Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-09-29
50. 80. Il. -. -
:, H*'.hOLLY..HELPED.%-' !
She Brought Relief to the Flood
Stricken In the Ohio Valley.

Stricken In the Ohio Valley.
V'....v'....'V'....v....
The little hamlet of V had suffered
terribly by the flood Somewhat removed
from the main lines of travel and consist
ing only of a dozen or more scattered
cottages, it had been reached by no relief
boats or other aid. All this, however,
made it none the less hard for the farm
ers, whose resources were now at the
lowest ebb.
On this particular Saturday evening
some of the neighbors had collected at
the postoffice and were gloomily discuss
ing the prospects. One after another
told his sad story of want and destitutioE.
There were children at home crying for
bread sick people there were-shivering,
starving. people. What should be done?
Everybody for miles in either direction
was nearly or quite as badly off as them
selves. They separated and went to their
several homes without word of cheer.
The next day, Sunday, a few men and
women met for prayers. 20 God" they
cried brokenly. thou who inakest thy
angels spirits and thy ministers flaming
fire, send us help. send us help"
Now, it often turns out that God begins
to answer our prayers before we offer
them. So it was in this case. While
that little knot of sufferers had been
hopelessly discussing and dismissing one
plan after another the night before Molly
Bean had crept in, unseen by the rest.
and. crouching behind a barrel. had lis
tened intently to all that was said. Molly
was not a prepossessing child. She had
sandy hair. many freckles and no eye
brows to speak of. She was barefoot.
and her thin wrists came out far beyond
the ragged sleeves of her dress. Her one
beauty was her eyes. which were of a
soft, reddish brown. like the deer's, and
which shone like stars when tear gilt
tered in them, which happened this very
night, for one of the helpless, wailing
little babies referred to was in Moily's
wretched home-was Molly's wee, wee
brother.
As she listened she made up her mind.
Without a word she crept out of the
building, looked nervously over her shoul-
der with those wild eyes of hers. then
shot off into the darkness like a startled
doe.
F.. Sunday evening was quiet one i'll the
great city terminus of the Ohio and Y. Y.
railroad. The president of the corpora
ton sat in his comfortable Office. his feet
ON the fender of a glowing CRATE and
cloud of thin, blue cigar smoke encircling
his head. 1t had been good year for
= the road, and a handsome dividend was
assured for the stockholders. The presi-
dent felt so very contented over this re-
Election that he was dropping into an
easy nap, when a sharp knock at the
door started his eyes wide open.
Come in." he called.
A tall, brown bearded man entered,
leading what with some difficulty could
he made out TO be a little girl. The pres
ident glanced at her bare feet. which
were covered with mud high above the
ankles, and frowned. Then he met the
appealing look in the little creatures
brown eyes and relented.
well, Mr.. Evertop, what now? Who've
You picked up?"
''Tell your. story, my dear" said the
tall man kindly 20 his small companion,
drawing up chair for her.
''Please. sir. I'm Molly Bean, and I've
come from V ter get some milk for
Jinks and something fer dad and-and"-
Molly swallowed hard and went on: 1.-The
waters drowned everything, please, sir,
and the cows gone, nd-and-nobody's
come" Here she broke down in good
earnest and sobbed in her poor little thin
hands,
'How did she get here?" inquired the
president unessily, forgetting to puff at
his cigar.
The tall man. who was the city mis-
Siouarv nninfaI .ilaptlr bor ,,,d5r
feet. cut and bruised as well with her
journey by night and day.
''You don't mean she walked all the
way-41 miles,
The other nodded I've given her
something to e,rt and let her lest half an
hour at the rooms. She wouldn't stay
longer
The president half turned and touched
an ivory knob while the cigar went out
entirely. A man in brass buttons ap-
peared at the Office door and waited re-
spectfIly.
Has No freight got in?"
Due in five minutes. sir. Telegraphed
just outside .the yard"
''Tell Andy not to draw his fire, but re-
port to me at once as soon as he's in"
The man withdrew. A few moments
hC iSdppcdItu WIFI Tile engineer,
covered with SCOT and oil. The result of
the conference was that within an hour
locomotive was putting slowly out of
the yard, with no car attached, but hav-
ing in its tender. besides a fresh supply
of fuel and water, several large pack
ages, evidently containing flour, milk,
canned meats and such other provisions
as could be got together in so short
time. In the cab were four people-the
engineer, the fireman, Mr.. Everton and
small, freckled faced girl, with no
eyebrows to speak of.
Once upon the clear line, how that old
engine did leap to her work! Finishing
out great foods of light as the fireman
piled her irebox with shovelful after
shovelful of coal, painting with huge
gasps from her iron lungs, throbbing and
quivering in every nerve, she roared on
through the night, bearing her precious
load to the weary and starving, who
thought their Father in heaven had for
gotten them. On and on, scattering
storms of sparks on every side, calling
out shrilly as she dashed past the small
way stations, until, with two sharp ex-