The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-12-10
TIL LAST TRIP
By Mrs. G. L. Reno, of Memphis, Tennessee.

| There chose two mighty engines
we're running face TO face, one with
| her great cargo of human freight, the
other with her two faithful workmen,
calmly rushing on to death.
In an instant, both engineers saw
the danger, and quickly reversed
levers, If they could not altogether
prevent the crash, they could at least
| lessen the speed and consequently
make the crash less severe.
No 81 began a retreat, while the re-
gular slackened her speed; but, not
quick enough to prevent disaster. for
now the engines had met, and with q
sound that would make your blood
run cold, No. 81 was oyer-balanced by
! the immense weight of the regular
and now lay a heaping mass of ruin.
| The new fireman, who had been SO
faithful on his few special trips was
crushed to atoms. Almost at the las
moment John Marshall had jumped
and while he was still living it was
soon discovered he could not possibly
recover.
All unmindful of the destruction Of
No. 81 and the danger which her hus-
band had undergone, Mary proudly
surveyed her little cottage home ana
offered fervent thanks to the great
Father above that IL was SO soon to
be their very own, without the worry
of q debt.
Twas indeed sad to note the
change in her sweet face, when she
saw the messenger approaching. He
had been sent on to prepare her for
the home coming of her husband, and
10 warn her thar the worst was yet to
come
He told her gently, and was great.
ly relieved when II was said. She did
not faint away or scream out hyster-
ieally as he had imagined she would,
She only said in choking voice;
70, God, thy will be done"
She then began crying softly and
said, John. dear John, you were so
soon to have made your last trip and
nov, o. now,"
At that moment the ambulance roll
ed slowly in front of the house, and
four stalwart men were bringing her
husband into the house.
They laid him on the bed in the
room he had gone QUE of only few
hours ago. well, hearty man.
Two physicians were now with him.
Presently he opened his eyes and
said, MY wife, Mary, where is she?"
The physicians knew there was no
hope for his recovery and they al
lowed him to talk TO her.
She came in softly and calmly
enough, but, when she reached the
bed she burst into weeping. and tax.
ing his hand into hers she covered IL
with kisses. "Oh John. John was all
she could say. Poor John, ne was so
weak he could scarcely speak at
frc', but the sight of bis wife gave
him new strength and he said,
Mt ny, dear, all will soon be over. |
WINS to make only FIVE trips more, bur
low | will only make one more. This
was said with an upward submissive
glance Mary sobbed "Oh John. you
were such good engineer, how did
it happen?" Yes" he replied as he
pressed his icy fingers over her hand.
"A good engineer. a good road and a
good station; but this last trip am
making Is so much better, dear The
road is straight and level one with
out single curve. With the Bible
rs the Might Engine, God. the Father,
as the Engineer, with Faith for a
fireman. On my little engine, Mary,
! had no conductor, but, on this beau
tiful road with it's great massive en-
CINE and the faithful Engineer. we
have Jesus Christ as our Conductor
and there will be no wrecks.
Mary dear. we are both on this
train of life together, am only. in the
coach ahead. | will soon have reach
ed the great Union Station in the
beautiful City of God and await your