Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-03-04
Miscellany.
Jack Chiddy.
TRUE 1NcIDENr OF THE RAIL

Jack Chtddy.
TRUE INc1DENT OF THE RAIL
Brave Jack Chiddyi oh, well, you may sneer
For the name isnt one that sounds nice in the ear;
Bat q name IL sound-nothing more; dee Is are best
And Jack had the soul Of a man in his breast.
Now heard you say that you're fond Of a tale
II II bears upon railway men and the rail;
Well, here is one that will suit you, know,
Though II happened good many years ago.
Jack Chiddy-there, you are smiling again
Al the name, which own is both common and plain
Jack Chiddy, say, wrought along with his mates,
Year in and year out, on section Of plates.
Simple enough was the work, with no change
But TO that both lines we're in gauge and range;
FAsten key there, and tighten bolt,
All to keep fast trains from giving jolt.
Strange when one thinks where hero may rise,
Say at times, in q moment, before our eyes,
Or right from side ere we know It, and do
The work OF giant, and pass from our view. .
But the s.oryT you ssy. Well, I'm coming to that,
Though wander aAttle-now where was att
Let me see. Can you catch, shining round and clear,
The mouth Of the Breslington tunnel from heref
You see ~ Well right on the bank at the top,
when stacking blocks all at down the slope
huge slab Of stone from the rest shore It's way
And fell down on the up-line OF metals, and lay.
One sharp cry Of terror burst forth from us all
We stood as II bound TO the spot, dumb Of speech,
Reading horror and doubt in the faces Of each.
Then one Of our mates snatched glance at his watch
Gave a start and look that made each Of us catch
At our breath; then cry that thrilled our hearts
through
my God the Flying Dutchman' is overdueip
HArkl straight over the hill we can hear
A dull, dead sound coming faint to the ear;
Then short, sharp whistle that told with its blast
That the "DutehmAn" was int the tunnel at last
And there on the rail lay that huge mass Of stone,
And the "Dutchman" behind coming laundering on !:
In minute or less he would come with dash,
And hundred lives would be lost in the crash.
"Now for your life, Jack - for Chiddy had flown
Down the bank and three leaps brought him close to
the stone;
Not Of his own life for wife aud ehild's sake,
Thought he, but the hundreds that stake.
Twas the work Of a momeht With terrible strength
Anda heaye Of the shoulder the slab moved
Slipped clear Of the rAil-when, half mufed n smoke
From the month Of the tunnel the "DutchmAn" broke.
There was one sharp whistle, roar, and a crash
OF wheels ringing clear on the rail, aud a fash
OF coiling smoke, and glitter and gleam
or iron and steel, and then down fell the steam.
No. breath could we draw but stood blank with dis
may
As the train tore along, making up for delay,
Till At last from us all burst shout and cheer,
When we knew that the "Dutchman" had passed aud
was clear.
And Chiddy7 All me you will pardon these tears,
For he was my mate on the nails many years.
when we found him one look enough TO reveal
That Jacks lhe-blood was red the enRin eIEheel
Brave Jack Chiddy. Now you don't sneer
At the name, which own u but harsh 70 the ear.
But a name is sound-nothinR more: deeds arc beat
And Jack had the soul Of In hla breast,
-AieEdHdsT AndeTs0n IN Good Words.