South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-06-06
THEINTELLiGENCER
FRIDAY. JUNE G, 1890.
Papa is Driving"

pointed hour. ! entered or rather
was thrown by an attendant into the
car ncares, TO me-. The door was
quickly slut. The whistle was blown
and We were of.
CAUTIOUSLY enough the car was
crowded. ! formed the 9th psssen-
ger. Two OF the corners were occu-
pied, one BY an officer and the other
by civilian. Facing me wss a wo-
man, about thirty years old, neatly
and moces'ly d-essed, aud beside her
sat the most besui u, little child |
ever saw-a little girl about six years
old, with a food OF blonde curls way.
ing un'ler her immense straw hat.
Now AMI then the Child would look
through the window in the dirgc ION
of the engine, and then her eyes seem .
Ell to wander in the iuti ni'e spsce that
was unroll ng itself before her. We
came 10 q station. The train stopped
Tue little ri put bei face 10 the win !.
dow. i don't see him. Then sud
denly her fac, frightened and b T
eyes lat with golden hues. shining with
indescr babe JOY, while her lips came
down upon two hands that came fiom
the exterior AMI we're planted upon
the frame Of the open window. 'Ah,
papa! Here is papag exclaimed my
little neighbor with the exu1erart
and innocent JOY Of her six years.
1t was tue engineer of our train,
who had come to speak to his little
daughter and his wife, WHO were seat
ed in front OF me.
We are going very fast, said The
woman.
We must N he rr for lost time
replied the man. Were you afraid
Jeane p
NO. said the child, because !
knew that you were driving
We'll. by-bye, said the man as
he lett.
'Bye.bye, papa said the Chilli,
throwing herself into his arms.
The train arted and gradually
reached sn extraordinary speed. l
worship children, aud ] began to ex.
anime the little one in front or me.
She was full of life and gond humor.
She amused herself with everything
and nothing cajoling with bar moth.
er, inquisilive with tue window, sc
we're with her doll. She was carry
ing on a thousand different converse
tons oil at once, and vi b q noise that
was almost deafening. when sudden.
ly the gentleman in tue other coraer
exclaimed:
Decidedly We are going TOO fast.
The train will surely run off the
track
oh, don't be afraid said the cLild
SERIOUSLY; papa is driving
The officer Vas reading. He look
ell out OF the window. and then re-
sumod his reading without making
any observation.
The ot!.er gentleman again began
TO talk.
This is certainly Madness sail
he. Yes, madam he continued, al
dressing the lady, your husband is
either drunk or crazy
On, sir said the lady, my hus.
band never gets drunk. You cav him
little while ago. certainly the train
IS going at furious rae. 1 done
quite understand tt
The officer closed his book and
stretched himself along the seat. q
would advise you TO do tue same. II
you keep seated your legs will he
smashed. RIM mber the Yersile4
accident.
Certainly The train was running NJ
terrifying rate. What IN the world
could the engineer mean by such
driving. / am afraid ! said the cit :
zen, white with terror.
Then the officer took me aside.
Here is my name and address, said
be. If sm killed or MORALLY
wounded in the accident TO which We
are running, and you escape, promise
me { ow hat you will carry these dis
! patches without a moments delay to
the General whose name you viii. find
by opening this envelope.
/ promised.
The " man took the child in her
arms and covered her little face with
tears and kisses. She seemed TO wish
10 make rampant OF herself TO pro-
tect the little one against tue fright
ful smash-up that Was momentarily
/ expected.
u am not afraid, said the child,
smiling, papa is driving And she
alone among all ON board tie train
had faith and confidence. We could
hear IN the other cars cries OF terror
and Wailings Of despair, and in spite
OF the mother, the CHILD leaned out Of
the window IN the back door and
shouted out With all the force Of it's
little lungs; 'Don't be afraid; papa
is driving. All THAT sweet little girl,
IN the general terror, was tower or
rength With thst s4cre love of a
child for a father-an affection that
nothing can break down.
Gradually the train slowed and
then came TO a stsnis till. We were
at q station The engineer came to
Tue door.
We have been gCing verv fast,
said he. But At all hazards We must
get TO Reims before the Prussians.
That we must do at the risk Of being
blown mp or smashed TO pieces on the
wa7. I'm told We are carrying impor.
Naut At.r.tcL.. - - A.