The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-29
Peck's Good Boy.


JOlu EcCk ldu lut Euyu AoAAAA~ ~
have been born OF sensible parents. It
is not every boy who has for an heri-
tage common sense, and begins life
under such favorable circumstances.
Johns mother did not consider mis-
chieYousness a particular mark Of in
telligence. So he passed the interest
ing period Of boyhood without ever
once having cut the curls of his
sisters favorite doll, or the ears
on the house cat Neither had
John worried the neighbors dogs
with sundry tin cans. A few other
things had also hourished in the vicin-
fly without his interference; namely.
some fine watermelons. peach orchards
and vineyards. Halloween night
found him happy and interested in his
home.
Yet, Notwithstanding al these de-
lights Of boyhood which had not fallen
to his lot. he was, at the time We make
his acquaintance. a sturdy farm lad Of
fourteen. The hero Of his little sister;
the Idol Of his parents and elder sis
ter; and a general favorite with every
one. Up in the morning. up with his
class; in fact, a genuine up to date
boy, handsome healthy and happy.
John Peck passed the time as most
country boys did. In Ohio. ut that time.
In summer he worked on the farm, and
In winter he went to school. John did
not go to school merely because some
big girls went. or because the Ice on the
river made splendid skating; he went
to learn. And. as John generally ac-
complished that which he attempted,
be did learn. This was to be his last
term at the district school. Another
year he would 90 to the academy, and
John was anxious to pass a good ex-
animation.
On this particular morning he had
been detained at home with some extra
work. and as he caught up his lunch
bucket and gloves from a side table,
he called to his mother. who was in
the next room. "Shall take trestle
this morning, mother? There goes
number two. and there can't possibly
be another train for half an hour, and
can make that tresue in ten min
utes any time" YES" answered his
mother. Il shall not object. as you are
late this morning. BY that you may
be able to reach the school room in
time for your first recitation. will
watch you safe across" she added, as
she kissed him. John was not at all
ashamed to kiss his mother, still, since
he had got to be so much the taller Of
the two, the goodbye kiss did not seem
TO be so much Of a necessity as In ear
lier years. But, somehow, it seemed to
be just what he needed that morning.
By crossing the trestle-work and rail-
road bridge, John could gain half
mile. But this was not his usual route
to school, principally because his moth
er opposed 1t 50 strongly. The trestle-
work and bridge combined were nearly
A. length, and as there were
q -saa tly, 1t was rath-
Htt8s1., % cross It.
- hearing tn, eohes Of
...s 'he' his attent. atl
tracfed ~ a fgiN j .ali2ft ~ ~
Had II broken M n.af the weigh III The
heavy train that had Just passea over?
Certain Il was. tha. another train would
never pass ever n in safety for the
brok en- ends had sprung several inches
apart 'No school foi me this lore
au. th0aeht John, II must hurry
nae tfe station ana give tie alarm"
Buf JOAN ca not naw that .he $3.50
express had been delayed tas hllf1 az
The Junction and was nov hurolng
along at Tremendous rats. try lnr 10
make " for lost time Al he turned
to 60 back. hia ear caught that peculiar
tinkling sound along the rails that be-
tokens an approaching train. and the
next instant the engine shot into view
from out Of the deep cut that preceded
the trestle John Peck had faced dan
ger many times. but he had never faced
death. BY turning and running back,
he could easily have saved his own
life. But one life was not what John
thought OF then. So. taking his stand
firmly by the broken rail, he began
waving his handkerchief. On came the
flying train. They might not see him
in time to save either the train or him.
4 Tt seemed TO John as though be stood
there for hours. so many things came
surging across his brain. He thought
Of his mother and sisters, watching
from the window; Of his father, brok-
en-hearted. going about his work alone.
Was it his duty to stay there, and per-
hapa be ground to pieces? Was it
right 10 bring such desolation on his
home as his death would bring? Yes:
better one desolate home than many.
and they would know that ne died on
duty.
At last the shrill whistle pierced the
clear frosty air and John knew By the
iarring Of the rails that the breaks
we're being applied promptly and firm
IL. with an inaudible prayer that the
All-powerlul Hand might stay the aw-
ful calamity he sank on his knees.
The swift flowing river below. the ouiv-