St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-11-08

L
therc was any reason for stopping the
cars She did not know whether there
was yet time, but she seized the Gag,
and few wildly up the track.
20. my papa! O. my mamma!' she
cried; 'they will fall into the river and
be drowned! What shall l do?" and
Polly waved the nag backward and for
ward - she ran.
Then came the train around the
curve. She gould sec the white steam
pufnnR from the pipe, and could hcar
the painting Of the engine.
II know they'll run over me, but IL
mamma and papa are killed don't caro-
70 live" she said to herself as she ap-
proached the great, black. noisy engine.
Whom It WAS about three hundred
feet away from her she saw . head
thrust out OF the little window BY the
locomotive, and then. with . great
putting, snorting and whistling. it be-
gan to move slower and slower, until 1t
last when it was almost upon Polly, It
stopped entirely.
All the windows were alive with
heads and hands The passengers
screamed and waved her on the track.
She stepped on and ran close up to the
side Of tho engine. and gasped out:
The bridge Is open. and the man has
fallen into tho river. Please stop the
train, or you'll be drowned"
The engineer stared in amaxement
as we'll he might. to see small girl
A>f
about and four lilies pinned in her belt
waving the red nag As though she had
been used to tagging trains all her life.
At that moment another remarkable
figure presented itself to the astonished
eyes of tho passengers. A man. drip
ping wet. bruised and scratched, Is
though he had been drawn through
briars, came tearing toward the cars,
stumbling and almost falling at every
stop Az he reached. little Polly, he
snatched her up and covered her face
with kisses. ''You little darling" he
cried, do you know what you've done?
You've saved the lives Of morn than .
huadred people"
Polly, nervous and excited, began to
Dry. One after another the passengers
came hurrying out Of the train, and
around her, praising and kiss
Ing her. until she was quite ashamed,
and hid her head ON the kind flagman's
shoulder. whispering: ''Please take me
away to hnd mamma and papa"
Almost the last to alight were Polly's
parents. ''Why, it's our Polly!" thcy
10th exclaimed at once.
The draw was now closed again, and
he conductor cried: "All aboard" The
scrambled back to their
Ieats again. Polly's father took her
nto the car with him. and now she
ooked calmly 1t the people as they
,athered around. and answered politely
III questions put to her. but refused the /
ines. chains. bracelets and watches
hat the grateful passengers pressed
ler to accept - tokens Of their graft
ude for saving their lives
At last Polly grow tired Of 50 much
raise, and spoke out: ''Reslly. don't
eserve your thanks. for ! never once
hought Of any one but papa and mann
~. So keep your presents for your
wn little girlA Thank you all the
ame. --
Those that heard her laughed. seeing
hey could do nothing better for her
han to let her remain uunoticed Tor
he short distance she had 70 20.
When Polly. WAS lifted out Of the car,
nd stood upon the stops Of the station
lille her father looked aftcr the lug
lge. the passengers threw kisses and
aved their andkcrchiefs 70 her until
ley were out OF slght
A fsw days afterward Polly was a.
'nished at receivinga . beautiful ivory
* containing IN exquisitely-cnameled
edsl, with these words engraved o. IL:
''Presented TO Polly Gardner. whoqe
'urage and pfesenoe OF mind SAVED one
lndred liyeA"-Julia Z Hildtoth, q 4
oune Folka - -