The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-02-19
CHILD-FAITH.


arrived at the station 81 the appointed
hour. I entered, OF rather was thrown By
an attendant, into the car nearest 20 me
The door was quickly shut. The whistle
was blown and we were on
Curiously enough the car was noa
crowded. I formed the firth passenger.
Two Of the corners were oCcup pied. one by
an officer and the other by civilian
Facing me was woman about so yesrs
old, neatly and modestly dressed, and
beside her sat the most beautiful little
child ever ssw-a little girl about years
old, with a flood of blonde curls waving
under her Immense straw hat Vow and
then the child would look through the win
dow Ia the direction OF the engine, and
then her eyes seemed TO wander in the in
finite SPACE that was unrollinE itself before
her We came 20 a station The train
stopped. The little girl put her face 70
the window. Il don't sec him. Then
suddenly her face Frightened and her eyes
lit with golden hues. shining with inde-
scribable JOY, while her lips came down
upon two hands that came from the eX-
terror and were placed upon the frame Of
the open window. "Ah, papal Here Is
papaln exclaimed my little ueighbOr, with
the exuberant and innocent joy Of her 8
years
Il WAS the engineer Of our train who
had come 10 speak 20 his little daughter
and his wife, who was seated In frOnt Of
me.
I'VE must make Up for lost time, re-
piled the man. Were you afraid
Jeannes"
no" said the child, sfbecause knew
that you were driving
.sWen, by-by." said the man. as he left.
'.Weu, by-by, papa" said the shild
( throwing him a kiss.
/ The train started and gradually reached
/ an extraordinary speed worship little
children, and began 70 examine the little
one IN front Of me. She was full OF life
/ and good humor. She amused herself
/ with everything and nothing, csjoling with
/ her mother inuuisitive with the window
/ and severe with her doll She was carry
/ ing on a thousand different conversations
/ ell at once, and with a noise that was
/ almost deafening, when suddenly the
/ gentleman ia the other corner eNclaimeds
DECIDEDLY, we are going too fast The
train viii surely run OF the trackri
"Oh don't be afraid said the child,
seriously, papa is driving"
The officer was reading. He looked out
Of the window, and then resumed his
! reading without making any observsuQn,
The other gentlemen again began TO talk.
The officer closed his book and stretched
himself along the seat Il would not
advise you all 70 do the same" said he.
with the greatest cooiuess. IL you Keep
seated your legs VII be sVnasbBd- Re
member the Verssillr- accident
This is certainly madness he con-
ttuued Yes, madame, he said, address
tng the lady, +" your husband is either
drunk CT crazy"
.aOh, sir" said the lady, ''my husbanS
never gets drunk You saw him Estie
while ago. Certainly the rain IS going
at furious rate. / don't understand It. /"
Indeed the trstR was running a. a ter
T1fytng rate. What in ths world could
the engineer mean by such driVing'
4 am sff4idy" said the citizen, white
With terror,
Then the OTflcer took me aside Here is
my name and address" said he. of
am killed OF mortally wounded in the
accident 70 which We ar vunning and you
escape. promise me now Inai S0u VI
carry these dispatches without Il rnOment's
delay 20 the general whose name you win
find by opening this envelope"
promised.
The woman took the child n her arms
and covered her little face with tears and
kisses. She seemed 70 wish % make q
rampant Of herself 70 protect the little one
against the frightful smash-up shat was
homentarly expected
Il am not afraid said the child smil-
tngly; papa is driving" And she alone
emong the passengers Of the car, and
doubtless she alone among all on bpard
the train, had faith and confidence We
could hear fl the Other cars cries Of terror
and wailfngs OF despair, and, IN spite of
the mother, the child leaned out Of the
window in the back deor and shouted out
with all the force Of her little lungs
Don't be afraid; papa Is driyingr' Ahl
that sweet little girl, IN the general terror
was tower OF strength, with that sacred
love Of g child for a father-an affection
that nothing can break down.
Gradually the ,rgin slowed and Taue
q stHrdztiu We w5re at a station
The engineer cene 10 The dQor. I'VE
have been going very fsst, ' said be- ibut
q all bRzar5s We mVst get 10 Reims be
lore the PrGsEiaus Thai we must do az
the risk Of being blown up OF smashed 70
pieces on the way, I'm told that we are
carrying important Dispatches and he
looked at his little girl with tears in his
eyes
Give me your hand" said the oficer.
''Gou are a brave fellow Il Is I who have
the dispatches" nEu routel'' then said
the man, and he gave a parting glance AZ
the fairy form Of his child as 81 20 bid her
. farewell But Jeanne was not afraid
and, moreover nobody in our Compart.
ment was afraid any longer. We knew
that we were risklug Our lives FOR ouI
country, and that satisfied us. As for the
train, Il recommended its furious race.
, This was in the month Of september
1870, on the Eastern line.