The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-10-03

poorly dressed little girl just in front
of her. attracted her most.
The gift of a golden orange from
her lunch basket won the little ones
favor and Elsie was soon chatting
merrily with her, and had learned
that she was on her way to live with
her grandpa, because her mamma
was too poor to keep them all in the
city.
After while the heat grew over
powering, and Elsie tried to raise
her window, but it was fast. She
tugged hard with her soft fingers
soft and white in spite of her kitchen
work-all in vain, until black
sleeyed arm was reached over hers,
and pleasant voice said:
ALLOW me, please. My hands are
stronger than yours"
Elsie looked up, and met the gaze
of fine pair of dark eyes, belonging
to her neighbor.
The window was quickly raised,
and Elsie thanked him, as the well
come air rushed in. They chatted a
little now, politely, as travellers may
do, and Elsie decided that he was
very pleasant for a passing acquaint-
ance.
Before long the girl in the next
seat fell asleep, her little curly head
humping about uneasily. In an in
stant Elsie had unstrapped her
shawl, and, rising, slipped it under
the small brown head.
rs she travelling under your care?'
asked the stranger.
oh, nol | never saw the little girl
before
But she is so little to be all alone,
and her head did bump 30 ? said the
stranger.
she can rest easier now.
The stranger said no more, and as
Elsie was busilv folding up her
shawl straps, she did not see the
glance of earnest admiration which
he gave her nor knew that the out
spoken thought of his heart would
have been:
You good, kind hearted little
girl
When they stopped for refresh
ment, the stranger helped Elsie out
and escorted her to the room. AS
they were leaving their seats, he said
to her:
Suppose we take your little friend
here, too p
oh, yesr assented Elsie, flashing
him bright glance of approval.
So they took the little thing, and
brought her back warmed and fed,
to resume her journey. And it was
a pity some good angel could not
have whispered to the anxious moth
er, who, in the distant city, feared
for her child's lonely journey, what
kind of hands the little one had fall
len into.
On ratified the train, until about
the middle of the afternoon, there
was heavy jar, a kissing, crashing
noise, and the train. perfect wreck,
lay over an embankment, with its
living freight.
At first Elsie was so stunned and
startled that she was conscious OF
nothing, heard nothing except means
and cries mingled with the jingle of
glass and the sound of es-
Gaping steam. Then her senses
seemed to return. and she was try
ing to raise herself to her feet, when
strong arms lifted her, and the voice
of the stranger friend said:
Steady, now | think can get
you out safely. Are you hurt?'
No; | think not. | don't feel |
any injury
'Are?-oh you arep as, looking
up, she saw that his forehead was
bleeding.
oh, that is nothing! A mere
scratch with a piece of broken glass,
said the stranger, smiling at her hor-
rified tone.
Il hope it will prove so, answered
little Elsie.
oh our poor little girl Where is
she?'
/ don't know.
Thank you for remembering her.
We will find her,
Put me down, please, l can walk |
now
Let me help you,' pleaded Miss
Elsie.
He obeyed her, and they found
the little creature lying upon brok-
en- seat, moaning with pain. The
carried her out, and laid her
upon spot of dry grass, and after
slight examination, told Elsie that
her arm was broken, and one side
bruised.
There chanced to be two or three
in the ill-fated train, and
they gave their best skill to the
wounded, our little girl among the
rest. Elsie held her in her lap |
while the little arm was set and
bandaged, and then laid her on the |
hastily prepared bed in the station,
near which the accident had happen
ed, and watched over her, assisted
by the strange gentleman, who SEEM
ed now like an old acquaintance.
When the train which was to carry
them on arrived, Elsie said:
4 shall not leave this little thing
until she is with her grandfather.
She has told me where she was go
ing. 1t is little off my route, but l
am going with her.
so am /, added the stranger, with
his pleasant smile. Humanity al
lows me to do as much as l can, in
spite of conventional rules. I ap-
point myself to take care of both of
you, and you need not fear to trust
me-
Il do not and l thank you,' rel