Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-23
THE GAZETTE: FORT WORTH TEXAS SUNDAY MARCH 2s

he leaned from the window. ''Good- by,
mother.
| She heard, and waved her hand. And
| then Engineer Robinson pulled him to
| look at some roasted chestnuts the train
| hitcher had sent up for him.
1t was wonderful ride to the boy who
never ceased to wonder at the proud old
engine and its magnificent strength.
But for all the pleasure and freedom
there was shadow all day on the boyish
face, which neither the good things nor
the wonderful stories which Engineer
Robinson brought to his entertainment
could quite dispel.
He would climb up to the engineers
velvet cushion and lean his elbow on the
window sill, and, dropping his cheek
into his hand, fall to dreaming while he
watched the clouds or the trees fitting
by.
Once the train stopped to wait for a
DELAYED freight, and the engineer spoke
to the boy sitting silent at the window.
"Hello, Jack!' he said. FYour'e
not asleep, are you? Engineers can't
sleep, sir; remember that. Whatever
other folks may do, he's got to keep his
eyes open.
Jacks eyes filed as he looked at his
old friend.
eyes, sir" be said, ''that's just
what father used to say. -
Engineer Robinson turned to look out
at the other window down the track, the
straight, treacherous track along which
poor Jack Conner had travelled to eter-
nifty.
The boy at the other window.
Young Jack talked on; softly, but dis
tinctlv.
land father said, the night they
brought him home, sir, he said: Every
man may jump but the engineer-the
engineer must stick to the engine. And
he said, father said, away off it seemed
to me, like you trying to speak when the
steam 8 a-slzzlng, sir; he said: stick to
the engine and stand by your mother,
Jack. And I've been a-thtnking, Mr..
Robinson ''-the engineer leaned further
out, the sleeve of his blue overalls
brushed his face, while Jack talked on
"I've been a-thinking all day as maybe
] ought not to have left her by herself
whole day
The engineer answered without turning
his head:
"Oh. she's all right, Jack; she's
safe. -
"But you know what father said:
Stand by your mother, Jack, and
here l am. away off on your engine,
sir. -
The delayed freight ratified by twenty
minutes late; the fireman threw in some
coal, the steam began to puff and No.
sped on its way.
The wind, could 1t have spoken. must
have carried strange stories Of what it
saw and heard in its passage through the
engine-box that day. Strange stories of
rough forms and gentle hearts, gruf
voices and tender words, bearded chin
and childish cheek pressed together in
sympathy and love.
No. drew up on time at Antioch,
$40. A door few open as the whistle
sounded four times, as if to say, "Here
am, mother.
A little form was lowered from the en-
CINE and went flying through the mist
and fog towards the lighted doorway.
AS the train pulled out Engineer Robin
son leaned from his window.
"Here l am, mother,'' the joyful
greeting rang out, aud the engineer saw
Jack go straight into the arms opened to
receive him.
81 am coming, mother - that became
q very familiar cry among the nearest
neighbors. And more than one eve filed
up and ran over as little Jack ConnOr's
voice, thrilling and hopeful, rang out on
the frosty air of q winters morning.
One evening he was late returning
from an errand upon which his mother
had sent him The clouds were heavy,
as If they might hold snow.
Mrs. Conner knew that Jack would be
cold and tired when he returned, so she
took his basket and went out to the
woodpile.
"I'Il gather the chips,'' she said,
"and save him that much work. -
But she had scarcely begun her task
when Jack came painting up the hill.
"Why, mother, - he called. 'didn It
you know 1 was coming?'
He expected her to lean upon him; as
he grew older the feeling grew, and he
was always disappointed If she failed to
do so.
One morning she went out to her milk
ing, and a strange dog met her and
sprang upon her.
Scarcely knowing what she did, she
threw the milking pail at him and
screamed for Jack.
He came with a bound, Selling club
as he passed the woodpile.
"I'm coming, mother,' Old Peter
Glass passing near heard Jack 3 cry and
ran down to see what was the matter.