The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-01-30
Selett Story.
HUSBAND OR CHILD.

No other sxe TesOunded through
the forest with such a clear and deci-
ded ring as that welded By Thomas
none other so sure OF its aim, while
raised between sky ard its destined
rest.
His voice was the most cheerful
and his carol the merriest that reyer.
berated in the beautiful woodland
ihst extended through the Rhineland
to the borders of Holland.
Wherever his hands were employed
the work was accomplished in hslf
the tine. "1'he merry Tbomas, "
the magnificent Thomas," tie in
dustIious Thomas" were the names
given hin BY people far Ell ! vide.
and when he married snd bacsue ,be
father OF son be vss j0llier tEan
ever.
His wife seemed to psrtake of his
spirit, and this boy gave promise of
becoming just such happy soul.
Tie whole neigbb0rhoOd were happy
in the harmonious life of this joyous
trio, while each derived particular
pleasure in witnessing the felicity OF
the other. But suddenly the light
ming flash of circumstances pene.ra-
ted this happy home.
One bright morning, axe in hand,
he stood beside & fall.n tree, while
wife and son stood near, ready to
gather the fragments, and they were
no mean chips that fell beneath
Thomas stroke.
High over his head the glittering
steel was raised, and, as his glance
noted the reflected raw Of sunshine
following it, he shouted merrily,
s'Wife, seeis't thou my meteor ! Hai,
is it not verify like the flash OF one -
But the shining metal and it's attrac-
tive meteoric light did not di=aPpear
within tho wood. Glancing lightly
over the baTk, il entered Thomas
foot, and there was no time for useless
tears. The wile's grieving heart did
not vent itself in idle lamentations,
but questioned, how was she to get
her husband home p!
The other laborers had rot arrived.
Thomas Vas always first at work, as
now he was also the first to regain his
cheerfuIness to encourage his wife
and child il this trial. A spring near
supplied wafer to wash the wound
that proved severe, and the msnly
Anton divested himsel! OF his little
shirt to bind it up with.
This carefully done, Thomas set his
big white teeth firmly together, rose,
graspiDg with one hand the shoulder
of mis- boy, snd supported on the other
by his wife, ne ordered, "March quick.
The house Is not sneh long way eff,
then all will be well. "
Taxi g the shortest route home
obliged teen 10 cross over q railroad
track. Although this Hss forbidden
Eoad for pedestrians, they considered
It the best in this emergency. Bat
here misfortune overwhelmed them
Ia terrible earGes&
At the first step the sufferer csught
his wounded foot in the rail, stumbled
and fell, throwing bis body into the
middle of the road, breaking the little
fellows leg.
A helpless, living mass they lay
there, and before both could be re-
leased from their perilous bed, the
stssming, roaring monster Of the road
came tearing down upon then, ieav-
ing their boy 8 mangled, bleeding
corpse the next instant before them
Such wss the story tol' by Thomas
and his wife to the horrified and sym
pathiziDg people.
But there must have heen something
singular and mysterious connected
with ttis mourniul event that remain
I'd untold, 3 secret within their cTn
heart, TOR, spite Of repeated ende1yors
TO have The story told sgain, they
would always answer, You have
to--I :. 800 = -vhil0 -h"41-- 80