Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-06-04

"BieSs you Tor that goodness to some
mother. Frank if anything happens to
you, | shall he glad you did it" said MIS-
Dec
There isn't anything going 10 happen
to father, he is too good + / that" spoke
up Frank. "He is going Ia live until
grow up and know enough to driy" an
engine. len't you, iather?"
II hope SO, boy, but you mustn't talk
like that, | don't like to hear you. Molly,
am hungry man tonight"
Aud your supper is just ready"
While they were at the ts5lc. boy
touched the bell knob NJ the door, and
Mary, going to answer the call, found a
telegraphic message there.
Papa, it's for you. Maybe the man
whose boy YOU saved has sent You =
present" she said, as she gave it To him.
Il would. it were HIM"
The engine driver held the bit of paper
Ia his weather beaten fingers a full min.
ute. il seemed 10 his wife. ere hc had
courage 10 say, Molly Ben Lane.
baby is going to die before morning aud
hc wants me TO take his place on the
America Tor the up. trip tonight He
N.,l he shant rest content TO risk his
,rain with another man on the road
! What shall do about it?"
The little vile laughed. You know,
/ Frank. YOU wouldn't stay II, home, il |
said no thousand times. Or course
/ You'll CO. ard shadow sole over her
/ iacv RSirt ad mems WIVES have such
urr,c achln. hours, and il II such a H.
/ lici Ia have ones cares within tour walls
uoW anil then. that it is no wonder that
this vile could not smile long thai uight
81. they wrapped him up, mutlling every
/ inch OF skin that could bc spared Irun
the cutting cold Mary slyly took Slices
at chicken and sandwichcd them into
bread and tucked the bundle il made into
big side pocket. Frank begged 81 TO
bc taken along, that II was hald TO reJuse
The lad. The cold will make yor sleepy,
papa. and ycu'll want ms 10 prick YOU
awake, now and then"
Shall takc him, Molly ?" the brown
faced father asked, but did not wait Tor
an answer, saying quickly mo. Frank.
sIay NJ home and take care OF youl
mother. I'll give some poor soul ride
with me tonight. There's alwaya II
dozen bcggars to be taken. and icel
good naturrd. expect its that baby
saved to-day. should just like to see
that woman's 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 il 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 up newspa
per, He thought maybe you'd be lonely
without him, he said; aud mamma. he
told me TO tell you that hs took up l man
tor the whole "trip; he thought you'd feel
safer it You knew, and he won't be home
again in two days. he don't think but he
said might run down TO morrow when
the train comes back. and give him the
news"
IL will 60 down, myself, Frank" said
Mrs. Dee. opening the newspaper her
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-liic OF ours.
There were men on that train going 10
homes, that, in the eyes OF The world,
were more than the home of the engine
driver, but not one of them was bound to
place more full ol true and tender love
than his own little home up town.
Under The shadows of the mountains;
over the darkly lined bridges; into the
plains OF moonlight; past the low brown
station houses along the line; through
the beautiful villages, hurried the ex-
press train and all was we'll Within the
comfortable cars the passengers rested.
asleep or dreamed at wide awake iancies.
as all the outof-doors swept by.
The man that Frank Dee had taken up
on his engine, began now and then 10
talk 10 the engine driver, and, in reply.
receiyed words that were sharp and crisp
as words could be- for he wanted all of
himself 10 guide that train to its destina-
ton.
The moonlight saw, despite the crisp
words, smile come and 90, again and
again on the brown face of the driver
He could not help it; he was thinking OF
the little boy in petticoats that he had
caught from the crush oil death and toss
ed into the snow that day Ii made him
feel, someh ow. akin to the angels who
90 about on Divine errands OF bearing
up and snatching back from falling and
from sin. He smiled again at the thought
OF angelhood for one like himself Me
an angel! Me! Within these brown,
rough weather clothes? Nol No! [ am.
only an engineer on railroad, trying to
do my duty from variety OF motives.
but. chiefly do beieve-yes, do, from
love to the Maker The little boy saved
to-day may have a work to do in the
world that | can never do, aud he smiled