The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-04-06

figure was so good, and hands so small,
and her ways so frank and artless, that
l almost wished she was my daughter.
Her face, though, was what l can't
give you any idea Of. It was the most
beautiful face ever saw. 1t had, -
proceeded the engineer, warming, ''all
the intelligence of q woman's and the
simplicity of a child's. And she was
so sprightly and loyable altogether, land
asked SO many questions, that, al
though I-had never had q woman on
the engine but once before, invited
her over here to my seat, and explain
to her alf about how a locomotive is
run. showed her how to manipulate
the lever which, admits more or less
steam to the cylinders; how the re-.
verse lever is worked; how the tests of
water and steam are made.
l showed her, how to blow the
whistle and ring the bell, and explain
ed how the brakes were blown down
and how warnings were given on the
approach to crossings. She took it all
in, and, said the engineer, stretching
his arm across the boiler and clutching
my sleeve, lit was the best lesson
ever gave. Right up around yonder,
about two miles from here, just as
was handling the reverse lever, we
struck stone or something on the
track at 8 o'clock at night. I was
bending down at the time (the girl was
sitting where you are, on my cushion),
and quicker than lightning the lever
flew back and struck me in n,the eve and
knocked Newell, I'll be id if I
know where. Anyway I didn't make
much difference for a minute or two,.
for | was just stunned. As we were
on the down grade, with no need of
fuel, the fireman was back in the bag
gage.car, and when 1 came to, this
young girl was holding on to my head,
and tanning me with her toy of hat.
1t wasn't two seconds before knew
what was to pay. The engine and
the whole train had started down this
hill at the rate of 80 miles an hour. I
tried to spring up and reach the lever.
My right arm and side and right leg
were numb. My face, and even my
tongue, were so paralyzed by the blow
l had received, that could hardly
speak. | was so desperate that (more
to attract the girls attention to the
danger than for anything else) l
grabbed her hat with my left hand
and threw it outside of the locomotive.
and then managed to beckon her ear
down close to my lips, and say:
"'Train's going too fast. Well be
i'll hell if you don't turn the lever!'
She understood me in an instant;
and it was time. The engine was rock
ing, swaying and skurrying down the
track like a wild beast with great
bounds. Every second l expected it
would leap the rails; it certainly was
descending ut the rate of seventy miles
an hours. But that little thing sprang
up here, clutched the lever, motioned
which way she should shove or push
it, got my nod and reversed the wheels
like q little man. Then she whistled
down brakes--there was no need of
that, for the boys had put on every
brake already. Inside of mile and a
half she stopped the train; and then
she knelt down all trembling and cry
ings-and now what do you think she
said!
81 can't guess"
''Said she: Mr., feel as though
l should faint. Haven't you got some
camphor, ora little whisky!' And
rs sure as you live she did faint right
away there-right down in front of
that fire-box-right on the top of me.
The fireman and conductors came in
and took her back to her mother. and
the fireman had to run the train down
to White Haven"