The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-09-21

back door had broken off short at the
root. A Bean, though he had great
aversion to seeing the moon over his
left shoulder, and dreaming of fish,
pFided himself on his lack of supersti-
ton. But the destruction of the tree
affected his spirits, and by night he
had worked himself into fever of
nervousness. He started out, deter
mined to take long walk before the
train was due UnconsciOusly he
crossed the river, and followed the road
that led mile south along its bank to
the railway bridge, which was provided
with narrow way on each side of it
for foot-passengers. 1t was also a draw
bridge. A Bean was walking along
mechanically, when he felt the bridge
move. Like all short-sighted people
his sense of feeling was acute. The
movement was slight, it was a gentle
swaying as if the bridge were left to it
self and the current. He heard the
owl-train whistling at the little station
a mile and half away. He ran shout
ing to the middleof the bridge. No one
was there. so Lord he shrieked.
sOn'y to know how to fix this here
bridger' He ran toward the coming
train grooming at every step. 20
Lordr' he cried, with beseeching hor-
IOIs sOAlC , dDOal0 VI H. LAlh VI
her, Lord, an them that with her, all
expected by folks! Hear, Lord! Oh!
You must, Just this here oncer'
At the end of the bridge, he saw by
the dim light of the Pickering gas that
the bridge had swung around about eight
inches, vet the light which said ''All is
well'' was in its place, burning feebly,
it is true, but the night was rainy. A.
Bean took off his hat. 1t was damp.
He managed to hang the old umbrella
on his head, and tearing off his shirt,
heaped that with his handkerchief into
his hat. There was a sudden rush and
roar, and a shrill whistle which was re-
spOnded to on the other shore, and the
train came in sight around the sharp
curve, and began slowly to approach the
bridge. The matches were damp. "Oh,
Lord, if you must have somebody, take
mel" he gasped, as they went out one
by one in his fingers. Il believe the
Devils runnin' this here job, but Lord,
/ m ready The rags blazed up. The
little man stood in the middle of the
track, waving his hat to and fro under
his dripping umbrella. The burning
linen dropped on his face and blistered
his hands. Would the train sweep over
him and into tho river? No, it stopped
just where he had stood.
''His back is injured said a doctor
who had climbed out of one of the cars.
''He can live but few minutes. "
II agreed to it, A. Bean slowly
opened his eyes and looked wistfully
about. where's SET? She's aboard
of it''
They had lifted him upon some car
cushions. The men who had come to
see what was the matter stood one side.
The women sat in the cars anxious and
wondering. In moment young girl
was kneefing beside A. Bean upon the
sodden ground.
Il agreed to it dearie," he muir
INJURED, feebly. ''An' the Lord come.
The riyer-in the midst of the city. 1
hear that. An SET, He said a child
you knOw-of such is the kingdom. 1
never should "a know d about it if you
hadn't come. The Lord Christ-bless
YOU"
The doctor closed the sightless eyes,
and gently lifted the unconscious SET
from the earth. There was no sound
but the rush of the great river.
1.-The bridge is swinging Free" said
the engineer, who had with the instinct
of his craft thought first of the cause of
the warning, ''there amt a soul on it.
The Devils got the Waterman, filed
him full of whisky or stole him out
right and swinging his lantern
around and taking off his cap, he turned
toward the dead man living on the
crimson cushions in the rain-''Three
hundred and more of us saved. That lit
tie dried-up fellerr'
There was a breath of silence, and
then a brakeman bent and grimy,
touching himself lightly on his brow
and breast, said, reverently: ''God rest
his soul. Amenr'-M i. Examiner.