The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-04-04
AslEse Al rms s,zrrca.
81 oEoaan noxY,

||
The frst thing I rsmember was Carlo tueglng
With the sleeve 81. my coat fast In his teeth
pulling - ,nutcn g to say;
Think Of the sonls in the coming train and the
graves you are sending them to;
think Of the mother whose babo is 1T rest, think
sfthe father aud son:
Think Of the lover and loved one, too; think Of
them do med every one
To fall las 1t we're by your very hand into Won
fathomless ditch,
Numbered by one who should guard them from
harm. who now lies asleep at the (Which. "
! srrang up amazed scarce knew where I stood
slesp had o'erinaatercd me so;
1 could hear the wind dismally bowling aud the
deep ttver dashing below.
4 could Lear the forest leaves rustlipg as the
trees by the tempest We're famed,
Hut What was that noise in the distance! That
I heard 1t ut first indistiMctly, like the rolling
Of some unified drum;
Then nearer and nearer 1t came to me. till 1t
made my very ears hum.
What ia that light that surrounds me, and
j, seems to set fire to my brain?
what Whistles that yelling 40 shrill? An!
know nOw-it's the train.
We often stand facing some danger, and seem to
take root to the place
80 stood-with this demon before us, its
heated breath scorching my face.
It's headlight made day Of the darkness, and
glared like the eyes Of some witch;
The train was almost upon me before I remem.
bered tho switch.
I sprang to IT, seizingi it wildly, the train dashed
fast down the track
The switch resisted my efforts; somc devil
seemed holding 1t back,
On, on came the fiery-eyed monster, ind SHOT
by my face like q flash.
1 swooned to the earth the next moment, and
knew nothing after the crash.
How long I lay there unconscious twas impos
sible for me to tell.
MY m ssalo : T Ss,; almost a heaven-my waking al
Ford then heard the piteous moaning and the
snfieking OF husbands and wives,
Ana ! thopght Of the day we all shrink from
Mothers rushed by me. like maniacs, their eyei
glaring madly and wild;
Fathers losing their courage, gave way to theil
Children searching for parents, 1 noticed as b,
And lips that could form naught but .Mamma'
were calling for one perhaps dead.
My mind was made up in a moment; the rive,
:. should hide me away,
When under the still burning rafters 1 suddenl.
noticed there lay
A little white hand; she who owned it wa,
doubtless an object Of love
10 one whom her loss would drive frantic, tho
she guarded him now from above.
1 tenderly lifted the rafters and quietly la,
them one side.
k1OW uCCi0 6ne th0uBnt Oh ller Journey Wn0n Snl
left for this dark. fatal ride!
L lifted the last log from off her, and Will,
searching for some spark of life,
Turned her little face MP in the starlight anl
recognized Maggie. my wife!
oh, Lord! thy scourge ia n hard one, at a blov
thou has shattered my pride;
Ny life will be one endless nightmare, with Mag
gle away from my side.
How often I'd sat down and pictured the scene
In our long, happy life.
How I'd strive all my lifetime to build up
home for my wife;
How people would envy us always, in our coz!
and neat little nest;
How I should do all of the labor, and Maggie
should all the day rest;
H " one Of Gods blessings might cheer us, hov
some day I ptrhaps should be sick
But all of my hopes have been shattered Will
laid there asleep at the switch.
Ifancied I stood on my trial, the jury aud judg
1 could see,
Aud every eye in the court room was steadil.
fixed upon me.
And fingers were pointed in scorn, till I felt M,
face blushing blood red.
And the next thing | heard the words, sHanges
by the neck until dead.r
Then I felt myself pulled once again, and III,
hand caught tight hold of a dress,
And I heard, what's the matter, dear Jim
you've had q bad nightmare, / guess!"
An there stood Maggie, my wife, with never
scar from the ditch.
I'd been taking a nap in my bed, and had no
been asleep at the switch"