The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-02-11
MisfeII
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Grand Deed of "a Poor NO man.

Elihu Burrit in the Mechanic and
Builder, tells this story of noble act Of
poor woman, which ranks her among
the heroes Of tho human race. She lived
near the baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
ut place where the track crossed u deep
gorge:
In the wild month Of March, the rain
descended and the mountains sent down
their rolling. roaring torrents of melted
snow and ice into this gorge near the old
woman's hut.
The flood arose with the darkness of
the night, until she heard che cash of
the railway bridge, as IL Was swept from.
its abutments, and dashed its broken
i timbers against the craggy side oi The
.prccipiee ON either side.
1t was nearly midnight. The rain fell
in food, and the darkness was deep
and bowling with the storm.
In another half hour the express train
would be due. What could she do to
y arm it against the awful destruction it
was approaching?
She had hardly whole tallow candle
In her house; and no light she conld
of talow or oil, if she had it, would live
moment in that tempest of wind aud
rain.
Not a momont was 10 be lost and her
thought was equal to the moment. She
cut the cords of her only bedstead, and
shouldsred the dry posts, side pieces and
head piece. Her daughter followed her
with their two wooden chairs. Up the
steep embankment they climbed, and
pilIed all their household furniture upon
the line few rods before the black, aw'
full chasm, gurgling with the roaring
flood. h i'N-
The distant rumbling Of the train came
upon them just ns they had fired the
we'll dried comb"stihles. Thepile blas-
ed up into the night, throwing its red,
swaying, blooming light long way up
the track. In fifteen minutes it would
begin to wane, and she could not revive
it with green. wet wood.
The thunder of the train grew louder.
It was within five miles of the fire.
Would they see it in time? They might
not put on brakes soon enough. awful
thought
She tore hor red flannel gown from her
in moment, and tying it to the end of
a stick, ran up the track, waving it in
both hands. while her daughter swung
around her head blazing chair post a
little before.
The lives of hundred unconscious
passengers hung on the issue of the next
minute. the great red eye of the engine
hlrst upon her as it came round curve.
Like as a huge, sharp sighted lion com
ing suddenly upon a fire. it sent forth a
thrilling roar, that filed all the wild
heights antifavihes around
The train was at full speed; but the
Ibrakeinen wrcstled mt their leverage with
all the strength of desperation. The
wheels ground along on the heated rails
slower, until the engine stopped Mt the
decnvjng fire. 1t still blazed enough II
: show them the hectling eigs ofthe BLACK
abyss into which the train and all it,
passenge. would have plunged, ant
into death and destruction too horri
bic to thing of. had it not been for tn
old woman's signal.
They did not stop to thank her frs
for the deliveran e. The con iuclo
knelt down by the side of the engine
driver and the brakemen came ant
knelt down behind him.; all the passen
gers came and kneIt down h side them
and there, in the expiring light OF ih
burntout pile, in the rain and in th
wind, they thanked God Tor the saliva
ton Of their lives.
All in lire the kneelers and PRAYER
sent M into Sire dark heavens such
midnight voice of thanksgiving as sci
dom. ifeve'. asscen led from them Il
earth 10 HIM who seeth in darkness =
rs well MS in secret. And tAe mOina
was not forgotten.
Kindness is the music of goodwill
men; and OH this harp the smallest fin
2 gers may Lsavens sweetest tunes o
earth.
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