The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-22

edness, and save the train and Miss
Florence, too"
Annette Annette!" called John, from
the cabin door
Coming, john" was the answer, as
the trembling woman picked up the hod
she had been filling with coal to carry it
in.
Minnie grasped it from her and stur-
Oily bore it to the house.
After supper, which John Jansen ate
with his eyes en- his plate, scarcely lift
ing them to glance at wife or children,
he said: Pm going out tonight to a
meeting. If I'm late home, don't fret
about me. Boys" to Carl and Harry,
BE sure you are in by nine o'clock"
Minnie longed to jumpup, as she would
have done on any other night, to go
around the table, to throw her arms
around the miners neck, to beg him stay
at home, but she only said: Father
Miss Florence Wren will be here to-mor-
row. She's coming tonight in the mid
night train. Miss Wren told me when l
met her and she walked back a little
way with me-"
Minnie did not see the expression of
her fathers face at that instant, for she
had not the courage to look into it.
He went away the moment tea was
over. The boys quickly followed his
example, and the cabin was left to Mrs
Jansen, Minnie and the little ones.
Mother" said Minnie, the instant
they were alone, father will try to stop
the work they're going to do o-night
and he can't do it. Oh, ! sac their cruel
faces to-day. They're going to have
their own way, unless do it," ...
Johns Minnie loved her father. He
had been so kind to her when mining was
good; for her sake he would have done
anything she had asked him, but now
everything was going wrong-low wages,
little work, bad counsels and hunger had
driven John Jansen back almost to the
condition of savage.
Something to look like Minnie was
made up, Minnie's own night-cap put
upon its head, and the image was laid,
with face to the wall, in Minnie's bed.
The clothing the child had worn that
evening was put in its accustomed place
on the rude little chair, the shoes and
stockings laid on the floor by its side, and
Minnie put herself into stout mining
suit of Carl's. She looked very like him
as she tucked up her fair curls out of
sight inside the close cap, and, with the
little lantern in her hand, stood saying
the last good-by words.
shall do it, .lother Never fear for
me, nor for Miss Florence, nor for father.
Pm going to do right, and I'll ask God to
tell me how to do it, and you keep asking
Him to take care of me, and He will.
Good-by, mother! You'll be up with the
babies and let me in when come"
With hurried kiss on the warm, Sleep
ing little faces side by side in the trundle-
bed, and long, clinging one on her
mothers cheek, Minnie set forth. The
snow had ceased to fall. Up above the
cold, clear stars were twinkling away
with all their might to each other, and
the wind was doing its best at mixing up
snow and stars in one binding whirligig.
Minnie reJoiced in the whirling snow; it
covered up her footprints nearly as fast
as they were made, and would do won
ders at concealing everything she had to
do and wished to conceal.
The little lantern in her hand ready to
light, the matches in her pocket, and
brave heart under CarPs heavy jacket
gave Minnie courage.
The river twisted itself in and out
among the high hills, and by the river
ran for miles and miles the railroad, to-
ward which Minnie 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
for herself. Once she thought she saw
some one approaching; she left the track
and went into cOncealment among the
pine trees that skirted the river bank,
but no one appeared. ...
Through the night came rush and a
roar; it was the train that Minnie knew
had passed in safety the place where the
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 quickly
obeyed it and ran lightly aside, waiting
for the train to go whirring ON its way
" Now l must hurry" she thoughts
" 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 train
men must see her lantern, if she began to
signal with it the instant the head light
could be seen.
At the further end of the long line of
straight track there was a 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 upon her, for there was
not within sight either miners cabin or
lodge. She sat down on a
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
boys room, kissed the twins, said "good-
nj ght" to his wife, and went out again,
her entreaty that he
would stay at home.
Outside the cabin the great savage