Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-07-21
= r URRY up n bit of sup
N per, mother" cried Rob-
ert Douglas. "We've got

hut, lNobclt, ""o So''r =" -'' =
hot mullins, and they're not light yet.
You're two hours early
Give me q piece Of bread, then, and
some cold meat. In sorry for the
Iutfins, but 1 can't watt
am sorry, too" said Mrs. Douglas,
rising. and laying aside her knitting.
II had planned ham and eggs besides
"Too bad; but the boys will be ready
in half TN hour, and l must be on
hand. Ugh"
And he shrugged his shoulders, MS II
in anticipation of the cold hard task
before him, as he followed his mother
from the cozy sitting room into the
pantry.
"Give me whatever there Is ready
he said, land I'll pun crust In my
pocket. We may be out pretty much
all night"
What was the accident?" she
asked, moving back and forth as she
placed the things upon the table.
"A broken axle anu big freight
gone to smash. It's in bad place,
too, down In the Thread Valley, where
the road Is very crooked"
Pm afraid it's going to snow"
III know it Is. It's showing already.
But you know it grows warmer when
1t begins to snow
mot with northeast wind like
this"
Don't you worry, mother. I'll wrap
up well, aud I'm tough as n bear
he said, laughing gaily.
His ruddy face, clear eyes and wiry
was quite as much his CHEEKY courage
that gave him strength as it was hard
ness of muscle or stoutness Of frame.
III make you good cup Of tea,
Robert" said Mrs. Douglas, as he sat
down to what seemed to her cheer
less meal, /, cup of tea being to her
the very essence of comfort.
"Oh, never mind; this is all right"
he answered. heartily, as he helped
himself with the eager and undiscrim-
mating appetite Of youth.
But in a few minutes n steaming and
fragrant cup was beside his plate.
Don't be anxious If Pm not back
till morning." he said. IN ask Tom
Carpenter to stop on his way home to
give you the latest news. Good-by
mother rs he rose from his chair to
go. Cook yourself n good supper and
have Anna Odds come and stay with
you, SO you won't be lonesome"
Mrs. Douglas watched his free,
young step as he went down the walk
to the railway station. which was very
near, ard in full sight.
mo mother has better boy" she
said to herself, as she wiped the tears
that were sure to fill her eyes when.
ever Robert left her for more than
his usual daily absence.
The house where Robert and his
mother lived was very humble. yet
cozy, clean and attractive. His small
wages as an assistant telegraph oper-
atOr was NIL they had to live upon,
but his mothers prudence and his
steady industry made that sufficient
for their unpretentious wants.
When Robert got to the station he
found the wrecking train about to
start. He w: to open and operate an
additional telegraph office at or near
the scene of the disaster, for the pur-
pose Of working trains past the OBJ
structiOn.
The accident had happened seven
teen miles or more away, Mt point
where the road followed the tortuous
winding of the River Thread. The
bluffs along the line there were very
steep and there We're several bridges
across the noisy and turbulent little
stream. There could hardly have been
worse place for an accident, as the
approaches either way were around
sharp curves.
When the rescue train, with its pom
derous appliances for hosting and pry-
ing and lifting, had reached the spot,
it was Roberts duty to climb tele.
graph pole, make the necessary at
tachments with wires and clamps, and
to establish his Office at its foot.
He improvised n rude shelter with
some rails and blanket, made n
chair for himself and with few
stones heaped together, set up hts in
strument and was ready for duty.
1t was Saturday night, and but few
trains except the regular night express
We're running.
The road had double track along
that division, and the disabled freight
was on the right hand. or the one taken
by the down trains, while the relief
cars were on the up track. When
one Of the up trains was due, this
one would switch Off and let it pass.
Robert kept up communication with
the nearest stations at either hand,
and the work of opening the road went
on very satisfactorily.
1t promised to be less difficult than
had been Mt first apprehended. and it
began to look as If by midnight both
lines would be clear
A snowstorm had set in with blind
ing fury The men who were actively
at work did not mind it so much. but
Robert seemed likely to be buried un-
der the weight of the damp, heavy
falling flakes.
The night express was due Mt
o'clock. Before that time the last big
piece Of breakuge had been removed,
and when Robert got the signal, sew
enteen miles away, that the express
waited, his orders were, LET her come
on" He flashed, the answer back with
q great sense of relief that his tedious,
benumbing nights task was about
ended.
He was just preparing to pack lis
instrument. and to get his other traps
together, ready for the start home.
when he heard n terrible crash. He
could see hurried moving Of lights
through the thick veil Of snow. and
could hear excited voices calling and
vociferating
Presently one Of the men came run
ming to him with breathless Hold
the expreso at Hawley"'