Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-08
Gales arlo Skfttbts.
POLLY GARDNER AND gHE DRAW
BRIDGE.
BY JULIA X. HILDRETH-
Confined from Yesterday


Couldn't YOU get any more flowers
than theses If l bad time to 90 to the
pond. YOU should have a. many as you
could carry"
| Polly smiled back at him, and then be-
gan to watch him as he made ready TO
turn the great bridge back into place for
the train to pass over. His hand was al
ready on the crank. when a rope dangling
over the railing of the bridge attracted his
attention. As he tried to pull it in, it
seemed to be caught underneath. Polly
watched him lean over to get better
hold. when, to her great horror. the piece
Of railing to which he held gave way.
There was sudden scream. and a
great splash in the water. But before
the waves of the swiftly flowing river
closed over him. Polly heard the cry.
| THE train,-ihe fag,''
| Poor little Polly, She was so alarmed
| for the poor mans safety that for some
moments she could think Of nothing else.
and ran backward and forward wringing
| her hands in despair. As he arose TO the
surface she saw that he made frantic ges-
lures to her, and pointed up the road from
which the train was to come. He seemed
to be able to keep himself above the water
with very little effort, and Polly saw with
ioy that the accident had been observed by
the occupants Of the vessel. The man in the
water struck out toward the boat and Polly
could hear shouts and cheers from the
men on board.
| All at once she was startled by the far
off whistle of the approaching locomotive.
| n moment she understood the meaning
of the faoman's gestures. She looked at
the open space and then at the bridge. In
| five minutes or less the train would come
lashing into the terrible chasm. Polly's
hair almost rose on her head with horror.
Il was as much as she could do now
to keep her senses.
There must be some way to avert the
awful calamity. She ran swiftly along
toward the rapidly approaching train.
Lying on the ground just by the small
wooden house where the fiagman gener-
ally sat, Polly saw a red flag. She re-
membered having heard that this flag was
used in case OF danger, or when there was
any reason for stopping the cars. She did
not know whether there was yet time, but
she seized the flag and flew wildly up the
track.
''Oh, my papa, oh. my mammal she
cried; .'they will fall into the river and
be drowned What shall | do ~ and
Polly waved the flag backward and
forward as she ran.
Then came the train around the curve
She could see the white steam putting
from the pipe. and could hear the painting
of the engine.
IL know they'll run over me. but if
mamma and papa are killed, don't care
10, liv., - uha caiI ~, H..
preached the great black noisy engine
When it was about three hundred feet
away from her, she saw a head thrust out
OF the little window by the locomotive.
and then, with a great putting, snorting.
and whistling, it began to move slower
and slower. until at last, when it was al
most upon Polly. it stopped
All the windows were alive with heads
and hands. The passengers screamed and
waved her off the track. She stepped off
and ran close up the side of the engine
and gasped out, The bridge is open. and
the man has fallen into the river. Please
stop the train or you'll be drowned.
The engineer stared in amazement. as
well he might. to see a small girl with a
flushed face. hair blown wildly about. and
four lilies pinned in her belt waving the
red flag as though she had been used to
tagging trains all her life.
At that moment another remarkable
figure presented itself to the astonished
eyes of the passengers. A man. dripping
wet. bruised and scratched as though he
had been drawn through briers, came
tearing toward the cars. stumbling and al
most falling at every step. As he reached
little Polly. he snatched her up and cover
ed her face with kisses.
''You little darling" he cried. ..do YOU
know what you've done? You've saved
the lives of more than hundred people"
Polly. nervous and excited. began to
cry. One after another the passengers
came hurrying out of the train and crowd
ed around her, praising and kissing her,
until she was quite ashamed, and hid her
head upon the kind flagman's shoulder.
Whispering please take me away and
find mamma and papa"
Almost the last to alight were Polly's
parents. why. it's our Polly" they
both exclaimed at once.
The draw was now being closed again
and the conductor cried, .'All aboard -
The passengers scrambled back to their
seats again. Polly's father took her into
the car with him, and now she looked
calmly at the people as they gathered
around. and answered politely all ques-
tons put to her. but refused the rings,
chains. bracelets. and watches that the
grateful passengers pressed her to accept
as tokens of their gratitude for saving their
lives.
At last Polly grew tired of SO much
praise. and spoke out; Really don't
deserve your thanks. for | never once
thought of any one but papa and mamma
SO keep your presents for your own little
girls. Thank you all the same"
| Those that heard her laughed. seeing
they could do nothing better for her than
TO let her remain unnoticed for the short
distance she had to go.
When Polly was lifted out of the car,
and stood upon the steps of the station
while her father looked after the luggage.
the passengers threw kisses and waved
their handkerchiefs to her until they were
out of sight.
A few DAYS afterward Polly was aston
ished ut receiving beautiful ivory box
containing an exquisitely enamelled medal,
with these words engraved on it:
| ..proSoutat tn Polly EarJpar ,rho=o