River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-06-30

didn't know anything about the Fourth.
Johnnie did not need to be so patroniz-
ing in his feeling toward the fishes, for
he himself did not know much more
about the Fourth than that people
always shot off firecrackers on that
dav. lie was glad he had not gotten
Green light, for it wouldn't make much
contrast with the night, which is dark
rreen. Then, as the water looks green
ANYWAY to the fishes Git must, for ii
looks so 10 people on land), why, they
wouldn't be much surprised to see the
river simply tightening would
think it was morning. But think'of the
exquisite shock TO each fishy heart to
BE awakened by a burst Of rubness
overhead. Johnnie's head was sinking
lower and lower on the window sill and
his thoughts were getting very fan
tastic, as you see. Rousing himself, he
slipped into his little bed and then put
his hand up under the cool pillow to
touch-the red light! Think Of it-he
had taken it to bed with him!
The wind, as Johunie's senses were
being stolen by the sandman, was in
creasing. and there was a distinct smell
of rain in the air. The boy opened his
eyes and looked out of the window.
The wind seemed to be blowing the lit
tie fly-away sailboat of 4 moon over the
green Sky at a dashing rate. Johnnie
thought the moon was boat am not
making him thinI, so-aud as he closed
his eyes he wished he were in the boat
and wondered if he should be able 10
hold the sheet of the golden sail in such
a gale, and then he fell fast asleep.
1t seemed to him that be had been
sailing for some time when there was a
stopping of all things, and he awoke
with 4 start. 1t was at that solemn
/ hour Just before dawn. Johnnie crept
to the window TO see if there was now
/ Il promise of fair day. The storm had
ceased, but ii must have been a furious
one. for the firm little bridge that Mr..
Duckworth had built over the river
few steps from the house was broken
Johnnie could plainly see the wreck in
the clear night. just then he heard a
sound, a soutd as big as a sigh, way,
way off. 1t was the Canadian express
whistling for a switch at the junction.
The boy waited at the window to see il
go by. Suddenly a thought flashed into
his mind and his heart stopped beating.
He Slipped into his clothes in twink
ling and stole quickly downstairs and
quietly out of the door, then scuttied
over the plain 10 the place where the
little river fell over the crest of a slight
hin and then dashed under the railroad
bridge. As Johnnie thought might be
the case. the bridge was as much OF
wreck as the little one was. The rails
were twisted and lay Ike jaekstraws
among the iumbled wood Johnnie
heard the distant sigh again, and his
heart beat wildly What could lie Go2
In few minutes the express would
come. Suddenly he thought OF the red
light under his pillow. Taking full
breath. he ran home He heard the
sigh again, but no nearer. 1T hasn't
started 1t hasn't started" he thought.
There's still time, still time." In
minute he was again in his room, and
had the light and some matches in his
hand 1t seemed ages to him. He
heard the faint sound again, but nearer
this time. "Oh. it's started, God help
me-" he gasped, as he fed out into the
thinning darkness again. He did not 90
to the bridge, as YOU may suppose, but
ran o full speed up the track toward
! the sound, for well he knew that the
/ express couldn't stop short Of half a
mile ut the least. On. on he sped. At
last the right distance was reached.
And now the whistle sounded clear.
some way down round the bend. John
ME put the light in TIE middle of the
track and struck q match on the rail,