Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-10-24
The Engineers Story.

one, too. Did | ever tell you no,
she saved the life of her littl
brother?
u was running IA freight trair
making two trips a day. ] live
nearthe line, about hal fway betwee
Havenrock and Grovenor.
"Lill used to come down to Haven
rock, climb into the engine, an
ride with me to Grovenor, and the
walk back.
Ever since she was ten years ole
she come two or three times week
to get her 'locoride, as she called il
Well, she'd ask questions, and
taught her. SO by the time she wa
sixteen, she knew the machinery Il
we'll as did. l often let her rul
the engine, and once or twice sh
had made the whole trip, with he
hand on the lever, while | sat down
and had quiet smoke with th,
fireman.
"One Saturday night, as | wa
walking home, across lots, from
Grovenor, | jumped over a fence
and accidentally stumbled and fell
spraining my ankle severely.
managed to drag myself home, ant
my wife helped me to bed, but my
ankle grew worse and worse, so Sun.
day sent for the doctor. He in.
formed me that | had severed the
ligament, and it would be six o,
eight weeks before | could walk
again.
"Here was pretty fix. Winter
was coming on, and my wages were
all | had to depend upon-four of
us--my wife and /, Lii and Johnnie.
"Lill was sixteen, a tall, handsome
girl, with beautiful black hair, that
hung in curling ringlets half way
down her back. Mother and were
very proud of her, and I've seen
many person stop to look at her,
when she clambered into the engine
at Havenrock. Johnnie was five.
a fat, rosy little chap, full of fun
and frolic, the life of the house.
He and Lill were very fond of each
other, and she never went to Grow
enor without buying some candy or
something to throw out to him as
we passed the house.
"Well, you can imagine how |
felt, lying on the bed, with the
pain in my ankle, and a
worse one in my heart. 1t took all
we could get. to live; and | could
not bear to think Of what might
happen if | lost my position, for
work was hard to get. Mother and
| talked over the matter, hut could
think Of no one that was fit to take
my place.
while we were talking, Lill came
into the room, and, seeing our grave
faces, begged to know our trouble.
So | told her the whole story. She
looked very thoughtful for u few
came to the bed, bent
down and kissed me, then, shaking
back her black curls, said: Father,
would do?' Her mother sprang
from her chair in surprise, and |
must confess | was startled, for,
thAn~k ? a.
,..~.su 1 knew she was capable,
still | knew the company wouldn't
believe it, and wouldn't have a
female run the train anyway. Still,
it would bring my wages into the
family, and keep the wolf from the
door. / explained to her, as well
as | could, the danger and remarks
TO which she would be exposed; but
the devoted girl answered: Let me
go, father. | will cut off my curls,
put on your clothes, and the COM
pany will never know but l am q
smart young engineer that you
have hired for the OCCASION
"At last we consented, but it made
ny heart ache to see her take up
he scissors, and say, with sad
smile, "There's no time like the
present, mother, so off with them;'
md | could not repress a groan, as
ler mother laid the beautiful black
urls, one by one, on the table.
very early Monday morning
ent nelghbor's son to Grovenor
or the fireman and suit of clothes |
or Lill. He came, and had a
ong talk with him, making him
promise over and over to protect |
ill with all his power.
"AsI finished, Lill entered, dressed
N her new attire, and looking as
handsome as ever in her jaunty cap.
"'Don't be alarmed, father she
reclaimed. i shall do very we'll;
nd if | meet with any trouble, will
ak it over with you at night, and
'ou shall help me out
"Her mother decided to go with
er to Grovenor to see her off, and
o telegraph to the superintendent
hat | was laid up with a sprained