Middletown transcript., 1900-12-29

the mad beast, flourishing his club and
bidding the dog be gone.
| Peter relieved the royal little fellow bv
killing the dog, which he afterwards de-
clared to his wife was craving madn
But mad or not" he added s.it
/ #eHfetff d -f1tndered that boys pitching
right in to fight for his NANNY. II al.
ways brings the tears to my eyes. some
how, when | come in contact with that
manful little chap of Jack Connor's.n
Peter Glass was not the only one whose
heart softened for Jack Connor's son.
Aye, many an eye wept and many a
heart bled for him when the little fellow
ceased to appear on the hill above the
railroad track
1t was June, glad, sunshiny June,
when Jacks mother went one morning
to call on a sick friend, an old neighbor,
just above Antioch.
Jack thought he had never seen so fair
q day-the sun shone, the birds sang, and
the flowers were everywhere.
" You can come to meet me at twelve
o'clock, jack" his mother said, as she
kissed his cheek. fI'll be sure to come
on that train unless something happens"
"Pll be here, mother" said Jack, "to
every train until you come"
The sun still shone when the train
came in at noon. Jack thought the
whistle sounded mournful, somehow.
And the engine ''slowed up'' sooner than
usual, SO that the train came in "sIow
and solemn like"
And the telegraph operator had laid
his hand in very gentle way on the
boys head as he hurried past him. And
Engineer Robinson never once looked
out to speak to him. The fireman, too,
turned his face the other way and was
busy with his shovel. The brakeman
leaned on his brake and never lifted his
eyes as the cars pulled up. Jack thought
it all very strange.
Here / am, mother"
The conductor cleared his throat when
the well-known welcome rang through
the train. Passengers turned from the
windows and put their handkerchiefs to
their eyes, as if the sight of an eager little
face aglow with expectation and delight
were painful to them.
sHere l am, mother" He was scan
ming every face eagerly, longingly, when
the conductor stepped out.
Jack" he said, "she isn't aboard"
A shadow fitted across the bright
countenance. The conductor took the
bcy's hand in his and held it close.
'Jack, my boy" he said, "you must
be man. Your mother has not COME
will not come, Jack. Your mother is
dead, my son."
And the sun still shone but not for
Jack.
He never knew the terrible story, how
in stepping from the train her foot slip
ped and she fell beneath the wheels,
which passed over her body. He never
knew-for from that day he never knew
anything, except that she never came
back to him.
Day after day when the whistle sound
ed little figure was seen to climb the
-pile-Jerry Cranes wood pile now
to watch for his mother.
''Here l am, mother" the shrill, clear
voice would ring out. And when the
train would pass on some one would ex-
plain: OTIS poor Jack Connor come to
meet his mother"
They grew accustomed to seeing him
there as the days drifted into years.
every train until you come back" he
had said; and day or night, winter or
summer. the trainmen would see the cot
tage door open, and knew it was Jack
waiting for his mother.
One day they missed him; he was ill,
raving with fever. Jerry Cranes wife
bent over his pillow; the poor little life
was going At ten o'clock he opened his
eyes.
1
"Not yet, jack" they told him.
He smiled and closed his eyes again.
"She'l be here on that train," he said.
II must go down to meet her when No.
s comes in"
AT eleven he started and sat up in bed.
rs she in yet?' he asked "Ts No.
n ~
t'Not yet, Jack, DEAR" they told him,
md he dropped back among his pillows,
where he lay for an hour talking, first to $
he engine, then to Engineer Robinson.
Then his mind wandered to his father
md the night he died.
"Stick to your engine and stand by q
your mother, jack" they heard him Il
whisper.
At midnight whistle sounded sharp S
nd shrill, and Jack raised himself in bed a
nd gave a cry of joy: She's in p he 81
houted "No. is in Here 1 am, n
nother r' >
The train pulled up and stopped. 1t n
7as only a freight stopping for water, but II
bat was nothing to Jack. A smile fitted p
cross his face. "She's come" he said, cl
nd with look of unutterable peace held Fl
ut his arms and went to meet her. u
The next day old Engineer Robinson III
Eung himself clear of his engine and :, -
,ent down the platform to speak to the II II
gent When he climbed back to his y
,at at the engine window, he drew his oi
eeve across his eyes and told the fireman W
lat little Jack Connor had gone to meet as
is mother. DC
su
Lost his Bet -
The other day Londoner said to n,
-,
''I'll bet you anything you like that a.
i'll cannot SMELL three simple words that | -