Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-12-28
MaisreIIantons. g
A Child-Hero.
BY HON. ID. THEW WRIGHT.

give it in his own words as nearly as
can.
We made the run from way station the
name Of which has escaped me, into Pue-
BILE by night. There had been heavy rains.
Parts of the track were submerged. The
darkness and the rush Of the water created
among the passengers considerable ankle
ty. spent most of the night in the cab.
The engineer was too much absorbed IN
his duties TO talk. He answered my ques-
tions with civility but with brevity. / did
not observe it at the time. but afterwards
recalled distinctly the sudden start he gave
and the look OF intense interest he turned
upon me, when / made some observation
which indicated that my house was In the
vicinity of Pittsburgh. The next day he
accepted my invitation to dine. We were
alone at my room. l had been recalling
the scenes Of the past night. when, taking
his pipe from his lips, he began:
THE ENGINEERS STORY.
Mayhap, stranger, you run over the
Pennsylvany Central Railroad. As you
may say, was born and brought up on
that line, first as fireman and then engin-
eer nigh on to twenty year. It's alters ex-
ctin' to run machine, and wen was
fireman used to think it was better TO be
top of one of them splendid engines than
TO be President OF the United States. The
day they first put me ON the foot board and
l took the lever in my hand and knew it
was my engine, ! reckon | was the proud
est man between Pittsburgh and Altoona.
kinder thought that everybody was goin'
to e out, that day, TO see how thet train
made her run, and you kin bet all yer
specie that she went smack up to the min
it. the whole hundred and seventeen mile.
But this kind Of spirit wore on, after
while. N / settled down into sober stiddy
gon' man; n they did say that w0r a
safe n reliable man as they he'd In the
business. l have to say it, stranger, IS
there's no body else to do it; else-wise you
wouldn't know it.
Twas turned twenty-three wen me and
Mary was married. Twenty-eight years
ago! You hev wife, straugerf Hevn't
got no wife! well! may5sps it's just rs
well. he'd Mary some eight years, but it
don't seem like no time, now. l left her
there in the old Keystone State, her an
the boy. Sometimes l think I'D like TO go
back agin, and see the place where they
both lie, but suppose never shall. Don't
seem as if had the heart to do 1t. 1t
wasn't in any church yard, you known; !;
but little way up the mountain there was
"a green. quiet spot among the trees, and
they are there-nOt more n a hundred feet
say above the track-and often wonder
| if Charlie doesn't still dream. when the
New York Express thunders by, that his
old father Is holding the throttle.
put up spug cabin by the side of the
road when had q small clearin'. and De-
tween whiles used to plant my potatoes
and things, enough to keep US going, and
Mary had her garden. Mary alters took
to flowers. as used 70 tell her, jOkin' like,
COS she was one Of the family. Then we
had COW, and Mary raised chickens, and
l never see no person could do ss much
with chickens as Mary could. Jest seemed
like those hens were alters strainin' OF
theirselyes lsyin' eggs. You never see
nothin' pay stricter attention TO business
than what they did. Never standing about
/ and foolin' around. but alters at il. An
then they'd set and hatch incredible.
Mostly two broods year, and brought en-
all up.