New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-09-04
FAITHFUL AND TRUE.

IA LIZ IL AM L NO L.
1.-THE Young man you met at the
gate, sir? Yes, that is my SONNY
boy Jack.
You noticed the scars on his face,
and thought maybe, that they spoilt
features meant to be handsome?
''Ah sir! that was because you did
not know. Why, those red marks
make him mere beautiful to me now
than when baby in my arms, with
yellow curls and laughing eyes and a
skin like q rose leaf, the people hurry
ing in and out of the train would turn
to look and smile at him, and praise
him to each either, speaking low, may
be, but not too low for q mothers quick,
proud ears to hear
For we lived in a little house close
by the station, aud when I heard the
whistle of his fathers tn IL, I used to
snatch the boy from his cradle or off the
floor, where he sat with his little play
things. and run down to the farther
end of the long depot where the engine
always halted to get the smile and
loving words that my heart lived on all
day.
Mot the least bit afraid was the baby
OF all the wnistting and changing of
bells, the grooming of the wheels and
putting of the steam He would laugh
and spring so in my arms that 1 could
scarcely hold him. till his father would
reach down sometimes and lift him up
into the engineers cab and kiss him
for one precious minute and then toss
him down to me again.
when he grew a little older he was
never playing horse OF soldiers like the
other little fellows around; it was al
ways railroad train that he was driv-
ing. AL the smoothest strips of my
billets of kindling wood went to build
tracks over the kitchen floor, hither
and thlther, crossing and re-crossin o
each other
Don't move my switch, mother
dearH he used to cry out to me- You
might wreck my train for sure
SO I had to go softly about my work
with scarce q place sometimes to set nv
foot. And sll the chairs in the house
would be ranged for cars, the big rock
er, with the tea-beIl tied to its back for
the engine; and there he would sit
perched up By the hour, making believe
attend to the valves and SHOUTING TO
the fireman.
i shall never forget the first time
his father took him TO ride on the en-
CINE.
Jack had begged over and over to
go but his father always babe him to
wait until he was older. So I said:
Don't tease your father any more,
Jack, DEAR and like true little heart
that he was, he had not said another
word about it for matter of six months
or more.
--But that day such wistful look
came into his face, and he pulled HIM
self up tall and straight, and said.
quite softly, his voice trembling little,
Father. do you think l have grown
enough now?'
Looking at him, saw tears in his
pretty eyes. l think his father saw
them. too, for he turned to me in
hurry and said:
I'VE meet the up train at Laagton,
Mary, aud Will Brown will bring the
little chap back all straight, I know.
What do you say?'
What could say but yes2 At sup
per-time he was back, but he could not
eat His eyes we're like stars, and
there was a hot red spot on each cheek,
SO that feared he would be i'll And
thought he never would be done talk
ing but now he had said scarce word.
What was it like, Jackie?' / asked
him.
so, mother! he said, it wasn't like
anything!'
a.He sat for moment thinking. then
he said: Unless it was Ike-you read
last Sunday.
And what was that JACKIE in
guired, for had forgotten.
Don't you know. mother. The
wings of the wind!'
THAT was not his last ride on the
engine By many times. for as he grew
older. his father would take him often
on Saturdays or other half-ho1ldays.
He was perfectly trusty and obedient
- believe he would have had his right
hand cut off sooner than have meddled
with anything.
i.But he knew every valve and screw
and gauge, and watched every turn of
his fasher's hand, aud learned the sic.