The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-10
SOME ONE TAKE THIS CHILD.
SHE HAS NO PARENTS.

With string he placed the placard
around the neck of the little girl.
This done, he took her in his arms,
kissed her again and again, pointed to
tho smoke that was becoming blacker
and longer, and told her that water
was coming. When the rails began to
sing of the approach Of the coming
train, he placed her near the track,
and then ran and hid himself behind
the dug-out. From his hiding place
he looked out and eagerly watched the
child, while the rattle and clamor and
thunder of the train grew louder in
his ears. On it came with u rush and
roar, and flew past the station ir Il
gale Of wind and dust. The mans
heart died within him, and then it
beat wildly again. The train had
stopped several hundred yards past
the station and was coming back to the
sentry-box. The engineer had seen
he tattcrcd flag.
as the long train rolled slowly back
ward, curious and inqulring heads
protruded from the car windows. The
gold mblazoned conductor stepped Off
and looked about him in wonder. Not
| for several moments did he discover
the child. Immediately there was q
crowd about it. A white jacketed
|
placed wooden step on the ground
before it. HC was followed by lady
in black, who descended from the car
and joined the throng. A pair OF
yearning, eager, beseeching eyes
watched it all from the dug-out. To
the man in hiding it seemed that the
determination Of his child's fate would
never be reached. Finally he saw the
lady in black take the child in her
arms, kiss it and ro-enter the car with
1t. The passengers scrambled back
INTO the cars, the conductor waved his
hand and the train moved on.
Then the father came forth and
eazcd longingly at the departing train
-gazed at it until it became smaller
and smaller-until it became a dot in
the plains-until it vanished-and he
know he was alone.
Flc stretched himself on the baked
grouLd that night to sleep, but could
not. Two little stars in the firmanent
modest little strrs very near tOgeth
, er--reminded him of the eyes Of his
child, and he tried to fix his thoughts
on them and Of her. but it was vain
he could not forget his thirst.
Ihe terrible sun rose the next day
and looked upon him as its victim. Ht
ondcavored to eat some Of the brea(
+ | uc uttu StVcu, DltJ Gn1 ufy Crum DS were
tor,nro to his throat. One thing onl,
Vas there to dO-tO follow the track
, until an inhabited station was reached
1t might be fifty miles-it might be
mOre-but thcrc WINS no salvation ava,
. from the railroad
ile started off hravely enough. his
longing eyes fixed on the ever-reced
ing point where the glistening rails
met in the far perspective. But some
times his gaze wandered evon furthe,
pn to whore it surely seemed that blue
green trees were bathing their feet il
cool, still waters.
at noon when resting for awhile, hi
heard the rattle OF an approaching
freight train. Hope swelled up with
IN hlm as he stood on the track nn(
made frantic motions TO stop the train
The trainmen merely laughed at him
tic did not know he had employed tht
iavorite ruse of tramps. Freigh
trains we've not for the accommodation
of such gentry. Nor was it u suppos
able case that q wayfarer in the deser
, vas unprovided with food or drink
else why should he be there?
After this his progress was yer,
slow. On the third day he came t,
tho end OF his journey. He may hay.
, been deliri0as or he may have beer
quite sane. A train stopped for hin
md took him on board. This the,
always do when they kill Il man. =
San Francisco Argonaut.
|