The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-01-11

Every man had jumped but him
fireman, brakemen. all but Jack.
Jump, Conner, for your lifel" the
firemen had called to him when the
timbers began TO crack; and the man
had laid his hand upon the throttle
and said:
You forget I'm engineer"
And there he stood until the crash
came.
He was not quite dead when the boys
found him, and all the time they were
working with him he was praying.
Just for life to get home" they heard
him whisper. Just long enough to get
home and die with my wife anC boy "
His prayer was granted; he reached
home and the two he loved best on
Gods earth. Just before he died he
reached for his pocket book under his
pillow and handed it to his wife.
ut is all I've got, Annie, he said. 'I
wish it was more, wife.
Then he laid his hand on the little
head with it's crown of yellow curls
pressing his pillow. He seemed to
forget the boy was only a baby.
Jack" he said, 81 leave your moth
er to you. Take care of her my man"
Then his mind seemed to wander; he
was on the engine one moment, the
next with his family again.
1.-The company will do something for
you by and by, jack" he said, land
always remember-d don't forget it,
Jack-that any man in time of danger
may desert-sny man but the engin-
eer. He must stick-stick-stick-to
his post, Jack"
The hand IN the boys head grew
heavy; the little fellow choked back
his sobs and laid n hand tenderly on
his fathers brow. The dying engin-
eer opened his eyes and smiled.
''Stick to the engine and stand by
your mother, jack" he whispered.
The hand On the boys head grew cold,
and when they lifted it and laid it
back upon the dead mans breast Jack
turned to his mother.
There was no childish outburst Of
grief; only an awakening, as 1t seemed,
Of the young manhood in him as he
opened his arms.
Here I am, mother" he said, and
she understood.
Il was then Jacks life began in ear.
nest The pet name Of Baby jack
no longer trembIed upon bis mothers
lips. Size called him, instead, My
son" My boy" or else twas, Moth
er's man" SO is the heart so won't to
clothe with strength that which it
leans upon. Sac trusted him entirely,
and his quick mind recognized it.
The prohibition no longer confined
him to the wood pile, but every morn
ing when the whistle sounded, the cot
tage door would open, the gate click,
and a pair of bright stockings fash for
a moment in the sunlight as a pair of
nimble legs went hurrying down to
the platform.
"PiesI Pies! Fresh pies and cakesI'
h0 AA0 14GGCO PCNAA5Gs O0S0 % G4uY
Industrious little peddler as he was,
too; and with so many rough-bearded,
warm hearted friends among the train
men, Jacks business was bound to
flourish.
One day the red stockings went
dancing down to the platform with
unusual speed; so fast, indeed, that
the mother, who was following, had
scarcely reached the platform when
No. 6 pulled up, and Engineer Robin
son dropped from his engine and caught
the boy in his arms and tossed him up
TO the fireman.
Catch the little engineer, Sam" he
shouted. I've promised to let him
run No. 6 to day"
There was a happy sslittle laugh, and
then a vision of golden curlf at the
! window.
Mother! motherl Can you spare
me a whole days"
She smiled and nodded.
''Inl come back at 5.1O"-the wheels
began to turn-''and the wood is in,
mother"-the train was moving-''and
the kindling"-the rattle of the cars
drowned his voice-''box full"-hoW
the steam roaredl Not one word OF
what he was saying could reach her
now, but he talked on, and when the