The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-16
The Reward of Little Mans Bravery.

effect on Tom, for he sprang on at a swift gallop, but showed no disposition to become unruly. Nan did not turn into the road, but took the short cut across the hills. After she had gained the rail road track she followed it, going on and on as fast as Tom could gallop. toward the oncoming train whose whistle and rumble she now heard in the dis tance. Then she dismounted and held Toms bridle rein, fearing lest he be- come frightened as the train should come Into view. Pretty soon a black speck appeared coming round the base of hill. Tom snorted, his eyes dilated and he gave one plunge forward and was free from the little hand that restrained him. Like the wind he was off homeward kicking his heels in the air and neigh Ing in a frightened way. But Nan paid no heed to Tom now. He might go where he pleased, for she had duty of importance to perform. Quickly stripping off her apron she ran right to the edge of the railroad tracks and began to wave it frnntically in the air. The engineer looking from his window saw the child and understood that she was signaling him to stop. As quickly as he could he brought the train to standstill, which was not till 1t had drawn down the track past where Nan stood.
 It took only a few minutes for Nan to explain that the bridge across the gully was afire. The engineer took the child on the train and went slowly towards the bridge. Turning curve they came upon 1t, smoking and partly burned. The train came to a standstlll and all the trainmen, as well as the pas sengers, alighted. When 1t was discovered by the latter what had brought about the fh.. r4a n1, for Mans heroism was made manifest by an old gentleman saying:
 Fellow passengers, I'm for showing now much we appreciate what thls little girl has done by taking up a collection for her. Had 1t not been for her we would all have gone to our death, for owing to the position of the bridge our engineer could not have seen 1t till too late to slacken his speed So, to the bottom of that ditch we would have been tossed" As he finished speaking the old gentleman took twenty dollar bill from his pocket and placed 1t in Mans apron which he then passed round to receive the liberal contributions that poured into 1t.
 "Oh, sir" faltered Nan, "I don't want no pay. l done 1t to save your lives not for pay, sir"
 | Bless the childv said dear old lady Allow me to give something, too." Ant pho PioNSo o boid pitNe III ANhh dpiOh that was still going the round of the pas | sengers.
 And then the engineer came back to report that some tramps had been cooking on Q camp fire built in the shade of the bridge and that the fire had followed some bits of dry grass and had caught the bridge and had slowly, and without flame or much smoke, eaten through the timbers. "We'll have to thank this little Miss for our lives," he added.
 Then everyone pressed round Nan, shak- Ing her hand and saying fine things to her in praise of her herolsm, for she had explained how she had ridden a half broke colt' to the place, but that the colt had taken fright at the train and had run away-probably going home. Then the train was pushed back to the station it had just left a short time before the ac- cident, and Nan. her apron carefully wrapped round the precious burden 1t held,