The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-09-11
TOMS DANGER SIGNAL:


by Which Threatened and Terrible Dis
aster Was Avoided.
A queer little house, perched on a
mountain ledge like an eagles nest,
that looked as if it would certainly
blow away the first time strong wind
came. That was where Tom lived
with his father. A lonely place olive,
a couple of miles from the nearest
neighbours; but Tom never thought
any thing about that until he fell and
broke his leg in one of his cunning
expeditions. After that it was a very
hard trial to the boy to be shut up
alone all day. Every morning, few
hours after his father had gone away
for the day, kind neighbor came over
ana cared for his wants, putting every
thing that he might need just where
he could get it without getting up, but
after that Tom was alone till after
night-fall.
Tom had very little to help him while
away the hours that seemed so inter
minably long. Now and then his faith
er, who was the engineer of train.
brought him some papers, which the
good-natured conductor had gathered
up for the sick boy from the seats
where the passengers had left them when
they had read them. Then Tom was
learning telegraphy, and he could click,
click away on his little instrument, and
practice himself in sending suppose
hous messages over an imaginary
wire. In the evening when his father
came home, they talked together on
the little instrument for the sake of
practice, and Tom felt sure that he
would be ready to apply for the position
OF telegraph operator at the little sta
tlon Just below. as soon as he should be
well.
I'm afraid we're going to have
rough weather to-day, my boy" said
Tom S father one morning, as he stood
IN the door and watched the threaten
ing clouds, while the bacon was cheerily
sizzling in the frying pan on the stove.
lyon won't be afraid here all by
yourself, will you?"
mo, indeed; | won't be afraid"
answered Tom, "but l do wish nv leo
would hurry up and get WELL You
don't know how lonely it is here all
day by myself, father
81 know it must be, Tom, but try
not to be impatient. You'll be around
soon now, if you don't put yourself
back by using your leg too soon.
Tom looked after his father with a
sigh, as after breakfast he strobe away,
his heavy footsteps making the dry
twigs and leaves crackle as he walked
along.
Another long, lonely day was before
him, and he was already heartily tired
of his imprisonment. All day long the
clouds grew darker and the wind
shrleked and moaned more dismally |
IS it swept through the tall pines. and |
rs the windows shook and ratified now
and then as if a giant hand had siezed |
them, Tom grew little apprehensve
IN spite OF his promise not to be afraid. |
From the cottage window he could |
look down on a long stretch of the rail |
road that came around curve and |
swept along the side of the mountain.
crossed a bridge over the rocky gorge,
and then vanished into the trees again |
around another curve.
just after dark his fathers train al
ways came in sight, and Tom loved to
watch the bright headlight as it sped
along. He had little set of signals
which his father understood, and when
the train reached certain place he al
ways waved his lamp, hid it for an in
slant and waved it again, as a signal
that all was well. Then the locomotive
would utter shrill, piercing whistle,
and that was his fathers answer.
Toward the close of the afternoon
the wind almost amounted to q hurri-
cane, and the rain poured down so