St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-12-11
"OnIy "a Brakeman"
BY MRS. VI. 4. HOLT.

EY MRS. NJ. 4. HOLT.
"Only a brakeman heard some
one say, as saw number of mcu,
coming around the corner from the
depot, hearing with them something
that looked like II dead or wounded
man.
These railroad fellows get so care
less it is no wonder that they are
killed" the same voice said. aud then
the speaker walked inditlcrcntly away.
was not Indifferent. for had II boy
somewhere mt work upon the noisy
railroad train. He was a fireman.
while this fellow was Il brakeman. vet
the unfortunate stranger might be u
Young. warm-hearted boy like my
own.
''lIe cannot live" one of the men
said in Il husky voice.
"Both feet are cut off. and he is in
iured i'll other places. The switch was
wrong, and Charlie saw it. aud sue
ccedrd in righting it Just in time to
save a collision with the express. But
the engine was upon him before he
could get away. and 81 it all happened
in less than a minute another of the
railroad men explained.
4 physician came hurrying along.
and the wounded one was taken to his
boarding place. | caught Il glimpse of
his face as he was borne along. |
started as | saw it. for it was IA fair.
hoyish face, upon which the sunlight
of less than twenty years had fallen.
Another physician was called. and
the poor fellow was made as comforiu-
bile ~ possible ......
The railroad men fingered around the
open window, and one of them asked,
''Can Charlie live. doctor ?"
The physician did not answer, and
the question WAS not repeated.
ITO" bad too bad - Que of them
said in trembling voice.
"Charlic was Il good fellow, another
one replied, as his head dropped for Il
moment upon the window sill. "IIis
mother and sisters were all coming to
live with him in the little house upon
Vine street. lie told me so only yes
terday. and he was as happy as he
could well be-
went up nearer to the window to
hear more of the wounded brakeman.
and then all of the men became very
quiet, for Charlie was talking. He
WAS dclirious, however. get they eager
~ listened to his disconnected words.
BE sure and come, mother. and
briu@ Mary as well us Nellie. for | can
earn money enough to support you all
Mary need not work out any longer.
aud little Nell shall have the pretty
dress and red shoes she wanted. Come
here, Miss Nell, and tell me how Won
will like to live with brother Charlie 90
He stopped Il moment. and then
hogan to talk again. This time il was
of grassy meadows filled with butter
cups and daisies. He and little Nell
seemed to he wandering among the
grass and flowers beneath the bright
blue Of the June skies.
"lIrrr, Nell, just see these pretty
flowers Now you shall tell which are
the prettiest, the daisies. the butter
cups, or the meadow lilies - and then.
he laughed in his dciirium.
The rough looking men about TIN,
window wePt, and they did not try Ia
hide their tears from each other
The dying one suddenly rallied, and
looked about him. He saw the two
physicians and the h'acllencd faces ut
the window. 1t came 10 him in mo
ment, and he smiled little sadly.
Tell mother and Mary all about it.
Tell mother t." draw my back pay, and
there is some money in my trunk that
have saved up to begin to keep honSe
with. Tell her to get the dress and
shoes for little Neil, and he sure and
tell her that | read my bible every day.
and that trusted in Christ to- the
last
Again Charlie was delirious and be-.
gan to talk of the blue muunt;.ins and
the shining river near his own loved
home. Again the June bTeezrs PLAYED
their music abont him. and the golden
clouds of the sRmmer;day were tioated
over him and little Nell in the lovely
meadow.
1t was all over in little while, for
Charities face grew whittier Stili. and
his freed spirit went up to the sunny
city, where the noisy train is never
heard. The railroad men Wept anew.
and then one by one they went away.
The HeXt day the mother and sisters
came. Nobody was ahont the window. I
for the Meeting between the living aud
dead was too sacred to be witnessed bv /,
others. While going past | chanredfo
hear Il low sob and these words. ''Oii; !
my precious brotherIn "My faithful !
boy - ......
The railroad men gathered again as
Charlie was about to b@ placed upon
tile train 20 be taken to his humble
home ia Pennsylvania. One of them
placed letter in the hands Of the pale
mother.
"a little gift to you from us rail
rOaders.' he said in low voice 4.we
are sorry that it is not more, aud then !
he turned away, saying to himself:
Charlie WAS "a good fellow. a good
deal better: than We are.r
The letter contained a hundred dol 4
lars, which was carefully wrapped I
about with a dirty erumPled paper