The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-05-04
was yet time, but she seized the flag and

was yet time, but she seized the flag and
flew wildly up the track.
" 80. my papa! oh, my nlammar she
cried; ''they will fall into the river and
be drowned! What shall l do?' and
Polly waved the flag backward and for
ward as she ran. f8 arss5 s
Then came the train around the curve.
She could see the white steam putting
from the pipe, and could hear the pant
ing of the engine
II know they II run over me, but IL
Kmamma and papa are killed, / don't
care to live she said to herself, as she
approached the great black noisy en-
gine.s aassg i ee syss4
When it was about three hundred feet
away from her, she saw head thrust
out o. the little window by the locomo-
1--we, and then, with a great putting,
ssnorting and whistling, it tbegan to move
slower and slower until at last, when it
was almost upon Polly, it tstopped entire
ly. arcs p
All the windows We're alive with heads
and hands. The passengers screamed
and waved her off the track. She stepped
off and ran close up to the sideof the en-
gine and gasped out: 'tThe bridge is
open and the man has fallen into the riv-
er. Please stop the train or you'll be
drowned.''
The engineer stared in amazement, as
well he might, to see small girl with a
flushed face, hair blown wildly about
and four lilies pinned in her belt, waving
the led 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. Aman, dripping
wet, bruised and scratched as though he
had been drawn through briers, came
tearing toward the cars, stumbling and
almost falling at every STEP As he
reached little Polly, he snatched her up
and covered her face with kisses.
You little darling,'' he cried, g do
you know what you've done? You've
saved the lives of more than a hundred
people.nsF 1ossi 1aasss e. bnss ~
b. 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 fagmans shoulder,
whispering; please take me away and
find mamma and papa.''
Almost the last to alight were Polly S
parents. Why, it's oursPollyr' they
both exclaimed at once. ~ s.s7E
The draw was now being closed again,
and the conductor cried, g All aboardv'
The passengers scrambled back to their
seats again. Polly 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-
tions put to her, but refused the rings,
chains, bracelets and watches that the
grateful passengers pressed herto 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 I never once
thought of any one but papa and mann
ma. So keep your presents for your own
little girls. Thank you all the same. y
Those that heard her laughed, seeing
that they could do nothing betterfor her
than to let her remain unnoticed for the
short distance she had to go. f .5s 81
When Pollywas lifted out, of the car
and stood upon the steps of the station
while her father looked after the lug
gage, the passengers threw kisses and
waved their handkerehiefs to her until
they were out of sight asAa sta
A few days afterward Polly was as
tonished at receiving beautiful ivory
box containing an exquisitely enamelled
medal, with these words engraved on it:
- . Presented to Polly Gardner, whose,
courage and presence of mind saved 8
hundred lives. 1-Haaper's Yo1pg Peo-
ME.