Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-01-15
HUSBAND OR CHILD?

No other axe resounded through the
forest with such 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 merries: that reyerbcrated
in the beautiful woodland that extended
through the Rinclaud te the borders Of
Holland.
Wherever his hands were employed.
the work was accomplished in half the
time. "The merry Thomas" the "mag-
ui6cent Thomas" the industrious Thom-
as" we're the names given him BY. the
people far and wide. and when he mar :
ried and became the father Of son be
was jollier than ever.
His wife seemed to partake of his spiri,
and his boy gave promise: of becoming just
such happy soul. The whole neighbor-
hood were happy in the harmonious life
of this joyous trio. while each derived a
particular pleasure in witnessing the ELI
city of the other. But suddenly the
Lightning fash Of circumstances penetrated
this happy home.
One bright morning. axe ia hand. he
stood beside fallen tree. while wife and
son stood near. ready to gather the frag-
men.s, 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 no,
disappear within the wood. Glancing
lightly over the bark it entered Thoma,
foot, and there was no time for useless
tears. The wife's grisving heart did no,
vent itself in idle lamentations, but ques-
toned. how was she to get her husband
home?
The other laborcrs had not arrived
Thomas was always the first at work. as
now he was also tho FIRST to regain hi:
chcerfuluess to encourage wife and child
in this trial. A spring near supplied
water to wash the wound that proved tc
be severe. and the manly Anton divested
himself Of his little shirt to bind it W
with. ~
This carefully done. Thomas set hi,
big white teeth firmly together. rose
graspiug with one hand the shoulder O.
his boy. aud supported on the other sid.
By his wife. he ordered, March quick
the house is not such . long way of. shcr
oil will be we'll"
Taking the shortest route homo oblig
ed them to cross over q railroad track
Although this was forbidden road fol
pedestrians, they considered il the bcs
in this emergency. But here misfor,
tuue overwhelmed them in terrible earn.
est.
A, the frs. step the sufferer eaugh
bis wounded foot in the rail, stumbled
fell. throwing his little bog into the mid
die Of the road, breaking the little fellow
leg.
A helpless. living mass they lay there
and before both could bs rescued frou
their periloas bed the sscaning. roarin,
monster Of the road came tearing dow
upou them. leaving their boy . naangied
bleeding corpse the nex, instant befOr
them. 1
Such was the story told by Thoma
aud his wife 10 the horri6sd and symPa
timing people. III ~ ass
i~k~s -sbsrs 1ssa have besa soasshia,
singular aud nystetieus connected viii
,his mouruful event that remained uuio!'
-a secret within their own hearts fos
spite Of repeated ende.sees 10 have Oh
story told again. they voald slways N
aver, .'You have heard il once while