The Monitor-register., 1897-09-10

He arose, and going Oat on the platform
was Mortified to learn that a hand-car on
which six men were riding had been run
down by his train, and five of the men
instantly killed.
And he seemed to hear his mothers
voice saying: II shall ask it every day of
Him,"a and John thought. Il wonder if
any one prayed for them."
At Delaware, O., he stopped off to try
his chances, and finding no vacancy de-
cided to go on at once but as no train
was due for several hours. he concluded
to while away the time by a visit to the
county fair, then in progress, and the
many exhibits he saw there gave
another new experience, while some of
them were a great treat to his art loving
nature.
But here he was again brought face to
face with death, as standing in the
crowd around a stationary engine, it ex-
ploded, killing eleven per sons, while he
remained unscathed.
MAY the good angels guard my boy
when Mother can nj longer minister unto
him." he whispered, with a look of awe
upon his face, for a young man about
his W age was stricken right at his
side.
He pushed On that same evening
coward Circleville, where he attended a
nOijtinQl maatinn navt DIV tkn oL.,oh
meetings at home being the only kind of
gatherings known to him, hitherto-and
his pulses began to tingle at the wild
huzzas that rent the air, from each
faction in turn, as their favorites made
what seemed to them good points. 1t was
a debate between "Sunset'' Cox and
Samuel Galloway, and the keen wit of
the former was a treat, indeed, to the
country lad, vita his sober training.
Here the railroad ended, and he took
the stage to Chillicothe. This consumed
the last of his money, save a few dollars
to furnish food; at Chillicotlfe, therefore,
he took to the road, walking along the
tow path of the canal, and crossing over
the river to the Kentucky side. on a fat
boat attached to a rope that stretched
from shore to shore, he went up to
GreenupsEurg, and passed the examina
ton there with credit, but the engage
mept was given to another aspirant. So,
concluding that the towns were scarcely
the field for SO primitive a teacher, he
made up his mind to temper his ambi-
ton and content himself with a country
school, aud as he had heard that an ex
animation was about to take place at
Wheelersburg, o., for teachers in tho
country schools, he retraced his way as
far as Ironton.
1t was now late in the afternoon, but
if he tarried until morning it would take
his last cent to pay for a nights lodging,
80 he crossed the river again, and started
over the mountain that lay in his route,
whistling to keep his courage up, as he
trudged along. But how dark and lonely
the way became as the day waned, for
the moon was on the other side of the
hill, and as the shadows fell thicker and
blacker, they seemed to enwrap him in a
mantle of doubt, as well as of darkness,
and he felt a sudden, oyorpowering
dread of something, he knew not what,
Il shall ask it eoery day of Him." the
sweet words breathed through his heart.
"She prayed for me to day." he said. 81
am not afraid" and he strobe OF, his
step growing irmer and more assured.
But suddenly he became aware that he
was no longer in tie path. Frequent
distractions of trees, stumps aud bowld-
ers, taught him that. He was lost in the
mountains. A lonely owl hooted over
his head, and the silence of night seemed
full of strange noises. Again that dread
of some unseen danger almost paralyzed
his will, and his feet dragged heavy and
clogged, like the footsteps of g g
MAY the good angels guard my boy"
he sighed; and, comforted, he wandered
on.
81 will strike the path, presently, l
know" he said aloud, in a confident
tone.
Just then he almost fell over a tree
which had fallen to the ground. He
started to go around it, but became en-
tangled 10 the branches at one end, and
butted up against the roots at the other,
as though unseen hands sought to hold
him back. Bot he olambered over the
trunk, and pursued his way.
81 know L will soon be out of this, if l
keep on, and it is too cold to sleep in the
woods" he said as he ~apologizing for his
disregard Of some friendly opposition,
and there right before him, he saw a
light ~glimming in the valley below.
"Hurrah ~ he shouted, and started
down with accelerated speed.
Crossing a shallow brook, at the foot
of the mountain. on a rustic bridge made
plainly visible by the moonlight that
flooded the valley on this side of the hill
he at last reached an Enclosure around a
cabin home, and vaulting over the fence,
raped at the door.
A man appeared with a tallow dip in
his hand, and holding it high above his
head, viewed his youthful visitor with
the utmost surprise. 'Come in, my boy,
come In !" he said, leading the way,
and ushering John into the one room of
the cabin, where a motherly woman sat
knitting beside the ample hearth, upon
| which a roaring log fire was blazing,
making warmth and light too.
"Here, take this cheer, an set down,
an tell US whar ye come FROM" said the
man, Offering John a seat right in the
tuddy glow of the fire; 'for | see yer a
stranger in these parts"
II came from IrontoD," John re-
piled.
(Which way did ye come, to bring ye
20 Jack Martins cabin " the man
! asked in visible surprise; ''for this place
o. mine is nigh a mile from the road"
81 came across the mountain, " said
John.
"Across tibet mouutain!' Mr.. Martin
almost shouted. "Ye tell me tibet, an
| think Ill believe ye!'
"Indeed, sir, | did," said John, ear
nestly. you do not think | would
deceive you? Why should II"
"Across thet hill after dark" said MIR.
| Martin in an awe-struck tone; IAN you
| be alive to tell it,"
"Why, what danger was thereP" asked
John, nervously.
"DangerP repeated MIR. Martin. 81
| mill take va, ont thar tn.mnrrar an, shnR