Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-01-05
An Incident on the Cars.

ments ! called out Conductor Richard
son, at Aliens Junction;
Then as the train came to a dead
halt, be jumped down upon the station,
platform, ran along to the front of tn,
long line Of passenger cars, where tht
engine was standing, and swinging
himself up into the cab said to the en-
gineer:
Frank, 1 want you to come back
with me to the first passenger coacl
and see little girl that hardly know
what TO make Of
The engineer nodded, without speak
ing deliberately wiped his oily, smok,
hands in a bunch of waste took .
look at his grmy, dusty face in the
narrow, little mirror that hung beside
the steam gauge, pulled Off his frocR,
put on a coat, changed his little black.
greasy cap for bis soft, felt hat-taklng
these dress up articles from tender
box, where an engineer has Away.
slowed away for an emergency and
went back to the coach as requested.
He entered the coach and made bi.
way to the seat where the kind heart
ed conductor sat talking TO q little GIRL
about nine years old, oddly dressed in
a woman's shawl and bonnet,
Several Of the passengers were group
ed around the seat, evidently much in
terested in the child, who wore sad.
prematurely old countenance, but seem
ed 10 be neither tmid nor confused.
Here Is the engineer said the con.
ductor, kindly, as Frank approached.
She held up her hand to him, with a
winsome smile breaking over her pinch.
ed, little face, and SAID:
My father was an engineer before he
became sick, and went to live on q
farm in Montana. He is dead and m,
mamma is dead. She died first, before
Susie and Willie. Ny papa used to tel
me that after he should be dead, there
would be no one to take care Of me,
and then l must get on the cars and 90
to my old home in Vermont. Aud he
said, If the conductors wouldn't let aC
ride, because l hadn't any ticket,
mnst ask for the engineer, and tell him
I was James Hendricks little girl thai
used to run on the "a road,
The pleading blue eyes were now full
of tears; but she did not cry after The
manner Of children in general.
Engineer Frank now quickly STOPPED
down and kissed her very tonderly. anC
then, as he brushed the tears away
from his own eyes, he SAID
well, nay dear, so you are little Bes
sic Hendricks ? It's my opinion mer
ciful Providence guided you on board
this train
Then. turning around to the group o
passengers, he went on:
L knew Jim Kendrick, the iather o
this little girl, well. He was a man o
ten thousand. When l first came t.
Indlana-beiore 1 got acclimated-I was
sick a great part the time, so that
could not work, and got home sicl
aud discouraged. Couldn't keep my
board bill paid up--not to mention my
Doctors bill, and didn't care muci
whether lived or died.
One day, when the pay car came
along, and the men were getting theii
monthly wages, there wasn't cen
coming to me, for 1 hadn't been free
from the ague, nor worked an hour fol
the last month.
4 felt 50 blue. that sat down on
pile of railroad ties and leaned my el'
bows on my knees with my head in ml
hands, and cried like a great boy, out o
sheer homesickness and encouragement
Pretty soon one Of the railroad men
came slong and said in a voice thai
sounded like sweet music in my ears
for l hadn't found much sympathy ou
there, although the boys were all goo'
to me in their way, You have beer
having a rough time Of it, aud you mus
let me help you OUT
4 looked up and there stood jim
Kendrlck, with bis months pay in hi'
hand. He took out from the roll OF hi
bills twenty dollar note and handed
it to me.
Iknew he had a sickly wife and two
or three children, aud that he had
hard time oft himself to pull througi
from month to month, so l SAID, bal
ashamed of the tears that were sul
streaming down my face. Indeed,
cannot take the money, you need ever.
cen. Of it YOURSELF
Indeed, you will take it; man. sal'
jim. You will be all right ia teV
weeks, and then you can pay back
Now come home with me 10 supper, ant
see the babies; it will do you good
Il took the bank note and accepted
the invitation, and alter that went u
his house frequently, until he move
away and gradually lost sight OF BIN.
had returned the loan, but it was I'M
possible to repay the good that little ac
of kindness did me, and l rather CUES
Jim Hendricks little girl here, will no
want for anything if can help IT,
Then turning again to the child
whose blue eyes were vide ope
enough, now, the engineer said to here
IN take you home with me, CessIt
1 .