Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-05-14
pillow. He seemed to forget, the boy was

only'a baby.
"Jack," he said" ~ leave your mother to
you. Take care of her, my man."
Then his mind seemed to wander; he
was on the engine one moment, the next
with his family again.
"The company will do something for
you by and by, jack" he said, land always
forget it, Jack-that any
that any man in time of danger may de-
sert any man but the engineer. He must
Observation-Disclosures his post, Jack"
The hand on the boys head grew heavy;
the little fellow choked back his .sobs and
laid one hand tenderly on his fathers
brow. The dying engineer opened his
eyes and smiled.
"Stick to the engine, and stand by your
mother, jack" he whispered. The hand
on the boys head grew cold, and when
they lifted it and laid it back upon the
dead mans breast Jack turned to his
mother.
There was no childish outburst of grief;
only all awakening, as it seemed, of the
young manhood in him as he opened his
arms.
Here am, mother, he said, and she un-
del StOOd.
1t was then Jacks life began in earnest.
The pet name Of "Baby Jack" no longer
trembled upon his mothers lips. She
called him instead my son." my boy" or
else twas "Mother's man." So is the
heart wont to clothe with strength that
which it leans upon.
She trusted him entirely, and his quick
mind recognized it.
The prohibition no longer confined him
to the wood-pile, but every morning when
the whistle sounded the cottage door
would open, the gate click and a pair of
bright stockings flash for moment in the
sunlight as pair Of nimble legs went
hurrying down to the platform.
spies! pies! fresh pies and cakesv' he had
turned to peddler. Such a tiny industrious
little peddler as he was, too, and with so
many rough-bearded, warm hearted friends
among the trainmen Jacks business was
bound to flourish.
One day the red stockings went dancing
down the platform with unusual speed, so
fast, indeed, that his mother, who was fol-
lowing, had scarcely reached the platform
when No. 6 pulled up, and engineer Rob
inson dropped from his engine and caught
the boy in his arms and tossed him up to
the fireman.
"Catch the little engineer, SAM" he
shouted, "I've promised to let him run No.
6 today"
There was happy little laugh and then
a vision Of golden curls at the window
"Mother, mother Can you spare me a
whole day?'
She smiled and nodded.
"I'll come back at 5:lO," (the wheels be-
gan to turn,) sand the wood is in, MOTHER
(the train was moving,) land the kind
ling"-the rattle of the cars drowned his
voice-"box full'') how the steam roared!
Not word of what he was saying coulG
reach her now, but he talked on, and wher
the steam ceased to roar and the tral1
glided smoothly out he leaned from thu
window. "Good-by, mother"
She heard and waved her hand. AnC
then Engineer Robinson pulled him to lool
at some roasted chestnuts the train-hitchel
had sent up to him.
1t was wonderful ride to the boy, who
never ceased to wonder at the proud ole
engine and its magnificent strength.
But for all the pleasure and freedom
there was shadow on the boyish face
which neither the good things nor the
wonderful stories which Engineer Robin
son brought to his entertainment could
quite dispel.
He would climb up to the engineers vel
vet cushion and lean his elbow on the
window-sill, and, dropping his cheek into
his hand, fall to dreaming, while hi
watched the clouds or the trees fitting by
Once the train stopped to wait for de
layed freight, and the engineer spoke tt
the boy sitting silent at the window.
Hello. Jackv' he said. you're MOI
asleep, are you? Engineers can't sleep
sir; remember that. Whatever other folh
may do, he's got to keep his eyes open."
Jacks eyes filled as he looked at his ole
friend.
"Yes, sir" he said, "that's just what
father used to say"
Engineer Robinson turned to look ou
at the other window down the track, the
straight, treacherous track along which
poor Jack Connor had Travelled to eternity
The boy was at the other window.
Young Jack talked on, softly but dis
tinctly.
sand father said, the night they brought
him home, sir, he said: Every man may
jump but the engineering engineer mus
stick to the engine And he said, father
said, away off it seemed to me, like yor
try to speak when the steam's a-sizzina
sir; he said: Stick to the engine, and
stand by your mother, jack And I've
been athinking, Mr.. Robinson"-th engi
neer leaned further out, the sleeves of his
blue overalls brushed his face, while Jack
talked on.
"lve been a-thinking all day as maybe
ought not to have left her by herself 8
whole day."
The engineer answered without turning
his head: