Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-20

..,n,,a, - > and then shadow sto.e over
Railroad men, wives have such
~. CHING hours, and 1t is such relief to
~. ona's cares within four walls nov
Ia ,han that it is no wonder that this
sr;ca conId mot smile long that night. SO
thew wrapped him up. mufling every inch
IF slin that could be spared from the cut
tine cold. Mary slyly took slices OF chick /
an and sandwiched them into bread and
tucked the bundle it made into big side
pocket. Frank begged so to be taken
along. that it was hard to refuse the lad.
1.-THE cold will make you sleepy, papa,
and You'll want me to prick you awake,
now and then"
..Shall take him, MollyP" the brown
faced father asked, but did not wait for
an answer, saying quickly: "No. Frank,
stay at home and take care of your mother.
III give some poor soul aride with me to-
night. There's always dozen begging
to be taken, and feel good natured.
expect its that baby | saved to-day.
should Just like to see that womans face
when she put him to bed tonight Good
night and bless you Molly. Goodbye.
Mary. Frank, you may 60 down and see
me of, if it will do you any good" and
SO he went.
Frank was at home again before eight
O'Clock, having waited to see the engine
start on its long, lonely way through the
gloom Of the mountains and the shadows
Of the night. Papa sent you up news
paper. He thought maybe you'd be lone
" without him, he said; "and mamma
he told me to tell you that he took up {
man for the whole trip; he thought you
feel safer if You knew, and he won't b.
home again in two days, he don't think
but he said l might run down tomorrow
when the train comes back, and give hin
the news"
II will go down, myself. Frank" sale
Mrs. Dee, opening the newspaper hel
thoughtful husband had sent to her.
The passenger train was, meanwhile,
speeding along its iron way, with its
scores Of men and women, every soul OF
them busy with this earth-life Of ours.
There were men on that train going to
homes, that, in the eyes of the world
were more than the home of the engine
driver, but not one Of them was bound Il
place morn full Of true and tender low
than his own little home up town.
Under the shadows OF the mountains
over the darby lined BRIGGS; into tn
plains Of moonlight; past the low, BROW
station houses along the line; through tn
beautiful villages, hurried the expires
train, and all was well. Within the com
Portable cars the passengers rested. asleep
or dreamed at wide-awake fancies, as al
the Out-Of-doors swept by.
The man that Frank Dee had taken up
on his engine. began now and then to tall
to the engine driver, and, in reply receiv
ed words that were sharp and crisp as
words could be, for he wanted all of him.
self to guide that train to its destination.
The moonlight saw, despite the crisp
words, smile come and 60, again and
again on the brown face of the driver. He
could not help it he was thinking OF that
little boy in petticoats that he had caught
from the crush OF death and tossed intt
the snow that day. 1t made him feel
somehow, akin to the angels who 60 abou
ON Divine errands Of bearing up an,
snatching back from falling and from sin
He smiled again at the thought of angel
hood for one like himself. ..Me an angel
Me! Within these brown, rough-weathe
clothes? No! No! am only an enginee
on railroad, trying to do my duty from
variety of motives, but, chiefly do be
lieve-yes, do, from love to the Master
The little boy saved to-day may have
work to do in the world that could neve
do" and he smiled once more and looke
steadily out, thinking of his comrade, Be
Lane, bending over his dying baby. "Poo
Benz he sighed, lat least you will knO,
your duty was well done, while yo
watched"
How the hills rang and ratified! how tn
echoes clashed from lips OF stone softl,
Dipped in snow, as the long. brown line o
cars trailed its length behind the fiery ey,
that told to all the hills along the RYE
that freight train was on its way to tn,
sea. Every night the hills heard the sam.
sounds, and saw the same sight, but thi
night there was, there must have been, al
undertone of meaning in the thud of thu
wheels along the rails. Many sleeper
turned to listen moment, and then forgo
that there was anything passing strange ID
the sound--forgot it, until afterward.
A flaw in the iron! Who knew that was
there! Hidden away in the heart of it, 8
daw. Did the workman who cast the
wheels know 1t ? Did the great manufac
turer know, when car wheels were mad,
out of that iron, that it ought not to b.
used for such purpose Did he, t. bull,
up his own fortune, thus risk the life o
his fellows! Somebody was in fault Pos
sibly it was the man whose duty it was t,
examine every wheel of that train. Be
cause the night was cold, and the car.
many, and his ears well muffled and he
was tired, did he pass that one byp Pos
sibly it was the contractor. or the presi,
dent, or the poorest employee on the
road. Somebody was to blame, and, oil
that man, whoever he may be, the voice
of the Lord God was asking, where is
thy brother?"
Mrs. Dee turned the gas low and locked
out upon the night. Something in il
made her very soul SILVER, and she turned
It for warmth toward Heaven, asking
what of blessing for her husband. shs
knew not. She saw through the dim light
when she arose, the sweet face of Mary
asleep on her husbands pillow. 1t mad,
her think of that other little face, asleev
somewhere, under the light of Thankful
mothers love, and she went to sleep will
blessings in her heart for her noble hus
band.
The broken wheel, the treacherous