River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-05-14

in West Virginia about ten years ago.
1t was the old story. Some one had
Numbered. We were running behind
time and a local express had smashed
into the rear ear.
No one in the smoker was seriously
injured, and, after little, l managed
to make my way out and go in search
of my wife.
THE sleeper was wreck. Willing
hands We're already tearing away the
wrecked car and rescuing the poor
wretehes within. The air seemed filed
with means and groans Around me
they were laying down the victims,
some living many dead-but Alice was
not among them. l Joined the band of
workers and we toiled with the strength
that God only gives to men at time
like that, Juggling away at broken
timbers and releasing many poor
soul from torture.
"A woman and child both dead" 1
heard man near me exclaim.
spraag to his side. There lay my dar-
ling wife, her white face turned up to
mine, but fixed, unmeaning. unrecog-
nizing. Our little one lay in her arms,
bAl NAAS Ltlts ANs1A WIS tAuSAANN2 anu L4tC
child's blood had stained the mothers
hair and face.
Little Dot was dead, but as l placed
my check close to the mothers lips. l
faneied l felt faint touch of her
breath.
Willing hands bore them both into
the open air and laid them ON rude
couch. Gently took the child from
the unconscious mothers arms and laid
her, wrapped in my coat, ON the soft
grass.
by that time the work of rescuing
was about over. Help had begun to
arrive. and yet the scene if anything
was more heartrending than before.
Men were seeking for lost wives or
striving. like myself, to rescue living
ones. Mothers were calling for their
babies. and little children vainly asking
for their parents.
Even IN my own despair, my heart
felt another pang when | saw them
bring forward a black-robed figure
with little child at her breast, and
lay them near US. The baby gave a
little frightened cry and then seemed
to sleep in the dead mothers arms. 1t
was Alices friend and her little one
a relief car and doctors arriving,
Alice was made more comfortable and
a physician came to examine her. |
lived years in those few moments. He
turned to me and said softly. She
is injured internally. ! fear. If she
is conscious before the end, it is all we
can hope for
20, my God! how l did hope for it,
How prayed for it! Both to be taken
from me, wife and child. without
farewell word or caress.
Alice lay breathing family for a
long time, and then the white lids
lifted and l saw once more and for the
last time in this world the violet eyes
loved SO dearly.
"'Gus, dear, she whispered, trying
to raise one poor MANNED hand to her
heart. Where is little Dot? Why have
you taken my baby away from me-?
''What should I say? What could l
do? The sweet vol ce grew fainter and
the blue eyes almost closed.
'''Gus. she whispered, am | going
to leave you? Am / going to die?'
''She must have read the answer in
lily ldtty lOI IL la1AnN SIX bEOtNt inc nut
tering breath.
bring me Dot she murmured.
Give me my baby before l die
I'm utter despair | hid my face in my
hands, when a faint cry came to my
ears 1t came from the little mother
less babe lying near US. l lifted the
child and laid her in Alice's arms
The child nestled its little head con
tendedly into the dying womans neck
and one little hand was laid on her lips.
Alice was very weak now, and had to
bend over to catch the few last words
MY little Dot she murmured.
Our little child. Gus, dear She will
stay with you and love you in my
place
'.She kissed the little hand and said:
"'Love your father. Dot. Love him
always
"She weakly motioned me to take
the child, and with the baby on one
arm and my dying wife in the other,
lay until the gray light came into the
eastern sky and stole over Alice's face.
But the light of life was fading from
her eyes. kissed her lips and felt her
last breath on my face.
MY wife and child were together in
Heaven and there was nothing left
for me on earth butt looked at the
little child sleeping in my arms Alice
had given her to me, and she, like ].
was alone in the world, and so she be-
came my little daughter, and you know,
Frank, how very dear she is TO me"
Gus had finished his story. There
were tears in my eyes as well as in his.
Noble old Gus, how | admired his hon
est, generous, loving heart. But men
say little to each other when the tears
begin to fall. and so. with silent hand |
shake we left the room.
The curtain was down and the last /
act ready to begin. -Ethelyn Friend, in |
Chicago Saturday Evening Herald.