Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-23

Engineer Conner was brought home in a
CaDoose, both legs mashed and an arm
gone, while his engine lay in ruined
heap under a broken bridge just beyond
the Tennessee river.
Every man had jumped but he-fire-
man, brakeman, all but Jack.
Jump, Conner, for your life, - the
fireman had called to him when the tim
beers began to crack.
And the man had laid his hand upon
the throttle and said:
'You forget | IN an engineer. -
And there he stood until the crash
came.
He was not quite dead when the boys
found him, and all the time they were
working with him he was praying. Just
for life to get home, they heard him
whisper ''Jnst long enough to get home
and die with my wife and boy
His prayer was granted; he reached
home and the two he loved best on God s
earth. Just before he died he reached
for his pocketbook under his pillow and
handed IT TO his wife.
:'It is all I've got, Annie, - he said.
''I wish it was more, wife. -
Then he laid his hand on the little head
with its crown of yellow ourls pressing
his pillow. He seemed to forget the boy
was only baby.
"Jack,'' he said, "I leave your
mother to you. Take care of her, my
man.
Then his mind seemed to wander; he
was on the engine one moment, the next
with his family again.
1.-THE company will do something for
you by and by, Jack - he said, land
olr -
that any man in time of danger may
desert, any man but the engineer. He
must ck-stick-stick-to his post,
Jack. -
The hand on the boys head grew
heavy; the little fellow ohoked back his
sobs and laid one hand tend rly on his
fathers brow. The dying engineer
opened his eyes and smiled.
''Stick TO the engine and stand by
your mother, jack he whispered.
The hand on the boys head grew cold,
and when they lifted it and laid it back
upon the dead mans breast Jack turned
to his mother.
There was no childish outbuTst of grief;
only an awakening, as 1t seemed, of the
young manhood in him as he opened his
arms.
"Here I am, MOTHER he said, and
she understood.
1t was then Jacks life began in ear
nest. The pet name of "Baby Jaok' no
longer trembled upon his mothers lips.
She called him instead ''My son "My
boy, - or else twas "Mother's man. -
So is the heart wont to clothe with
strength that which it leans upon.
She trusted him entirely, aud his quick
mind recognized it.
The prohibition no longer confined him
to the wood pile, but every morning when
the whistle sounded the cottage door
would open, the gate click, and pair of
bright stockings fash for a moment in
the sunlight as a pair of nimble legs
went hurrying down to the platform.
"Pies! pies! fresh pies and cakes!"
He had turned peddler. Such a tiny,
industrious little peddler as he was, too,
and with so many rough bearded, warm
hearted friends among the trainmen.
Jack 3 business was bound to flourish.
One day the red stockings went dane
Ing down to the platform with unusual
speed, SO fast indeed that his mother,
who was following, had scarcely reached
the platform when No. pulled up, and
Engineer Robinson dropped from his
engine and caught the boy in his arms
and tossed him up to the fireman.
''Catch the little engineer, Sam"
he shouted. - "'I've promised to let
him run No. to-day
There was happy little langh, aud
then a vision of golden ourls at the
window.
"Mother, motherl Can you spare me
a whole day?''
She smiled and nodded.
"I'n come back at $40" (the wheels
began TO turn) "and the wood is in,
mother, " (the train was moving) "and
the kindling THE rattle of the cars
drowned his voice. box full'' chow the
steam roaredI Not one word Of what he
was saying could reach her now, but he
talked on, and when the steam ceased to
roar. and the train glided smoothly out.