The Meeker herald., 1897-02-06


tnink you would run your engine over
ne, Mr.. Harris" John Peck. as 1
hve" exclaimed the engineer. the tears
9arting to his eyes. mo other boy
could have done such a courageous act
and faced such danger" By this time
ths train men had gathered around
nm each trying to get his hand. When
ne Passengers realized the awful dam
81 and how it had been averted. they
insisted that John should be brought
lnto the train. and calls for John
feck rang out from men, women and
chiidren. But John refused to be made
nero Of, saying that he must return
nome Immediately, as his mother had
Witnessed his peril and would be fran
tsc with anxiety till she saw that he
was safe. Several gentlemen declared
tnat they would accompany him home.
Anong them was one of the officials of
the road, who was aboard the train, as
1t was not safe for him to Cross the
trestle-work and bridge alone. after all
tnat he had gone through. Let us pre-
ceoe them and take peep into Johns
home.
Mrs. Peck took up her work again.
pausing occasionally to look out after
the 1.-the young figure as 1t hurried
down the lane. How foolish I am"
ahe said; Il believe l am growing ner-
vous. Nothing could harm him. l
know. There is never less than a half
hour between trains and generally
more" AS he neared the far end OF
the bridge, she forgot her anxiety, and
with her eyes on her work knew moth
ing Of her boys danger till the pierre
Ing shrek of the engine caused her
heart to give one great bound and then
to lie like lead in her bosom. How she
reached the porch she never knew, but
there she stood with Nell, baby and her
husband, who had been brought to the
scene by Nells agonized shrek. AS
they stood there watching the grim
monster bearing down upon their loved
one, each breathed a prayer for his
rescue. "Oh, why don't he turn and
rum" groaned Nell But neither father
nor mother could speak. They saw
that the train was Stacking its speed.
Uut IL oCShCu ilHpIkooiDlC Aoi ~ " ~
stopped in time. They saw John drop
down on his knees; then Mrs. Peck
could bear the sight no longer, and,
covering her face with her hands, she
fell to the floor in a dead swoon.
The next instant the train stood still
on the track. Nell saw the men get on
and run toward John; she saw him
lifted to his feet and wave his hand
tbward home. Nell had no time to
indulge in Mysteries, which would have
leen a great relief to her overtaxed
nerves. She could not even sit down
for a moment. The shock might kill
her mother, and. hurryine as fast as
her weakened limbs would carry her,
she brought restoratives, which she
and her father applied. Chafing the
cold hand. she called again and again,
John is not hurt, mamma; he has
waved his hand to us to let us know
that he is all right" When her son
entered the room Mrs. Peck seemed to
re.lize for the first time that he was
really alive, but 1t was many weeks be-
for, she was able to leave her room.
TIL. snow-white hair which supplanted
the rich brown braids, and crowns a
fac, still young, John often says proud
ly 5 worn expressly for him. The rail-
road official said to Mr.. Peck at part
inf: your son is quite hero. His
courage and presence of mind have
saved the railroad company many thou
sands of dollars. He will be suitably
rewarded" "He is no more a hero
nov than he has always been," an
svered Mr.. Peck. "If John had neg
lested to do his duty to-day, I believe
It would have been the first time" That
evening a messenger brought John an
elegant gold watch and chain, gift
fr,m grateful passengers, and as the
$3.50 express crossed the bridge and
trsstle every window was thrown open
ard handkerchiefs and hats waved
many a good-by to the hero Of the
day.
After few weeks letter came
from the president Of the road, asking
Mr. Peck and John to meet him in Gin
cinnati, as he wished to have an inter-
view with them. During this interview
1t was agreed that John should enter a
certain school to fit him for position
which the great railroad man seemed to
think him SO we'll calculated to fill. In
the busy, useful life which followed
John Peck filled many positions of
honor and trust, and found many op-
portunities for great and noble deeds.
but he still found time to attend to
the minor duties of life which came to
him every day. The boy who neglects
the present opportunities and waits for
a chance to do some great deed will,
probably, be absent or tardy when the
opportunity for greatness arrives.
Maud Maxwell Dillow.