The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-09-27

phans. Just think of the hundreds an,
hundreds Of children that he'll lift out O
the gutter and make good men ant
women ofi'
Pearce. though an educated man, wa
duller than his companion.
$50 you want 10 be lecturer. or tt
found orphan asyl'tmss Hovey?" he said
perplexed. "Mol fellows of your age arr
eontented if they Jan pay their board-bil
by honest work."F
Hovey 1smiled. "rd like to do some
thing more with myself than that. Any
horse or cow earns its victuals. But there
don't seem to be any opening for me.''
:" Think | know what You mean, Mat
thew" said a grave voice behind them
Old Mr.. Duprey, the superintendent, had
singly earns his victuals.' He influences
the world around him at every moment
and will say aillidly, Matthew Hovey.
that the influene. you exert on the road
has been very Iharked and always for
good"
Matt's face grew red with pleasure. 81
am glad TO hear ybu say that, SIR" he said.
simply, taking off; his cap.
"Whell God finds better work than en-
gine-driysng for you to do, young man,
depend upon it, He'll open the door to it.
said the old man, earnestly. THERE'S
your bell. now."
"a clever young fellow" he said to
Pearce, as Hoyey hurried off to his en-
gine.
"Very..'
81 must look about and see what can
be done for him."
Meantime Matt had climbed up to his
seat and had 9anced over his engine
cool and collectEd. Whatever 1ancies
or day-theams heIhad about other work,
they were quite put out of his head now.
Matt knew his duty and took it up with
his whole head and heart. On the engine
he was an engineer, that alone.
The train rapidly filled. The temper
ance lecturer, thei soldier, the philanthro-
thousand children, hurried in and took
their places in the crowd. There were
mothers with theft babies, young husbands
with their brides, ia hundred bright stories
of life half told OH the passing faces. Matt.
busted with his levers and valves, saw none
of them antil a troop of schoolboys rushed
into the cars, shouting, to take their
places. They were just loose from the
academyf for their summer vacation. The
thought flashed through his mind that
each of these boys had the 'sopenin'n that
he wanted had, perhaps, the long useful
life before him, full of the strength and
knowledge to help his feIlow-meIi wn1eh
he could,not conquer. But he forgot that
in moment in lhe necessity of his work.
The engine shrseked, the bell rang once,
twice, thrice, and away whiZzed the long,
winding. train out of the wakening streets.
Out through the 'brick-yards in the sub
urbs, the sleepy little villages with the
smoke beginning to steal drowsily from
the chiTlneys, cut into the broad green
slopes of meadCkvs and heavily wooded
hills, with the br fad creeks yet heavy with
mist creeping between.
Suddenly, as they came to the edge Of
one of these broad, pure streams, Matt
glanced Eout. The whole dewy morning,
the silvdry light the greenness and silence
touchedI and moved him as never before.
Who cah tell why? But it seemed as if for
one brief moment some awful, tendeN
power Eeld him close. 81
There was low, shrill hiss, the teI9i8le
warning of escaping steam, and thka b
hurtlin& roar and the hot, binding dash
full in his face. For one instant Ia Slagg-
gered back. Then he saw the single cl1&nce
that rested ON that instant. Gropipg his
way, blinded and dizzy, he gave q gnal
for down brakes, hung to the sszse0f the
shattered engine over the pre- Ice, tug
ging at the valve which was ave the
lives off ali who were in the frs behind.
He felt the shiyering ledge a hich he
stood move, and move slowlytop.
The train was safe.
The long line of cars stspped ON the
grassy bank, and the terrli<1 passengers
poured out. There wa ID beautiful
:. Oneida Kissing, ghasf7 wreck, and
dropping from the edge d st f5ie body of a
man. the face SO mutilazea that not even
those tb whom lit was nearest should ever
know it again. The men stood around it
alarmed, perplexed, curious.
sHaye we been in ca 81 ~ they cried,
crowding together. TAe old superintend-
ent of! the road, DupTey, was on board
and made his way UP sc last.
SIN another moment" !" he said, solemn
ly, .'tRe lives OF every soul ON board would
have been lost. This young fellow, in
the agonies off his own death, has saved
them.f
TheSe xas an hours horror and hush.
But waat sould they do?
IIhe3 day rose clear and bright. The
ha.epx school-boys took home their strong,
hSIpfIfI lives into many loving homes; but
Il man who rad given all tnls nealIn ano
help to the world lay now stiff and cold
upon the grass.
There was a notice floating about through
the papers, fora day or two, of his $ brave
deed.'p
Mr. IDuprey lifted the mangled hand as
it Law in the coffin. ''God opened the dool
to other work than engine-driving for him
Pierce, " he said.
But Pierce stood silent with his heaC
bareds- Youthls Companion.