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

CLOCK, JACK, MS nioSneA saiu as SIG
| kissed his cheek. IL De sure to come
on that train unless something happens
ssI,lI be here, MOTHER said Jack
$40 every train until you come -
The sun still shone when the train came
IN mt noon. Jack thought the whistle
sounded mournful, somehow, and the
engine stsloyed up'' sooner than usual =,
an that the train came in slow aud solemn
like.
And the telegraph operator had laid
his hand in a very gentle way on the
bows head as he hurried past him. And
Engineer Robinson never once looked out
70 sneak to him. The fireman, too,
tnrned his face the other way and was
busy with his shovel. The brakeman
leaned on his brake and rever lifted his
ewes as the cars pulled up. Jack thought
it all very strange.
"Here am, mother.
The conductor cleared his throat when
the well-known welcome rang through
the train. Passengers turned from the
windows and put their handkerchlefs to
their ewes, as if the sight of an eager lit
tie face aglow with expectation and de-
light were painful to them.
'sHere am, mother. He was scan
ming every face eagerly longingly, when
the conductor stepped out.
"Jack - he said, she ism t aboard. -
A shadow fitted across the bright coun-
tenance. The conductor took the boys
hand in his and held it close.
"Jack, my boy, - he said, "you must
be a man. Your mother has not come,
will not come, Jack. Your mother is
dead, my son.
And the sun still shone, but not for
Jack.
He never knew the terrible story, how
in stepping from the train her foot
slipped and she fell beneath the wheels.
which passed over her body. He never
knew-for from that day he never knew
ANYTHING except that she had never coue
back to him.
Day after day crept on, growing into
years. Day after day when the whistle
sounded little figure was seen to climb
the woodpile-Jerry Cranes woodpile
theu-to watch for his mother.
His eye seemed to search every window
as the trains came up.
"Here 1 am, mother!' the shrill,
clear voice would ring out. And when
the train had passed on some one would
explain:
''It's poor Jack Conner come to meet
his MOTHER
They grew accustomed to seeing him
there as the days drifted on into years
and he still kept his promise.
Every train until you come back, -
he had said, and day or night, winter or
summer, the trainmcn would see the cot
tage door open and knew it was Jack
waiting for his mother.
One day they missed him; he was i'll,
raving with fever.
Jerry Cranes wife bent over his pill
low; the poor little life was going.
At 10 o. clock he opened his eyes.
Is No. in yet?' he asked.
"Not yet, Jack - they told him.
He smiled and closed his eyes again.
''She II be here on that train, he
said. 81 must go down to meet her
when No. comes in"
At IL he started and sat up in bed.
els she in yet?' he asked. sis No.
in?''
mot yet, Jack, DEAR they told
him, and he dropped back among his pill
lows, where he lay for an hour talking,
first to the engine, then to Engineer
Robinson. Then his mind wandered to
his father and the night he died.
''Stick to your engine and stand by
your mother, jack they heard him
whisper.
AT midnight whistle sounded sharp
and shrll, and Jack raised himself in
bed and gave cry of joy. "She's I'M"
he shouted. "No. 6 is in. Here 1 am,
mother!'' The train pulled up and
stopped. 1t was only a freight stopping
for water, but that was nothing to Jack.
smile fitted across his face. "She's
come," he said, and with a look of un-
utterable peace held out his arms and
went to meet her. The next day old
Engineer Robinson swung himself clear
of his engine and went down the plat
form to speak to the agent. When he
climbed back to his seat at the engine
window, he drew his sleeve across his
eyes and told the fireman that little Jack
Conner had gone to meet his mother.
WILL ALLEN DROMGOoLE.
Murfreesboro, Tenn.