Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-06-02
AN INCIDENT ON THE CARS.
From Golden Days.

ments!" called out Conductor Richardson,
Mt Aliens Junction.
Then as the train came to dead halt he
jumped down upon the station platform,
ran along to the front of the long line of
passenger cars, where the engine was stand
ing, and swinging himself up into the cab,
said to the engineer:
Frank, want you to come back with ME
to the, first passenger Car and see girl that
1 hardly know what to make Of"
The engineer nodded with out speaking
deliberately wiped his oily, smoky hands
on a bunch of waste, took look at his
erimy, dusty face in the narrow little mirror
that hung beside the steam gauge, pulled
of his short frock, put on a coat, changed
his little black, greasy cap for his soft felt
at-taking these "dress-up" articles from
he tender box, where an engineer always
has something slowed away for any emef-
gency-and went back to the coach as re-
quested.
He entered the coach and made his way
to the seat where the kind-hearted conductor
sat talking to bright looking little girl,
about nine years old, oddly dressed in a
woman's shawl and bonnet.
Several of the passengers were grouped
around the seat, evidently much interested
in the child, who wore a sad, prematurely
timid nor confused.
Here is the engineer" said the conduct
or, kindly, as Frank approached.
She held out her hand to him, with a
winsome smile breaking over her pinched
little face, and said:
My papa was an engineer before he be-
came sick and went to live on farm in
Montana. He is dead and my mamma is
dead. She died first, before Susie and
Willie. My papa used to tell me that after
he should be dead there would be no one to
take care of me, and that must get on the
cars and go to his home in Vermont. And
he said If the conductors wouldn't let me
ride because hadn't any ticket, Unjust ask
for the engineer, and tell him / was James
Hendricks little girl, and that he used to
run on the M--and G---fead.
The pleading blue blue eyes were now full of
tears; but She did not cry after the manner
of children in general.
Engineer Frank now quickly stopped
and kissed her very tenderly; and then, as
he brushed the tears away from his eyes,
said:
We'll, my dear, so you are little Bessie
Kendrick? It's my opinion a merciful
Providence guided you on this train"
Then turning around to the group of pas
sengers, he went on:
81 knew Jim KendricA, the father OF this
little girl, well. He was a man out of ten
thousand. When first came to Indiana
before got accimated-I was sick great
part of the time, so that could not work,
and got home-sick and discouraged. I
couldn't keep my board-bin paid up-not
to mention my doctors billiard didn't
much care whether lived or died.
lone day when the pay car came along,
and the men were getting their monthly
wages, there wasn't a cent coming to me,
for hadn't been free from the ague, nor
worked an hour, for the last month.
81 felt so blue that sat down on a pile
of railroad ties and leaned my elbows on
my knees, with my head in my hands, and
cried like great boy, out of sheer home
sickness and discouragement.
Pretty soon one of the railroad men
came along, and said, in voice that sound
ed like sweet music in my ears, for hadn't
found much sympathy out there, although
the boys were all good to me in that way,
You've been having rough time of it, and
you must let me help you out
ST looked up, and there stood Jim Ken
drick with his months pay in his hand.
He took out from the roll of bills twenty
dollar note, and held it out to me.
Il knew he had a sickly wife and two or
three children, and that he had hard time
of it himself to pull through from month to
month, SO said, half ashamed of the tears
that were streaming down my face, Indeed,
I cannot take the money. You need every
cent yourself.
Indeed. you will take it, man. said
Jim. You will be all right IN few weeks,
and then you can pay it back. Now come
home with me to supper, and see the babies;
it will do YOU good
II took the bank note and accepted the
invitation, and after that went to his house
frequently, until he moved away, and /
gradually lost sight of him. had returned
the loan, but it was impossible to repay the
good that little act of kindness did me, and
guess Jim Hendricks little girl will not
want for anything if I can help it."
Then turning again to the child, whose
blne eyes We're open wide enough now,
said to her:
"Tll take you home with me, Bessie,
dear, when we get to Wayne. My wife will
fix you up, and we'll write and find out
whether those Vermont relations really want
you or not. If they do, Mary or shall &c
on with you. But if they don't care much
about having you, you shall stay with us to
be our little girl, for we have none OF
our own. You look very much like your
father; God bless his memory!"
just then the eastern train whistled.
All aboard" was shouted. nzineel
:. Frank vanished out of the car door and
went forward to his engine, wiping his eyes
with his coat-sleeve, while the conductor
and sympathetic passengers could not sup.
press the tears this touching episode evoked
during the twenty minutes stop at Allen,
function