withered and
colorless, in little glass on the mantle
piece aud there, sir, 1t shall remain iu
sight of US both until our time comes to
join him.