The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-08-11
AN INCIDENT ON THE CARS.

Cars stop twenty minutes for refresh
mcnts ~ called out Conductor Richard
son. at Aliens junction. Then, as the
train came to dead halt, he jumped down
upon the station platform, ran along to
tic front of the long line of passenger
cars, where the engine was standing 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 | hardly know what to make
Of"
The engineer nodded without speaking,
deliberately wiped his oily, smoky hands
on bunch OF "wastc," took look at
his grimy, dusty face in the narrow little
mirror that hung beside the steam.g e gauge
pulled Off his short frock, put on coat
changed his little, blank, greasy cap for
his soft hat-taking these 'dress-up' ar
tcles from the tender box, where an en-
gineer always has something slowed away
for any cmergency-aud went back 10
the coach IS requested.
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 interes-
ted in tho child, who wore sad prcma-
turcly old countenancc, but seemed to he
neither timid nor confused.
"Herc is the engineer" said the con
ductor, rs Frank approached.
She held out her hand to him, with a
wnsomc smile breaking over her pinchcd
little face and said
"lly papa was an engineer before he
became sick and went to live ON farm
in Montana. FIc is dead, and my mama
is dead. She died first, before Susie aud
Willie. My papa used to tell me that
after he should be dead there would be
no one 70 take care Of me, and that
must get on the cars and 60 to his home
in Vermont And he said if the the con-
hadn't any ticket, must ask for the en-
ginecr and tell him / was James Ken
drick's little girl, and that he used to run
on the Nj and G-- road"
The pleading blue eyes were now full
Of tears but she did not cry after the
manner of children in general.
Eniiiiccr Frank now quickly stopped
down and kissed her very tendcrly; and
then as he brushed the tears away from
his eyes, said:
"Well, my dear, so you arc little Bessie
kcndrick ? 1t is my opinion mer ciful
Providence guided you on board this
train"
Then turning around to the group of
passengers, he went on:
81 knew Jim kcndrick, the father of
this girl, well. He was MAJ out Of ten
thousand. When first came TO Indiana
before got ncclimatcd-l WAS sick a
great part III she time, SO thai | could not
work, and 90: ho:ucsick and discouraged.
couldn't keep my board bill paid up
not To mention my doctors bill-an,l
didn't much care whether lived or
died
Zone day. when the pay.cur came
monthly wages, there wasn't Il cent com
ing 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 n great boy, out OF sheer
h0mcsckncss and discOuragement.
"Pretty soon one of the railroad men
came alorg, and, in a voice that sounded
like sweet music in my ears, for hadn't
found much real sympathy out there
although the boys were all good to ME
i'll their way, You've been having g rough
time oft, and you must let me help you
OUT
81 looked up; there stood Jim Ken.
drick. with his months pay in his hand
He took out from the roll of bills IL twcn-
ty-aollar note and held it out to me.
- knew he had had sickly wife and
two .r three children, and then he had d
hard time of it himself to pull through
from month to month, SO / said, hall
ashamed of the teas that were streaming
money. Eow need every cent your
SELF
"'Indecd you will take it, man. said
Jim. You will be all right in n few
weeks, and then you can pay it back
Now come home to supper with me and
SEQ the babies; it will DO you good
II tool; the bank 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 tho good that little act Of kind.
ness did me, and guess Jim Kindrick's
little girl will not want for anything if
can help it."
Then turning again to the child, whose
blue eyes were open wide enough now
said to her:
'I'll 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 I shall 60 with you. But ifthey
don't care much about having you, you
shall stay with us to be our little girl, fc,
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 p was shouted. Engineer
Frank vanished ont OF the car door and
went forward to his engine, wiping his
eyes with his coat-sleeve, while the con.
dnctor and sympathetic passengers could
not suppress the tears this touching epi.
sode evoked during twenty minues' stop
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