The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-09-02
AN ENGINE DRIVER
BY s. 8. PRITCHARD.

The house of the engine driver was
far away from the railroad station,
whore his daily work began. This
had to be, partly because the officers
of the road wanted to make large div
idends, and, to that end, paid him too
little money to enable him to live
nearer to his work, and partly because
the engine driver and his wife from
the country wanted their home to be
in house they could have all to them
selvss. ~.
Our engine drivers name was Frank
Dee He had been on one railroad
for more than twenty years, and was
one of the tried and trusty men, that
somehow cannot get promoted because
they are SO useful, and yet was always
hoping to get up higher and have
bigger salary. One night not long
ago, it was very cold. The cold had
been getting stronger every hour for
two days, and the wind was bitter and
cutting. All day Frank Dee had been
exposed to it-but now, it was time
for him to come home. L wish you
could have seen how bright the little
room was made for him. To be sure
it was always bright with order and
cleanliness, but this night we are
writing about it shone with wonderful
welcome. t
The Christmas greens still hung
upon the walls. The engineer had
jumped from his machine one day,
when waiting near wild glen, and
gathered wealth Of princess pine and
mountain laurel. He had carried them
home to beautify the place at Christ
mas time, and, as 1 wrote, they were
still upon the walls OH this night.
"Oh, mammal amt you glad papa
doesn't have to be out all night this
winterp asked Mary Dee, as she
stood watching for her father to get
down from each car that passed the
corner of the avenue.
every glad, Mary" said Mrs. Dee,
from the kitchen close by, She was
giving the last baste to a chick en- that
was roasting for their coming supper.
"Here he isl" shouted Mary. land
Frank is with him. Now we shall
have them both all the evening"" and
away she sprang for the table cloth.
Before it was spread the engine driver
and his SON came i'm
care you frozen ?" asked his wife.
lifting up her warm face to his cold
cheek for a kiss; "and did you get
through all right to-day?"
."All right, Molly, but L had a mar
row miss to-day, and if it had hap
pened should have left off railroad
ing for the rest of my life,"
"Papa" exclaimed Mary, the daugh-
ter, "You didn't come near getting
killed, did your"
mo, but" and the mans eyes filled
with a sudden moisture, a home
sone,chere came near having q dead
child in it tonight. A little chap in
dresses came sliding on a sled down a
hill when the Van Wrinkle" was
close by. The boy was not big enough
to know anything about sled, and il
ran on the track and got caught on the
second rail, leaving the child right in
'front.'"
go, papa, what did you do?" cried
Mary clasping her hands together.
"Do! What could LIDO but spring tt
the front and sieze the petticoats ant
toss him of into the snow. Just thel
1 heard a shrek, and, looking up th,
hill, saw some woman, its mother
maybe, lifting her arms over her head
She saw me throw the child, and thel
she came down the hill, but she didn'
: get to him before 1 got out of sight
, but the boy jumped up and swung hi
little hat in the air, and knew he wa
all right but when he came to loo