Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-21
1syARTLING EXPERIENCE
BY FLORENCE WELDON.

ny FLORENCE WELDON.
Josie Mcclure was always plncky.
Every one said SO, and what every one
ssys is pretty apt to have some truth in
Il. She was plucky from the hour OF
her birth, when, a poor, puny, post.
hurous little creature, she was sent into
,he world to assuage the sorrow of a
half heart broken widow-mother-a
delicate creature whose near friends
were few and whose were
slender. +
Josie grew up the delight of her
mothers heart. A quick-witted, little,
,ed-headed t%ermagant, some were
pleased to term her, but these were,
asa rule, such of her schoolmates who
had cause to fear her wrath for misdo-
ings Of their own. Big boys who tor
mentea their smaller brethren and girls
who stopped to petty meannesses were
Josie's special detcstation. But Josie's
school life could not last as long as that
Of most girls. 1t came upon her all at
once one day that she had a mission in
the world, namely to assist in providing
for herself and her mother. 1 shall al
ways believe that I first put the notion
IN her head to become a telegraph oper-
stor. She used to come up to the de-
pot Of that sleepy village nearly every
day Oh her way home from school and
watch me at my work. I was station
master, train-dispatcher and general
operator all in one.
Il don't think I could ever learn to
send q MESSAGE" she said one day, as
she stood watching me.
"0h. yes, you could" 1 answered.
I'm fact, | think you'd soon become All
expert"
She looked up sharply with her
bright, red-hazel eyes.
What makes you think SOP" .
"loar quick nature and good sense
said. Il don't believe you'd ever
lose YOUR head
No; | am pretty cool. Remember
when Crittenden's horse ran away with
Trace and ME? I made Grace drop
cut over the rear Of the wagon. Nei-
Their OF us was scratched. I was just
as cool that moment as I am now.
Trace was screaming murder
II you had o position like mine," I
laughed, there wouldn't be much to
scare you. It's all 1 can DO to keep
aVake-some days.
I'd rather go farther west" said
Josie.
Briefly, it happened to suit her.
She took . few lessons Of me. I gave
aeF something Of a start. Then she
went to the city and took q regular
course Of instruction. The next I
Ane* she had been assigned to a sta
s.on ooO miles further toward the set
'ng sun, Der mother and herself re-
Moved at once from our midst, and Josie
was lost to me, save for a sparkling little
eplst1e used to receive every week or
zen days detailing her various expert
ences.
I'm sure don't know how 1 should
Lave gotten on without her letters, L
INSECT her so at first. 1t turned fright
,"'N "ail and sleepy at my station, but
managed to keep awake and attend to
'''''gs as they deserved. Several
-'os'hs passed. Winter slipped away
'i' spfang moved along slowly. Jo-
: , letters came regularly to gladden.
NY heart.
haven't much excitement out here
s''' wrote. No Indians and only an
nsSaslonal train-robbery. No smash
nss' 10 collisions, nothing lively. Not
T .11S messages. Sometimes I think
:, "eali you up and chat a little; then
ns roundabout way puts me out of
lake u vacation and visit us
Mother will be SO glad to see
ROT ones crazy about her chickens,
l''s an enormous number. And
,ho luck! They're always falling into
No,S So''-soap key or something else.
t,r cfs health is just splendid. As
Al. ne I've gained fifteen pounds"
was This that put the notion in my
,,n obtained a substitute and took
'ac"'lon in early June.
.ra" evening of the next day I
Wis., from the way train at the town
tbn Josie and her mother lived-at
fixture. 'oa'e nefse1 "~'
wara AAa little figure came running to-
~e' 1t was she. She had on a