The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-02-09

and / was dragged out from under the
wreck, pretty badly scalded and used
up. But my time hadn't come yet, and
/ was soon on the road again, and -
Something on the track Looks
like somebody waving lantern, but
the sleet is so thick can't rightly make
out" shouted the fireman.
John Lathrop sprang to his post,
made the whistle snriek like an impris-
ened and tortured fiend, reversed the
engine and whistled on brakes. But
his trained eye instantly saw that it
would be of no use-that he could not
check the Roadway of the heavy train in
time to avert running over the object,
be it what it might, for the track was so
narrow and walled in by high embank-
ments that escape was impossible. Be-
sides, they were upon the something
upon the track" before they were aware
of it, having just rounded a sharp curve.
"There is my home," gasped John
Lathrop, pointing out into the gloom,
"The Big Stony is just ahead, and
Oh, my God If the culvert should
have given way, and my boy have come
to give me warning2"
"Your home-your boya" echoed
the tramp.
"Great Heaven yes, and the strong
man became unnerved and robbed of
all decision.
cit isa boy 4" shouted the fireman /;
"and, may God have mercy upon him,
/ believe it is your John
The passenger said nothing, but a
wild determination flashed from his
eyes as he arose, climbed out along the
side of the monster engine-a Jugger-
naut immense enough to have crushed
hundreds at time beneath its ponder
GUS wheels. Then the mid day like
sunbeams of the headlight streamed out
and made all plain to him, despite the
thick sleet and darkness.
He saw (and a shiver other than that
produced by the cold passed through
him) a boy standing directly ahead in
the deep cut, waving a lantern, whose
blood-red globe shone like an evil eye.
Though still at little distance, he
seemed directly under foot and about
to be dragged down and devourcd.
"He saved my ife," muttered the
tramp from between his tightly-set
teeth, Sand Ill do as much for him if
1 can. Anyway, I'll try, and haven't
anybody to mourn forme If l go under. F"
His resolution was a desperate one
must be carried out without the delay
of a single moment, if at all. He swung
himself down upon the pilot, twisted
his feet within the iron bars, and ex-
tended his body ahead as rigid as if
carved from oak, and stretching his
hands still in advance.
1t was trying situation, one requir-
ing the greatest courage position no
one unused to feats of strength within
the arena could have sustained at all.
But he did, and bravely, and the engine
rolled on nearer and nearer, and the boy,
suddenly becoming aware of his danger
and the impossibility Of escape, sank
down upon the ties, and his scream of
mortal agony rang out louder than jar of
wheels and his.ing of steam.
Father father save me. Oh, save
mel"
Save him? John Lathrop was kneel-
ing on the floor of the cab, with his
hands raised in prayer. his face white as
snow, and working in the most terrible
torture. The fireman had taken his
place at the lever, throttle, and whistle,
and the engine plunged with increased
speed upon down grade to grind into
atoms all that dared oppose its way.
1t was upon-over the boy No,
heavens be praised; the arms of the
tramp had grasped, lifted, and dragged
him upon the pilot and to safety
before he was touched by the
fire. breathing monster; and when
it paused, quivering upon the
very brink of the crippled culvert, John
Lathrop was holding his brave boy in
his arms, hugging him to his heart, and
crying over him as a woman.
In the morn of clear Sabbath,
No. 80 rolled into the station and
when John Lathrop told his wife of how
their boy had been saved, and she sprang
to the stranger and kissed him from the
impulse of her mothers heart, there was
no jealous frown upon his brow.