The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-10-30
SeIerteo Storu.
A. NIGHT IN A SIGNAL BOX.

l am the wife of an ex signalman
in the Uniform railway. His signal
box stands high up, white and soil
tary above a charming country.
1t is very hot in summer, when
the sun shines on the glass, and
very cold in winter, when the north
east wind howls around it and whis-
ties aerial music through the tele-
graph.
1t was an important lookout, for
within q mile of it, numerous lines
intersected each other, over which,
day and night, trains were ever
crossing and re-crossing, with hair
breadth escapes of collisions.
When John was courting me, he
often made me tremble about it, by
saying, "Jane, that place is a troub-
le to me; one day ! know there will
be crash; I feel it. A man can't
always be in health. Even a signal
mans brain will sometimes become
dazed and muddled; and then if he
makes q mistake, = smash must
come"
We we're married, and John grew
brighter and more cheerful, and l
trusted he had forgotten that wretch
ed presentmento Of his about the col
lision,
After six months, however, it re-
turned worse than ever. He used to
read all the accidents; and when
any Of the officials were convicted of
manslaughter or discharged for neg
ligence, he would say: "That may
be my case tomorrow, Jane; then
what's to become OF you?"
lam aware that most mea would
not have thought like him, but he
had the kindest, most sensitive
heart.
"John," I said at last, "why don't
you quit the situation, and get some
thing else?"
because = married man should
never give up one employment be-
| AOIC nc 10 S0lC VI duOGuC1s
"Well then, dear, don't say any
more, or you viii make me as nerv-
Gus as YOURSELF
1 had begun to think about the
cross. lines and the mail express as
much as John himself, though I
wouldn't let him know it. The sig
nal-box began to haunt me, and 1
Iused frequently to go up to the turn
of the road and look at it for moth
ing at all. That idea Of collision
was a monomania with John-it was
becoming so with me.
A year went by safely, and, except
for that miserable thought, no two
persons could be happier than John
and /, especially as We now had a
little daughter, who, for a while,
banished Johns dread and We talked
hopefully Of the future. Our pros
poets were better, for my husband
Unexpectedly heard from an uncle
in Australia, who had made a COM
Portable fortune, and intended to re-
turn and live with his relations.
"Who knows, Jane? He was ever
kind, aid he may start me in some
thing" said John, one evening, when
1 had taken his tea to the signal
box, and was amusing Maudie with
the colored lamps. 81 certainly will
try, if,-if," he added, looking
thoughtfully up and down the lines
nothing happens before"
"For goodness sake, John don't
talk like that! All has gone safely
for four years; surely it will con
tinue to do so with care"
81 don't know that" he responded
gloomily. "It's the confounded
lWyming express / fear. Within 6
space of a few minutes it crosses
the line of the Hensher mail, an6
toften It's five minutes before iti
time"
"What do you do then, John2"
asked, hushing Maudie.
"Why, then l turn the coloreC
lamp; then the express, knowing tht
mail train hasn't passed, slackenI
speed until it has"
"And if you were not to SHOW
that light2"
"It would come on get into tn,
same line with the mail, and car
riages would go to lucifer Matches
"Oh John, please don't You max,
my blood run cold"
After that there was another fas
cination for me besides the signal
box-the colored lamps, by q mis-
take or omission in the use Of Whicl
1 knew not how many lives might b
Launched into eternity. 1 regarde'
them with awe, and over and owe
again asked John their use.
Weeks slipped by and we got an
Iother letter from Uncle Thompson
The ship which brought him fror
Australia had been delayed by q sc
we're gale in the Atlantic, but now b
was safe in England, and intende
shortly to come and see Us.
"Safei" remarked John; no or
now a-days can reckon upon tha
With long railway journey befol
him" M 5