The Meeker herald., 1897-02-06
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Peck's Good Boy.


have been born Of sensible parents. 1t
IL not every boy who has for an heri-
tage common sense, and begins life
under such favorable circumstances
Johns mother did not consider mis-
chievousness particular mark OF IN
telligence. So he passed the Interest,"
ing period of boyhood without ever
once having cut the curls on his
sisters favorite doll, or the ears
on the house cat. Neither had
John worried the neighbors' dogs
with sundry tin cans. A few other
things had also hourished in the vicin-
ity without his interference; namely,
some fne watermelons, peach orchards
and vineyards. Halloween night
found him happy and interested in his
homo.
Yet, notwithstanding all these de-
lights Of boyhood which had not fallen
to his lot, he was, at the time we make
his acquaintance. sturdy farm lad OF
fourteen. The hero of his little sister;
the idol Of his parents and elder sis
ter; and general favorite with every
one. Up in the morning. up with his
class; in fact, genuine up to date
boy, handsome. healthy and happy.
John Peck passed the time as most
country boys did. in Ohio. at that time.
In summer he worked on the farm, and
In winter he went to school. John did
not go to school merely because some
big girls went, or because the ice on the
river made splendid skating; he went
to learn. And, as John generally &C.
complished that which he attempted,
he did learn. This was to be his last
term at the district school. Another
year he would go to the academy. and
John was anxious to pass a good ex-
animation.
On this particular morning he had
been detained at home with some extra
work, and as he caught up his lunch
bucket and gloves from a side table,
he called to his mother. who was In
the next room. "Shall take trestle
this morning. mother? There goes
number two, and there can't possibly
be another train for half an hour, and
1 can make that trestle in ten min
utes any time" YES" answered his
mother. II shall not object, as you are
,ate this morning. BY that you may
be able to reach the school room in
lime for your first recitation. will
watch you safe across" she added, as
she kissed him. John was not at all
ashamed to kiss his mother, still, since
he had got to be so much the taller of
the two, the goodbye kiss did not seem
to be so much Of a necessity as in ear
pJIt cd fa
be Just what he needed that morning.
By crossing the trestle-work and rail-
road bridge, John could gain. half a
mile. But this was not his usual route
to school, principally because his moth
or opposed 1t so strongly. The trestle-
work and bridge combined were nearly
mile in length, and as there were
trains passing frequently. it was rath-
er dangerous to attempt to cross 1t.
He was nearing the approaches of
the bridge, when his attention was at
tracted by broken rail at his feet.
Had it broken under the weight of the
heavy train that had just passed over?
Certain 1t was, that another train would
never pass over 1t in safety, for the
broken ends had sprung several inches
apart. mo school for me this fore
noon." thought John; II must hurry
back to the station and give the alarm"
But John did not know that the $3.50
express had been delayed two hours at
along at tremendous rate, trying to
make up for lost time. AS he turned
to go back. his ear caught that peculiar
tinkling sound along the rails that be-
tokens an approaching train, and the
next instant the engine shot into view
from out Of the deep cut that preceded
the trestle. John Peck had faced dan
ger many times. but he had never faced
death. BY turning and running back,
he could easily have saved his own
life. But one life was not what John
thought of then. So, taking his stand
firmly by the broken rail, he began
waving his handkerchief. On came the
flying train. They might not see him
in time to save either the train or him.
It seemed to John as though he stood
there for hours. so many things came
surging across his brain. He thought
Of his mother and sisters. watching
from the window; of his father, brok-
en-hearted, going about his work alone.
Was it his duty to stay there. and per-
haps be ground to pieces? Was 1t
right to bring such desolation on his
homo as his death would bring? Yes;
better ore desolate home than many,
and they woul0 know that he died on
duty.
At last the shrill whistle pierced the
clear frosty air and John knew by the
jarring of the rails that the breaks
were being applied promptly and firm
ly. With an inaudible prayer that the
All-powerful Hand might stay the aw-
full calamity he sank on his knees.
The swift flowing river below. the ouiv-