Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-03-26

tunnel.
Thinking of what l had left at home,
determined to fight down the feeling OF
fear had on the day before, telling my.
self that was coward, and that the jot
was done by other men, so why should
be afraid? 1t was all no use, though, for
do what would, every train that came
by gave me regular shock.
You see, the sitting up all night, after
being tagged the day before made me the
more unit than should have been; and
what with wondering whether the doctor
would remember to call, and our neigh
Dor to go in, and the children to do all
had told them, | Otter. got into such q
muddled state that it was like being
Weakened out of sleep when the gangel
called to us 10 stand aside.
1t was the custom there to work very
slowly and easily, or else Pm sure they
would have had something to say about the
sleepy way in which | handled my shovel
and over and over again train was close
on me before moved.
should think that it was getting on
for twelve O'Clock that, as | was shovel
ing away there, everything seemed to
pass away from me, and | was back
watching by Polly's bedside. My arms
were busy enough handling the tool, but
my mind was gone, and if ever a man
went fast asleep standing up did then
Fast asleep? Yes, and dreamed, too
for seemed to b, 3elling the children not
to make so much noise, for they were draw
ing something about in the next room
The lights were burning, and the place
was very hot and stuffy, owing to the
kettle having boiled over, and poor Polly's
eyes somehow seemed to CLEAN with
fever in the most unnatural way.
They frightened me at last, those eyes
did, coming nearer and nearer to me as
they did till they seemed to burn me, and
l wanted to get away from them only
told myself it wouldn't be kind if did
when she was so i'll, so stood and looked
full at them for what seemed terrible
long while, till l knew that | could bear
it no longer, and then, with start,
woke to find that was staring right at
coming train with the two glaring
flashing lights, and the laundering, hol
low roar.
OF course it only took few moments,
but it was like an age to me. And there's
all that cellary-looking, slimy-walled
place, and the naphtha lamps, and the
ruddy faces of my mates, and me fasci-
mated and forced like to stare at that
coming engine, burning, snorting, and
dropping hot coals-that scene is all
burned into my memory so deep that
can never forget it as long as l live.
The ganger shouted, my mates yelled
out to me, but couldn't move; | could
only stand staring at the horrible mon
ster, which knew must kill me the mex,
moment, and then it came upon me just
as | dropped on the ballast and lay hall
in faint. There was a flash of light
the whizzing of wheels, the hollow echo
ing roar, and | knew that as | lay be-
tween the rails the whole train was pass.
ing over me.
I've seen long trains, and I've heard OF
long trains, but that one, though perhaps
only the usual length, seemed to take ar
hour to pass over me, and methinking al
the time of the coupling irons that must
come and dash my brains out. Then
thought | was already killed, and that
there was no bodily pain for those who
were slain, only the pain of thinking
and then | was looking at the tail-lights
of the engine, flaming naphtha lamps.
They picked me up, my mates did, and
they were going to carry me out, when
shook them off and told them | was
all right, making them quite savage
like that | should be unhurt when they
had all made up their minds that | was
killed. They all owned, though, thai
1T was the narrowest escape they ever
see, and the ganger took care to give
me better notice the rest of the day. Not
that fell into such a state again, for the
shock of what | had suffered kept me
wakeful to degree.
That affair seemed to have the effect OF
stringing me up tight, for though l have
worked for days together-ay, and nights
too--in tunnels | never seemed to feel
afraid. never told Polly, though for
you see, what would be the good? II
would only have made her nervous and
kept her back from getting well, which
took her long enough as it was. How
ever, won't grumble, for as she mendeo
things succeeded with us, and our new
homes as comfortable palace as mar
can get for six-and-sixpence week
Tunnel work amt pleasant, but I've got
about used to it; not so used though bu
that, as said before, | shall never forge
that affair-such narrow escape as i
was-and when | do think of it, anc
there's no one by, tell you what do
honestly, and with all my heart, takes
off my cap and closes my eyes, so as tt
be all shut in like to myself, and then
say prayer, very short one, but it tell!
all | want, and you know what's sale
about much speaking. My prayers
very short one, but it gives all that's fel
by man whose life was spared that h
might go on trying to do his duty toward
his sick wife and children; it's only jus
this: "Thank God. Amen "-CasseU
Table Etiquette.
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