The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-02-13
HUSBAND OR CHILD.

No other axe resounded through the for
est with such a clear and decided ring
as that welded by Thomas none other SO
sure of its aim, while raised between the
sky and its destined rest.
His voice was the most cheerful and his
carol the merriest that reverberated in the
beautiful woodland that extended through
the Rhiueland to the borders of Holland
Wherever his hands were employed, the
work was accomplished in half the time
1.-The merry Thomas" the magnificent
Thomas" =" the industrious Thomas - were
the names given him by the people far and
wide, and when he married and became
the father of son, lie was jollier than
ever.
His wife seemed to partake of his spirit,
and his boy gave promise of becoming just
such a happy soul. The whole neighbor-
hood were happy in the harmonious life of
this joyous trio, while each derived par
ticular pleasure in witnessing the felicity
of the other. But soon the lightning flash
of circumstances penetrated this happy
home.
One bright morning, axe in hand, he
stood beside fallen tree, while wife and
son stood near, ready to gather the frag-
mentS-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 ray of sunshine following it, he
shouted merrily, ''Wife, see'st thou my
meteor? Hui is it not verify like the
fash of one?'' But the shining metal and
its active meteoric light did not disappear
within the wood. CHANGING lightly over
the bark, it entered Thomas foot, and
there was no time for useless tears. The
wifes gIieving heart did not vent Itself in
idle lamentations, but questioned, how
was she to get her husband home
The other laborers had not arrived.
Thomas was always the first at work, as
now he was also the first to regain his
cheerfulness to encourage his wife and
child on this trial. y spring near by sup
piled water to wash the wound, that proved
to be severe, and the manly Anton divested
himself of his little shirt to bind it up
with
This carefully done, Thomas set his big
white teeth firmly together, rose, grasplng
with one hand the shouldC" Of his boy, and
supported on the other side by his wife. he
ordered, ''March quick the house is not
such long way off, then all will be well. )"
Taking the shortest route home obliged
| them to cross over railroad track. Al
though this was a forbidden road for pc
destrians, they considered it the best in
this emergency. But here misfortune
overwhelmed them in terrible earnest.
At the first step the sufferer caught his
! wounded foot in the rail- stumbled, fell,
/ throwing his little boy into the middle of
the road, breaking the little fellows leg.
! A helpless, living mass, they lay there,
! and before both could be rescued from
| their perilous position, the steaming, roar
! ing monster of the road came tearing down
! upon them, leaving their boy mangled,
! bleeding corpse the next instant before
| them.
! Such was the story told by Thomas and
/ u. 4 II,
people.
But there must have been something
| singular and mysterious connected with
! this mournful event that remained untold
"a secret within their own hearts-for,
spite of repeated endeavors to have the
| story told again, they would always an
swer, s<You have heard it once" while a
shudder of horror followed at the remem-
brance.
! left no pains untried to ingratiate my
self in their favor and obtain their conf
dence. Not only curiosity was excited,
but had real psychological interest In
the matter, and | acknowledge just the
least suspicion of something foul c1mI-
nal secret, possibly an accident, that re-
ouired but little light to lead these people
back to happiness.
1t is not necessary to explain how
| brought it about suffice 1t to say that OLE
day in presence of her husband, Frau
Thomas unburdened her sadly oppressed
heart to me i'll this wise
IAfter the birth of our child was
GREAT deal happier, and loved Thomas more
than ever when he was at my side, but
Gould also enjoy his absence, and not watcl
window and door constantly if he ehancee
20 remain away longer than usual use6
70 tease him frequently and say Some
bodv is welcome to steal you, now I've go
my baby He would laugh at rtbar' me snen ',s.
Say S"S NE all right, and playfully leave the
-, rot ny as if in dreadful anger, and bang th'
! Ioo'li , p,,t 7 knew he was only III fun, an'