Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-04-25
VOL. 7S.-3993. NO. 20.

sorrow you are going to spare those who
love them. And don't be afraid, dear
don't think Of the water below. Go now.
God will take care Of you. / feel no fear for
your safety-none.r
And it was true. jacks faith in his
Fathers love and care was an earnest living
faith, and 80 he felt no uneasiness about the
noble girl clambering up the rugged, broken
arch, and then steadying herself on the
heavy crossties Of the bridge.
He followed her little figure with his eyes
as long as he could see it outlined against
the dark sky, and then followed her still
with his heart, needing little the pain that
racked every nerve in his body, as he lay
there alone, alone and helpless, with the
corpse Of his unfortunate companion close
by.
Aud noble Kstie2
Once her mind was made up, she braced
herself for the work she had TO do. She
kept her eyes fixed steadily on the great
beam beneath her feet, stepping carefully
along from one tie to another, so long as
the faint CLEANS of light remaining allowed
her TO distinguish them. But all at once, as
she neared the center of the bridge, the
last gimmer went out, like the extinguish-
ing Of candle, and then, at the next step,
she tripped, and Just saved herself from
falling into the deep, swift river yawning
beneath her.
And then poor Katie was smitten with
panic, such panic as seizes upon soldier
in battle, when neither pride, nor honor,
nor persuasions nor threats, can restrain
him from running away from the field.
The poor child grasped the great beam
tightly, and laid her head down on the cold
rail, sobbing with terror.
d. hAtN ".
| her ears "My God Three hundred peo-
pie doomed to death, and no one to save
them |"
1t reused her up at once TO do and to dare,
and TO keep on as bravely as she had begun;
and now, on her hands and knees, feeling
| for the cross-ties as she crept along in the
utter darkness, the noble girl resumed her
perilous advance. No more panics now, no
more faltering; right on she went, and at
| length after space that seemed hours TO
her. but was really only twenty minutes
| from the time she had left Jack she crept
over the last span of the bridge, and stood
up safe on solid ground.
\ Truly had God taken care of her.
She drew long breath of relief, and
then, with all the speed she was capable Of
and she was a swift runner-she rushed
along the line of road, to the little station
back of the river. The trains did not often
stop there she knew that, for she had seen
them whirl by at fall speed, many time
but this train must be made TO stop.
She was not one moment too soon. Down
the road, only little way off, a cleaning
red spot appeared, and a heavy rumbling
sound was heard, rapidly coming nearer and
nearer.
"Stop the train stop it |" she gasped.
| ff h,,I ,a hrol I OH tutn
The station master stared at her, too be-
wildered to catch the idea on the instant ;
and seeing this, she snatched up the danger
lantern, running ont on the track, swung it
to and fro.
A sharp whistle answered the signal, and
the train came to full stop at the station,
where it had not intended to stop at all.
"What's this for 2" asked the conductor,
who knew Kate. "What is the matter ?"
"The bridge is broken A locomotive
has Just gone through at the other end.
Jack was on it, and he is there now, held
down by the stones from the bridge. And
he wouldn't let me 60 for help for himself |;
he sent me to save the train. And he's
there all alone Oh, please, please send
some one over in boat to help him outl"
"And how, in the name of heaven, did
you get here, child ?"
"I came over the bridge on the cross
ties, creeping on my hands and knees most
of the way. But oh, please send help to
Jack"
By the time the passengers had been
made to understand how they had been
! rescued from certain death by the bravery
of little girl, she was far out on the water,
in boat propelled by strong arms, ready
and eager to extricate poor, unselfsh Jack
, from the ruins of his engine.
One of his legs was broken, they found,
,, and he was suffering intense pain; but his
Joy that the train, with its precious freight
of three hundred human lives, was safe,
deadened the pain to great degree.
, There was heavy purse made up among
the passengers for Katie and for Jack, al
though, as they said, they felt that this was
! a very small return for the service they had
: done them.
Nor was this all the good that came to
them because of the devoted heroism they
! had shown, the one in unselish endurance
, theo other in active bravery. The railroad
company finding that Jack was capable OF
becoming something better than simple 10
! comotive engineer, sent him to college
where he was taught higher branch OF
! knowledge; and now Jack is a rich man, a
builder of railroads and bridges.
! Nor was Katie forgotten. A check fol-
! one thousand dollars was paid into the bank
!, in her name, to be added to the five hundred
the passengers had bestowed upon her.
Aud oh, how proud the mother Of those
, two was of her children, and how in after
years she loved to tell the story of Jacks
! lying patiently, held down by the cruel
, heavy stones, while he sent help to others
and how lovingly she dwelt on the brave,
wonderful thing that her Katie did
And surely she had right to be proud, II
,, ever mother had.-Christian Weekly