Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-12-05

was doing its best ut mixing up snow and
stars in one binding whrligig. Minnie
rejoced in the whirling snow; it covered
up her foot. prints nearly us fast as they
were made, and would do wonders at CON
cealing everything she had to do and wish,
ed to conceal.
The little lantern in her hand ready to
light, the matches in her pocket and q
brave heart under Carls heavy jacket,
gave Minnie courage.
The river twisted itself in and ont
among the high hills, and by the river ran
for miles on miles the railroad. toward
which Min took her way. 1t was a
bleak, lonely walk through the snow and
the night for girl of only twelve years,
but Johns Minnie was not afraid Tor her.
self. Once she thought she saw some one
approaching; she left the track and went
INTO concealment among t~- pine trees
that skirted the river bank, but no one
appeared.
Through the night came rush and a
roar. 1t was the train that Minnie knew
had passed in safety the place where the
train wreckers meant to do their work
The engine driver, looking out, saw the
boy on the track in that lonely spot, and
gave whistle of warning. Minnie quick
ly obeycd it and ran lightly aside, wait
ing for the train 10 go whirling on its way.
Now | must hurry she thought the
other train will be along soon,' and she
tried to step from sleeper to sleeper
through the snow. At last almost ready
to lie down with WEAKNESS and sleep, she
came to the long, long stretch of straight
track where she knew the trainmen must
see her lantern, If she began to signal
with it the instant the headlight could be
seen.
At the further end Of the long line of
straight track there was bridge over the
river. Minnie thought she should surely
hear the train when it Numbered through
the bridge, and that would be the minute
In which she would jump up and run and
swing her lantern with all her might, and
keep on swinging it until the train should
slow down and stop. After that she didn't
know just what but she lit her lantern
without fear of any persons being down
upon her for there was not within sight
either miner S cabin or lumbermen's lodge.
She sat down on II rock within shelter
from the wind which still tumbled the
light snow from side to side of the track
and waited.
John Jansen returned to his home at
half past nine o'clock, looked as was his
custom, into Minnie's room, into the boy
room, kissed the twins, said Good night )
to his wife, and went out again notwith-
standing her ontreaty that he would stay at
home.
Outside the cabin the great savage miner
stood and rung his hands in vain agony.
1t was all of no use; he had joined the
organization of evil workers, and he could
not get out of its rule He knew that the
words he had spoken since the afternoon
urging delay until another night had caus-
ed every movement to be watched that he
made, but John Jansen. would have given
anything that he possessed for the power
to prevent the very thing lie himself had
plotted and planned.
1t is too late, too laten he gasped, as he
made his way back to his friends.
Minnie grew very cold and sleepy, sit
ting still under the shelter of the great
rock, and the moaning needles of the ben
ding pine trees over her head lulled her
drowsy ears.
This won't do at all y she said, SPRING
ing up at the very instant the huge head
light of the locomotive engine dashed it.
self and the train after it into the bridge.
By the time it emerged, the little signal
maker was on the track, racing down
toward it, swinging the lantern around
her head, up and down, to and fro, from
side to side.
The fireman on the tender, locking out
said TO the driver:
Look out there's light ahead
He glanced down the Longtime; saw the
waving glimmer of brave Minnie's lantern
and whistled for brakes.
Slower and slower grew the motion of
the cars, laden with precious human lives
The headlight came near and utterly
blinded the lantern light that Minnie still
held.
Down from the engine sprang the two
men. Up walked 10 meet them Johns
Minnie.
What the mischief, you boy, you, do
you mean, stopping the train in this way"
shouted the foremost man, springing for
ward to seize her arm.
oh! cried Minnie. whether from pain
or fright she herself could not tell. Il
had to stop you, Or you'd 90 off into the
river, and there wasn't anybody else to
call
Whats the matterH
The track is torn up at the bend said
Minnie.
Come up on the engine, youngster, with
me- said the driver.
Oh, no, no, gasped Minnie. | should
be killed if anybody found me out a-teling.
| can't 50; but I've told true-oh, l have!
With the words Minnie blew out the
flame in her lantern, and darted into the
pine woods just as the conductor came for
ward.
A few minutes later Minnie from her
safe covert, saw the train slowly moving
onward until it passed from sight.
She had done her best, and now she
must get home. The way was long and
Minnie was tired enough to lie down in the
soft snow, but she kept on and on, meeting
no one in the Still night. She came within
olS III vi uCl llOluC. IuClG was IL IlSlll III
the window shining through the lcafy cur
tain of geranium.
Minnie crept softly up, taking long steps
to fit her feet into the prints made by
larger feet than hers that led up to the
door.
She peeped cautiously in. There sat
her weary, invalid mother softly rocking
one of the twins in her arms. Minnie saw
that she was weeping, and she moved
nearer the window and tapped very gently
on the glass,
The mothers ear heard the sound. She
moved and baby began to cry. Never was
baby-cry more welcome. Under cover of
that sound Minnie opened the door, slid
softly in, having removed her boots out
side, and crossing the room, gained her
own without having disturbed the heavy
sleep of her father.
In three minutes more the girl stood in
her night clothes by her mothers side,
offering to take the baby, for the other
baby had joined in the cry.
Oh, mother, MOTHER whispered Min
ME. did it, | did it; and, oh I'm so
happy, shall die
Don't speak, whispered her mother.
= Go into the kitchen, open the oven door
and you'll find something warm to eat.
I'll come out.
When Mrs jansen went out she told
Minnie she knew she had saved the train.
How mothprp'