The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-08-08

gion. o dear what could such little
fellow do? All his pomposity had van
ished. He now felt himself to be very
small boy indeed II his mother would
only come. Patsy was one of those
boys who believe in their mother, and
he felt sure she would know Just what
to do. But she didn't appear. Patsy
got up and stepped carefully to tho
door Looking up the track he could
see the forms of two tramps disappear
ing rapidly. He looked about for some
one to WHOM he could tell his fear.
But no one was in sight. He climbed
up to the ticket window and looked at
the clock. He had just learned to tell
the time OF day. 1t was five minutes
past five, and the long, crowded, mount
ain express train was due at six!
Then Patsy had an inspiration.
Without stopping to put on the ragged
straw hat, which reposed gracefully on
the depot floor, he started down the
track, towards the bridge, on the keen
run. A mile is long way for an
eight-year- boy to run under hot
sun; but Patsy's courage never failed
him, although for the last quarter of
mile before he reached the bridge his
speed tagged a little.
! The cows which grazed in the pasture
along his route, stopped eating to gaze
in mild-eyed wonder at the diminutive
youth who went flying along so wildly;
and Patches old cross critter' bel
lowed furiously at the sight of his
bright red stockings, and ran after
him. But there was a fence between
them, and besides Patsy did not notice
the creature. His energies were all
bent on reaching the Perry Bridge be-
fore the six o'clock train was due!
Coming to the last curve in the road,
Patsy, at last, caught sight of the bridge.
So far as he could see, it was all right.
Perry's Bridge was long uncovered
bridge which ran across the edge of
small, marshy pond. If train should
be wrecked on it, there was no telling
what might be the sacrifice of life and
limb,
Patsy stopped blankly. Perhaps he
had expected to see the bridge half torn
up though if he had it is hard to say
how he could have helped matters At
first he felt that he had been the victim
of some mistake, but as he heard the
faint whistle of the train down the val
ley, second inspiration came to him,
and he said to himself: 'I'm goin'
, over that bridge"
, He sat down and hastily pulled off the
heavy shoes which had nearly blistered
his feet Between you and me, it would
, have been very wise proceeding if he
| had pulled them off before he started at
, all, but he did not think of that, and
t perhaps you and | wouldn't, even if we
| had had the courage to start at all.
} But in less time than it has taken me
, to write it, Patsy was out on the bridge,
: walking swiftly in his stockinged feet.
Pretty soon the water beneath his
r feet looked so black and so far below
| him, and something in his head seemed
r to be swimming around so-fast, that he
| had to lean over and grasp the slender
e iron railing. But he did not give it up.
e He stopped and looked down the track.
, There it was! For some little distance
4 the rails had all been torn up in the
middle of the bridge!
: The sight increased Patsy's speed. He
e scrambled over the bridge, too fast now
l to think of the dark water so far below
p him. or of anything but the express
G train, which he could hear rumbling
n toward him out of sight
1 There! He can see it. A tiny speck
away down the straight track, it comes,
: steadily growing larger He hurrics
Y off the bridge and little way down the
S track. He must stop the train and
n VAIN them. And how? The approach
5 ing train grows larger as it comes near
er, and screeches as if it delighted in
a the horror that was so near.
q Then Patsy had his third inspiration.
Y Quick as a flash, the little fellow pulled
G off his red stockings, and taking one in
e each hand, ran down the track, frantic
n ally waving them over his head. The
d train came rushing on like live thing,
nearer and nearer. Oh! would they
d never stop or would they see the signal!
h The boy fairly leaped up in his ex
IS element, and those two red stockings
t. made more effort to attract attention
e than they ever had while walking tc
d church-and that is saying good deal
as Patsy himself will own. But the
VI ldob CllOlb was a GuSOboos anu bhS VI oAA
t. with great ''fuzz'' and 'shoo, shoe
1T ing" whfstled for brakes, and came
If to a sudden stop.
- When a moment later, the conductor
and the excited passengers came rush
,e ing out, they saw nothing more danger
ii Gus ahead than a little freckled-faced
boy, who bashfully told his strang,
m story. But afterward. after dozens o
II them, including the Superintendent o
p. the road, had been down, and exam
re ined the bridge, why then good time
began for Patsy!
r, And could not begin to tell you HOY
ut he was petted and made much of b
ht the ladies, or praised by the gentlemen
" And such stores of candy and all sort
It of goodies as that boy had stuffed int
10 his pockets, his hands, and first of al
his mouth, till he seemed to be full an
+. running over with them!
at When a few hours afterwards, Oh