The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-05-25
OLD COLLINS.


=
the frozen bridges screak. In the dense for
est no cry Of night hawk nor howl Of wolf
was heard. The night was terribly cold
and the ha wIcs, sensitive to a wind SO cut
ting, had sought the hollow Of the grooming
oak; and the wolf, though half famished,
growled and snarled in his cherries den.
s'The new year IS coming in with the chill
Of death, said Old Collins, the conductor,
holding his lantern between his knees and
picking at the wick with his knife.
Coming with both ears nipped of, B" re-
piled Bill Anderson, a brakeman, throwing
open the stove door and stirring up the fire
with poker.
Old Collins was peculiar man. For twenty
years he had been freight conductor. No
one ever heard him speak Of his family; no
one ever saw him laugh. The "boys" said
that he was a ''crank," and Anderson, in
his good natured way, often asked him why
he didn't go on the stage and play grim ira
gedy. One day, Old Collins, after reading
letter, tore the paper into small pieces,
threw the Tutoring handful toward the
door Of the caboose and said: THANK God -"
Anderson looked up and asked whats
the matter, old man g
Nothing"
Shortly afterward, when the train stopped
at a station, Anderson gathered up the
scraps of paper that had been blown back
from the doors, put them together and read,
''Died in this city last" This was all he
could make out; and as the old man entered
the car, he silly threw aside the bits Of
paper.
Since that time old Collins had seemed to
be more cheerful; still, no one ever heard
him laugh.
where do we stop nextF' asked Ander-
son.
''Finchley Creek replied the old man,
putting his lantern on the box beside him,
cup grade, too. / wish we didn't have to
stop any more tonight. This cold weather
hasn't helped my rheumatism any, let me
tell you"
Gregory" called Anderson to man who
sat nodding, you needn't go to sleep. Have
to go on top pretty SOON"
'There ought to be a law to prevent a
man goinP anywhere such a night as this"
replied Gregory. stretching himself
'1t's got to be done by somebody" said
the old man, taking up his lantern. Il
think myself that we'd all feel better in an
oyster saloon. Well, here we are, D." he added,
as the engine whistled.
"Any man who has any doubt about the
weather" said Collins when the train started
again, ''can have all doubts removed by
Anderson, who've you got thereT pointing
to an object wrapped in a blanket. lying on
the floor.
"a woman, sir"
Don't you know we are not allowed to
take passengersF
Eyes sir; but she begged 50 hard and
looked so cold and sick that / could not re-
fuse her"
That's all well enough Anderson, but
you know our orders. She must get off at
the next station
PLEASE don't" implored a weak voice, Il
believe I am dying now"
Her face was turned from the conductor,
who had sat down on a box near her. "They
wouldn't let me stay by the fire at the sta
ton, for the agents daughters we're cnsre."
"Who are youl" asked Collins.
Nobody, sir"
"Where is your home"
Nowhere"
"Have you no parents|
my mother died when l was small
''Where is your fathers"
further away from Collins, sobbed aloud.
"Where is your fatherg repeated the con-
ductor,
Another sob.
as he deadm
mo, sir; but he thinks I am. When
last saw him, years ago, he cursed me and
said that God was unjust for permitting me
to live. Some time ago I wrote to him,
signing another name 1 told him that his
daughter was dead"
The old man sprang to his fee; my
God, Pauline, " he exclaimed, my God, is it
yOul"
Dropping on his knees beside her, he raised
her and put his arms around her. For
time neither of them spoke. The wrinkles
in the old mans face down which the tears
were fast rolling, seemed, under the rays of
the lantern which Anderson was holding,
silvery drains Of a crushed hearts emotion.
Don't put me off, father; please don't"
Poor child, sobbed the old man. kissing
her. She put her arms around his neck.
The train whistIed but no signal was waved.
On through the bowling wind; on over
bridges that groaned.
''Bfr Collins, whispered Anderson, touch
ing the old man, ''she is dead. 'Mr Col
Inns, let us lay her down on the blanket"
The father and daughter in sitting pos
ture, were leaning bacl, against Gregory.
let us put her down, repeated Andor-
son, removing the old mans arms, All we
can do-great Lord, Gregory, they are
both dead Poor old man. Rheumatism
struck his heart"
When No A. ran from bowling, bitter
night into the glorious sunshine of new
day-anewy year, the father and the daughter
lay side by side. Yes the new year had
come in with the chill of death
OFTE p READ
LITTLE Rock. ARK,
Edmund Yates, telling of the time when
he received the news that some of his verses
had been accepted and would be published
in Ainsworrh's Magazine, says: There
was low in our little household that day
there was ecstacy two days later when the
proof arrived j would not trust the pre-
cious paper to the post but delivered 1t my
self to Mr. Somebody, the first printer, who
received me with a Multiplying smile. But
what did that mltteri Was / not already
'one of thsmF Was there not work of mine
actually in typsl Let long-haired Reach
and compIacent Shirley Brooks look t.
themselves had started on my career,