Middletown transcript., 1900-12-29
Engineers Connor's Son ).
BY WIZ ALLEN DRooKeooLE
BY WIZ 1LLEN DRooMGooLE.

longer tieeifi his his mothers Eis
She called him instead ''My son." "My
boy," or else twas "Mother's man." So
ID the heart wont to clothe with strength
that which it leans upon. She trusted
him entirely, and his quick mind recog-
nized it.
The prohibition no longer, confined him
to the wood-pile, but every morning
when the whistle sounded, the cottage
door would open, the gate click, and a
pair of bright stockings fash for NOM
ent in the sunlight as a pair of nimble
legs went hurrying down to the plat
form.
s'Pies! pies! fresh pies ard cakesp'
He had turned peddler. Such tiny in
dustrious little peddler as he was, too;
and with SO many roughbearded, warm
hearted friends among the trainmen
Jacks business was bound to flourish
One day the red stockings went dane
ing down to the platform with unusual
speed; SO fast, indeed, that the mother,
who was following, had scarcely reached
the platform when No. s pulled up, and
Engineer Robinson dropped from his en-
gine and caught the boy in his arms and
tossed him up to the fireman.
"Catch the little engineer, Sam," he
shouted. GIVE promised to let him run
No. to-day"
There was happy little laugh, and
then vision of golden curls at the win
dow.
Mother, mother! Can you spare me
a whole day?"
She smiled and nodded.
"Tll come back at 5.10'-the wheels
began to turn-"and the wood is in
mother"-the train was moving -fand
the kindling rattle Of the cars
drowned his voice-"box full''-how the
steam roared! Not one word Of what be
was saying could reach her now, but he
talked on, and when the steam ceased to
roar, and the train glided smoothly out,
he leaned from the window. "Good-by
mother"
She heard and waved her hand. And
then Engineer Robinson pulled him back
20 look at some roasted chestnuts the
train butcher had sent up for him.
1t was marvellous ride to the boy,
who never ceased to wonder at the proud
I'D engine and its magnificent strength.
But for all the pleasure and freedom.
here was shadow all day on the boyish
ace, which neither the good things nor
ne wonderful stories which Engineer
Robinson brought to his entertainment
ould quite dispel. He would climb up
Q the engineers velvet cushion and lean
lis elbow on the window-sill, and drop
ing his cheek into his hand, fall to
roaming while he watched the clouds
r the trees fitting by.
Once the train stopped to wait for de-
ayed freight, and the engineer spoke to
be boy, sitting silent at the window.
Hello, Jackp' he said. "You're not
sleep, are you? An engineer can't sleep,
II; remember that. Whatever other
'lks may do, he's got to keep his eyes
pen."
Eyes, SIR" he said, "that's just what
Ither used to say"
Engineer Robinson turned to look out
the other window, down the track-the |
raight, treacherous track along which |
Dor Jack Connor had travelled to eter-
ty.
Young Jack talked on, softly but dis
nctly: "And father said, the night they |
ought him home, sir, he said: Every
an may jump but the engineer-the en-
neer must stick to the engine And he
id, father said, away off it seemed to
e, like you try to speak when the
cams a-sizzing, sir; he said: Stick to
e.engine and stand by your mother,
OK And I've been thinking, Mr..
obinson, the engineer leaned farther
t, the sleeve of his blue overalls
ushed his face, while Jack talked on,
I've been a-thinking all day as may
| ought not to have left her by herself
whole day."
The engineer answered, without turn
9 his head:
"Oh, she's all right, Jack; she's safe"
sBut you know what father said
and by your mother, Jack, and here |
away off on your engine, sir"
The delayed freight ratified by twenty
nutes late; the fireman threw in some
u, the steam began to puff, and No. 6
ID on its way.
The wind could it have spoken, must
We earned strange stories of what it .
V and heard in its passage through the
CINE box that day; strange stories of
Ugh forms and gentle hearts, gruff
ices and tender words, bearded chin
childish cheek pressed together in
npathy and love.
70. drew up on time at Antioch, 5. 10. !
ioor flew open as the whistle sounded !
r times, as if it said, 'Here I am,
ther."
! little form was lowered from the en- :
9 and went flying through the mist
fog towards the lighted doorway. :
the train pulled out Engineer Robin =
leaned from his window. Y
Here | am, mother" the joyful greet !
rang out, and the engineer saw Jack
straight into the arms opened to re-
e him.
Here am, mother, that became
= familiar cry among the nearest =
shbors; and more than one eve filed
md ran over as little Jack Connor's y
e, thrilling and hopeful, rang out on :
frosty a II. of q xr,,p4o-,, ,,,a-..: