The Irish standard., 1886-04-24
CHILD-FAITII.


I arrived at the station at the appointed
hour. Ientered, or rather was thrown by
en- attendant, into the car nearest to me.
The door was quickly shut. The whistle
was blown and we were off.
Curiously enough the car was not
crowded. l formed the fifth passenger.
Two of the corners were occupied, one by
an officer and the other by q civilian.
Facing rne was q woman about 80 years
old, neatly and modestly dressed, and
beside her sat the most beautiful little
child ever saw-a little girl about years
cid, with flood OF blonde curls waving
under her immense straw hat. Now and
then the child would look through the win
dow in the direction OF the engine, and
then her eyes seemed to wander in the in
finite space that was unrolling itself before
her. We cune to q station. The train
stopped. The little girl put her face to
the window. q don't see him.; Then
suddenly her face frightened and ner eyes
lit with golden hues, shining with inde-
scribable Joy, while her lips camee ?own
upon two hands that came from the ex-
terror and were placed upon the frame Of
the open window. 't.Ah, papa! Here is
papa!' exclaimed my little neighbor, with
the exuberant and innocent JOY of her
years.
1t was the engineer of our train, who
had come to speak TO his little daughter
and his wife. who was seated in front Of
me.
eve must make mp for lost tine,' re-
piled the man. 'Were you afraid,
Jeanne?"
"tNo," said the cbilti "because I knew
that you were driviDg.'
s:Wcll by-by,' said the man, as he left.
DWELL, by-by, papa" said the child,
throwing him kiss
The train started and gradually reached
an extraordinary speed. / worship little
children end I began TO examine the little
one in front Of me. She was full Of life
and good hunor. She amused herself
with everything and nothing, cajoling with
her mother, inquisitive with the window,
and severe with her doll She WAS carry
ing on thousand different conversations
all ct once, and with a noise that was
almost deafening, VIXEN suddenly the
gentleman III the other corner exclaimed :;
:sDecideCly we are going too fast. The
train will surely run off the ;rack!'
s'Oh, don't be ;lfltt,1,' said the child
seriously, '',Gapa is driving"
The officer VI, as reading. He looked out
of the window, and then resumed his
reading without making any observation,
The other gentlemen again began to talk
The officer closed his hook and stretched
himself along the seat 's} would not
advise you ;.l to do the same" said he.
with the greatest GOODNESS. eff you keep
seated your legs will be smashed. Re-
member the Versailles accident"
This is certainly Madness" he con-
tinued Yes madame, he sud, address
ing the lady, " your husband is either
drunk Or crazy"
"Oh, SIR" said the lady, 'my husband
never gets drunk. You saw him @ little
while ago. Certainly the train is going
at furious rate. don't understand it,"
Indeed the train was running at ter
rifying rate. What in the world could
the engineer mean by such d,iving?"
.I am afraid?'' said the citizen, white
with terror.
Then the officer took me aside. Here is
my name and address, said ne. eff
am killed OF mortally wounded in the
accideut TO which we are running and yon
escape, promise me now that you will
carry these dispatches without moments
delay to the general whose name you will
find by opening this euvelope.''
promised.
The woman took the child il her arms
and covered her little face with tears and
kisses. She seemed to wish to make a.
rampant OF herself to protect the little one
against the frightful smasl-up that was
nomen tarily expected.
II an, not afraid" said the child. smil-
ingly; sspapa is drivillg' aud she alone
among the passengers ci the .car, and
doubtless size alone among all ON board
the train, lad faith and confidence. We
could hear in the other cars cries of terror
and wnilings of despair, and, in spite Of
the mother the child leaned out Of the
window in the back door a1t! shouted ont
with all the force of her little lungs:
.Don't be afraid: papa is drisingr' All!
that sweet little girl, in the general terror,
was a tower OF strength, with that sacred
love Of a child for a father--an affection
that nothing can break down.
Gradually the train slowed and came
to standstlll. We were at Il station.
The engineer came TO The door. 1--WE
have been going very fast" said he, ''but
at all hazards we must get to Reins be~
fore the Prussians, That we must do at
the risk of being blown up Or smashed to
pieces OH the Way. IN tOld thaE we are
carrying important dispatches" and he
looked at his little girl with tears in his
eyes.
sGive me your hand" said the officer.
'tYou are brave fellow. 1t is / who have
the dispatches stE.n route" then said
the man, and he gave parting glance at
the fairy form of his child, AS if to bid her
farewell. But Jeanne was not afraid;
and, moreover, nobody in our compart
ment was afraid any longer. We knew
that we We're rjsking our lives for our
country, and that satisfied us. AS for the
train, it recommended its furious race.
This was III the mouth Of September,
1870, on the Eastern line
The Watch Was Loaded.
Herr Hager, the wealthy banker, is &