St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-04-19
VOLUME 35---NUMBER 1872.

him watching the passengers and house,
We were passing with an amused smile
and turning to his companion. he said:
"Thcr'S something very wholesome
III tn" effect of these holidays. Colonel
They awaken men to the sense of de-
pcmdcncc and gratitude. rs Il wears ser
mons cannot do"
The other was :" long in replying
that looked up at him.
when IL man has Il home or home
ties t" give thanks for. the holiday is
useful no doubt"
1t WAS So queer and cold IN answer
that felt curiosity about the man.
He went back to his paper (Which was
an English one. nuticcd). and began
to talk Immediately about the dutic, on
silks and linens. soon found that he
was largely Interested in both: had
travelled over Il good part of the world.
traded III thina and japan. and a> |
guessed, successfully. He had the air
Of il man accustomed to command. aud
to II life of ease. He was middle aged
>toutlN built man. with Il clcan-shaNem.
powerful face. and Shrcwd. pleasant
eyes. noticed that through all his
conversation he tried to avoid seeing
the happy groups of people who were
necessarily getting on or of the train ::
and once. when Il child in passing pull
ed at his cane. he turned his back rough
lv Oh it. Yet had IL fancy don't
know why that the people and Thanks
giving mattcr.d more to him than amy
nt lis.
Ills friend said to him presently
"Iou're not well, Colonel ,"
"NcNrr WAS better hut the truth is.
Ncmn, this country is all faIuiliarto me.
and anything which recalls old times
makes me nervous and irritable. It's
weakness which | shall outgroW prob
ably. If You'll excuse me I'll go for
ward. He saw me Just then. and touch
ing his hat. asked leave to ride on the
engine. in order to see the scenery.
Now the rules of the road were slip
>hod enough. hut that WAS Il thing
never had allowed. However. had
taken Il curious interest in the man, and
| liked his courteous manner. 81 | nod
dcd and went on before him through
the baggage car and over the tender
to see him safely across. To my sur
prise Joe Fcntom. our engineer. met
him as an old acquaintance. Joe had
been Il private i'll his regiment during
the wal. They shook hands again and
again. and Fenton was i'll such Il hurry
To tell that he WAS married and the faith
er of twins. that he Stammered. The
Colonel laughed. and looked IS pleased
a> Joe. He was Il different man from
the one had seen in the car. ! waited
Il moment to point out Brooks model
farm 70 him. w hen ,lpp said
You used to come down to these
parts for fishing often, remember, Col
oncl -
'Ye>"
Where is your good lady now. sir
And the child He was as pert IL
young>ter aS ever knowed."
The gentleman replied hut 10y Il Ses-
turc with his hand.
NV hat. both = gaspcd Joe. Both.
The Colonel did not speak for Il min
ute. and then he said quietly: My
wife waS with me III China. She sail
ed with the child for home on the Pc
trcl. WAS to follow six months later.
The Petrcl went down. There WAS NJ"
one saved
Joe said nothing; but presently he
put ont his hand and >mnothcd the 9th
cr mans sleeve. 1t WAS just such Il
thing as Il woman would do.
The Colonel added hastily. aS if afraid
he would hctray emotion. lin Oh my
way West now. i'll search of my father.
who has left New England. People
are easily lost sight of in America"
"Ghat'Sa fact. sir" said Joe. and then
he and | began t" talk about the engine,
glad Ia get back to her. We had no
right to mcddlc with grief like that
went back on the ears again. until
We came to that hill u half-milc beyond
Tanners house. when | stepped back
(" the engine. had I'M uuca>, feeling
somehow about lean ing the man there.
We had lost time. and were coin" at
full speed. when Joe "aNc II terrible
oath. and at the same moment some
thing fiuttcicd down on the bank.
SAN that il WAS Il child. that it WAS Dan.
ltughin" and running with both hands
uur. T." meet us. lnu know. >ir. how
long Il minute like that lasts. had
time t. hear does mad whistle for down
brakes >hrickiug through the hills. aud
to thank t;"d that Tanner WAS in the
back of the train. and could not see
what We would have I" see, and Yet il
was all but Il breath "f time.
Ii wa> too late. The engine did not
>lacken and the child was hurrying
toward it, Thea SAW its mother above
the bank. running down the field. She
had missed Dan. and would bc in sight
hciorC-
Icmcmbcr J"c'> lips were white.
Yet hc said. IL cool a. could be. 1T
would he death reckon: hut if Il man
could swing himself down. from the COW
catcher
pushed forward. but the Colonel
held me back.
Il have nothing to lose. he said, and
as swift aS Il eat he passed round the
ledge. and threw himself hcadlongdoWn
on the track in front. shut my eyes.
The engine and the whole train thum-
drrcd ON, slackencd at last, and stop
ped. remember how slowly / climb
eel down and looked over To field |
did not know what | would tread into
on the track or see.
The people poured ont of the train.
In the track laid the Colonel like one
dead clear Oft the track. sir. lie held
the child alive and unhurt, still clutch
ed in both hands. He was only stun
ned. and came to i'll aminute. and stood
up: hut he did not seem to see the train
or the crowd of men about him: moth
ing but the boy. over who's" face he
was passing his hand.
''God Almighty" :" he cried. Its my
DAM
Then | SAW the child's mother down
on the ground with both arms about
her husbands knees, and poor old Tan
ner, pale as il ghost, pulling at his
sleeve. and crying ''Jack Jack -
| saw how it WAS, i'll Il flash, and mo