The Van Buren press., 1896-10-24


and shoulders. and lay down on tht
lounge, feeling that to lie there with
the torturing light and noise shut oui
was far more desirable than the wealth
of the whole world.
The children were playing quietly in
the dining-room adjoining.
did not think that I could sleep, bui
I must have dozed for a brief period.
Suddenly l felt very wide-awake. viii
strange feeling of fear and anxiety.
I heard the distant sound of a locomo.
tive whistle. but did not think whether
it was approaching or leaving the sta.
ton. as there were so many trains that
| rarely noticed them. Perfect silence
had succeeded the murmur of childish
voices in the next room, and when
went in there. instead of finding Patter
feet asleep and Toddlekins amusing
himself in some quiet way, | was sur.
prised to find the occupants gore. The
little table was there, with its array of
tiny dishes and the remnants of the
feast deserted. The floor was scattered
with neglected toys I went to the door
and listened. but not a sound came
from the yard. Running out. l called
ToddIekins. and he came from the real
of the kitchen. dragging a long stalk oil
sugar-cane, which he had hacked and
mutiiated in vain endeavor TO peel il
with a dangerously sharp knife. His
face was flushed, and he said. fretfully:
Mamma. please peel this cane. I've
tried and tried, and I can't, and I'm
starved for some cane"
II will directly, son. but must'tind
little sister first. Where is she %
"Patterfeet went that way pointing
towards the railroad, which was but
short distance from our door 81 told
her not to go out, but she would"
Again the whistle from the train, and
I knew now It was time for the evening
express. What if Patterfeet had wan
dered out and got on the track2 Icould
not believe that she had. vel | ran with
flying feet to see that she was not there.
The train was now rapidly approaching
] saw it coming, roaring and shrieking
like a mad thing. | could not see the
track till | reached the narrow bridge
spanning the ditch at the edge of the
railroad and [ wondered if l could gei
there before the train rushed past. On
| flew. | reached the bridge, and my
blood froze as I saw little Patterfee'
standing q the track, tiny mite in the
path of the fast-coming trainl They
would not see her in time to sop, for
there was a sharp curve in the road, and
she was standing just below the curve,
about 30 yards from the bridge. Could
| reach her? Yes, or we would die to.
gether. ! was almost ON the track. The
rails were vibrating, and was deafened
with the roar and almost crazeG with
terror. One moment more, and the
train would rush around the bend and
all would be lost. | saw small figure
spring suddenly on the track and seize
Pafterfeet- then the train, with 4
mad snort. swept around the bend and
went laundering past. Should see the
naangled form of my baby when looked
towards the track? So sure was that
she had been crushed beneath those aw
ful wheels that longed to die before
knew it for a certainty. Then heard
voice sweeter than the music of Heaven.
ly ehoirs. and when opened my eyes
saw Retta's girl coming with dear little
Patterfeet clasped in her arms. / re-
member the great, unspeakable thank
fulness that filed my heart, and how
the tears blinded me so that | could not
see, when | took both in my arms; but
| do not know how we ever got back to
the house, nor how long it was before
could bear to let the child leave my lap
"De train like ter cotch us, Shore
said baby's rescucr; and resolved that
never would / send Retta's girl away
from me; that | would keep her ant
try to make some feeble return for
the priceless service she had done me.
Even Aunt Clancy when she heard
of the miraculous escape and the brave
rescuer, could raise no objections, and
grew suddenly forgetful of all the girls
faults, which she had been so prone
to discourse upon with unsparing criti-
cism, Yet she could not bring herself
to like the girl, as we all had learned
to do, till, one day when | was hay
ing a closet cleaned and put to rights,
/ Aunt CLANCY found one of Patterfeet'a
| dolls, a most weatherbeaten looking
/ specimen, minus arms and legs, thrown
behind a box Of shoes, and in the dolls
dilapidated fnery the long-lost scarf
! pin. After this Aunt CLANCY freely
forgaye Retta's girl for all her former
misdeeds, and was as lavish of her
praise as she had been of her seedlings.
In a new atmosphere of sympathy,
patience and good feeling, Rettas glrl,
once despised and neglected, grew into
useful and pleasant member of our
! household, trustworthy, loving and
beloved nurse TO my Wom-
ans Journal.
Mistaken for Once.
Here is paragraph about a pretty
\ 1.