Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-08-01
THE SWITCHTENDER.

A little white house seemed asleep
among the blossoming apple trees. 1t was
early morning, and all was light and
freshness. The door opened; man ap-
peared at the threshold, a smile on his
face and an expectant look in his eyes.
There was a movement behind the trunk
of an apple tree. The mans smile grew
broader, and from the tree, like dryad,
rushed a charming little tiaxen haired
girl. who threw herself with burst of
laughter into his arms.
NAV take the little one, Celine?" said
the father.
"Again!" she said. with shade of an
noyance.
"Oh, we share her very fairly" said
the man, with the kindest and most pa
tcrnal smile. "If you knew" he re-
sumed, show quickly the hours pass
when she is down there with me. -"
"Don't you think know. when | find
them so long in her absence?"
It was embar"ass:n = Aimee herself
beran to be troubled w this conversation,
and fc"lin~ that she could not please both
these biYcs that 81 loved so much. she
was ready to cry Celine saw it at once
and r;aIl"l.
Stake her Laurence: would rather
have her go than feel badly about it. "
40. said he in his turn. keep her
you 7 rye il: YOU love her best.
Tho discussion began again. hut it was
this time a struggle of generosity. At
lat the husband took his darlI lg in his
arms, and a smile reappeared on the
ch'Id's lips.
Onc morning, without saying anything
to Crlinc. Laurence took the little girls
hand to lead her away, when her mother
suddenly appeared.
"What." she said. you would take
her without telling me?"
Don't think that" said Laurence, in
some confusion. "Wc were in fun-we
were gong to hide behind the trees and
see YOU look for u.s..
Listen, Laurence" she continued
"Aimee grows more restless and trouble
some every day. 1t is dangerous to let
her go with you.
What do you mean?" said the man,
turning pale.
Il mean that I am afraid of your raj
road. with its trains and locomotives.
You are very foolish.
"Loave her here. | can hardly breathe
while my little girl is down there. 1t is
frightful to think of it, but she might get
away and be killed"
Don't talk so, Celine"
"She might run away while you are at
the switch, and if you left it to look after
her, you would fail in your duty, and
might be the cause of a dreadful disaster. "
The young woman did not insist The
swtchtender gradually recovered him
self.
Celine smiled, and the conversation
ended as usual with these words from
Laurence:
"You will come for her at noon"
Little by little their terrors faded away.
Laurence reasoned with himself.
The child, he said, SIS familiar with
the passage of trains, it is true, but she is
old enough to comprehend the danger.
And his apprehension vanished.
One evening, however, when he went
home he found he had been preceded by
the rumor of an accident which had oc-
man had been crushed by an express
train. Celine questioned her husband
while they were at supper.
as it true that Simon is killed ?" she
asked.
No replied Laurence, she was in
great danger, but he escaped, thanks to
his wonderful coolness.
"Then he is not dead?" said Celine.
mo; and yet the whole train went
over hiin. When s non saw it was too
late to save himself he laid fiat down in
the middle of the track, and when the
train passed by he got up again safe and
sound. saw him. | asked him how it
made him feel. At first, he said, when
the engine went over him, he was very
warm; after that the time seemed long.
That was all You know Simon is not
easily frightened. He is ready to go to
work again. added Laurence tran
quilly.
Some time after that the hours of serv-
ice were changed and Laurence took the
night section. lie could no longer think
of taking Aimee with him.
One evening, however, poor woman
in the village was taken very i'll. The
doctor who came wrot" a prescription and
said to the n"i"hbors he found there:
These medicines can only be had in
the town and you must not wait for
them. Let one of you 90 to the railway
station. where there is portable
pharmacy, and ask the station master on
my acco.", for littln lar lao-,ul. That
will quiet the pains till ~ can have the
pre- rription. Which o, you will go?"
"Cnime! Celinr,' said several voices
1t WAS certain that the station master
would not hesitate to give her the medi-
cine.