Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-20
ONLY AN ENGINE DRIVER.
BY s. j. PRICHARD,

ONL1 AN ENGINE DRIVER.
BY s. j. PRICHARD. @asas
The house Of the engine driver was far
away from the railroad station, where his
daily work began. This had to be. partly
because the officers of the road wanted to
make large dividends, and, to that end,
paid him too little money to enable him
TO live nearer his work, and partly because
the engine driver and his wife from the
country wanted their home to be in q house
they could have all to themselves.
Our engine drivers name was Frank
Dee. He had been on the road twenty
years, and was one of the tried and trusty
men that somehow cannot get promoted
because they are SO useful; and yet he was
always hoping to get up higher and have
u bigger salary. One night not long ago,
it was very cold. The cold had been get
ting stronger every hour for two days, and
the wind was bitter and cutting. Ali day
Frank Dee had been exposed to it-bnt
now it was time for him to come home.
wish you could have seen how bright
the little room was made for him. To be
sure, it was always bright with order and
cleanliness, but this night we are writing
about, it shone with wonderful welcome.
Christmas greens still hung upon the
walls. Tie engineer had jumped from his
machine one day, when waiting near a
wild glen, and gathered a wreath of prin-
cess pine and mountain laurel. He had
carried them home to beautify the place at
Christmas time and. as l wrote, they
were still on the walls upon this night.
30 mamma ant you glad papa doesn't
have to be out all night, this winter ?" ask
ed Mary Dee, as she stood looking and
watching for her father to get down from
each car that passed the corner on the av-
enue.
"Very glad Mary" said Mrs. Dee from
the kitchen close by. She was giving the
last baste to chicken that was roasting
for their coming supper.
''Here he is!' shouted Mary, land
Frank is with him. Now we shall have
them both all the evening"" and away she
sprang for the table cloth. Before it was
fairly spread the engine driver and his son
came in.
''Are you frozen?" asked his wife, lift
ing up her warm face to his cold cheek
for kiss; and did you get through all
right to-day?"
IAN right, Molly, but had narrow
miss to-day, and if it had happened
should have lett off railroading for the rest
Of my life.
"Papa!" exclaimed Mary, the daughter.
You didn't come near getting killed, did
you?'
mo, but" and the mans eyes filled
with sudden moisture, "a home some
Where came near having dead child in il
tonight. A little chap, in dresses, came
sliding on a sled down hill when the
Ivan Winkle was close by. The boy was
not old enough to know anything about a
sled, and it ran right on the track and got
caught on the second rail, leaving the
child right in front.
80 papa, what did you do?" cried
Mary, clasping her hands together.
do! what could do but spring to the
front and seize the petticoats and toss him
off into the snow. Just then heard
shrek and, looking uPthe hill, saw some
woman, its mother may be, lifting her
arms over her head. She saw me throw
the child, and then she came down the
hill, but she didn't get to him before got
out of sight, but the boy jumped up and
swung his little hat in the air, and knew
he was all right; bug when he came t.
look for his sled. reckon the little fellow
was puzzled to find it,"
'.Bless you for that goodness to some
mother, Frank; if anything happens to
you, shall be glad you did it," said Mrs.
Dee.
There isn't anything going to happen
to father. he is too good for that" spoke
up Frank. He is going to live until l
grow up and know enough to drive an
engine, aren't you, fatherP"
II hope so, boy, but you mustn't talk
like that. don't like to hear you. Molly.
am hungry man tonight
"And your supper is just ready"
While they were at the table, boy
touched the bellkno at 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 pres
ent," she said. as she gave it to him. II
would, if l were him"
The engine driver held the bit Of paper
in his weather-beaten fingers, full min
ute, it seemed to his wife, ere he had
courage to say, "Molly! Ben Lanes
baby IS going to die before morning and
he wants me to take his place on the
America for the up trip tonight. He
saws he shan't rest content to risk his
train with another man ON the road.
What shall do about itr'
The little wife laughed. "You know.
Frank, you wouldn't stay at home, II
said mo" a thousand times. OF course
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