Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-12
How Louis Learned
a Lesson

The place that I am telling you
! about was only small village. Some
; of you, who dwell in cities, might think
! dull, but boys and girls in country
towns find plenty to amuse them.
II.
When little town has a railroad
running through it, that is quite a
help. The village Of our story had a
railroad called the "Black River Line. "
This was not so big system as the
Burlington and some others you know
about; all the same, the boys said they
guessed the Black River engines could
run faster and haul more cars than
almost any other engines.
I am sorry to say that because the
boys were so fond of engines and
cars, they sometimes hung around the
tracks and railroad yards. Yes, and
sometimes they walked the tracks
when they went fishing or swimming.
Now, some of you may say, "Oh.
I've walked the track lots of times and
never got hurt" You might also say
that you are not afraid of fires be-
cause your house never has burned
down. but you know that every year
lots of people lose their homes by fire.
III.
One bright morning party of fif-
teen boys and girls started for Birch
RIDGE" picnic grove about two miles
there was on the railroad track. AS
they did not wish to have the station
agent see them. they went along the
village street to the first crossing
north of town. Then they took to the
track. The boys politely carried the
lunch baskets and all of them. boys
and girls alike, looked forward to a
happy day.
The day was as fine as anyone could
wish for Bright sunshine. air fresh
and balmy-not too hot nor too cool.
Wild roses. daisies and buttercups
everywhere in the fields. Robin, bobo-
link and meadow lark joined merry
songs to shouts of happy children.
v.
After going some distance, they no
ticed handcar loaded with section
men coming from the north. The fore
man set the brake before reaching the
little group. 'Tis the dangerous thing
you're doing, a-walkin' the track" said
he The youngsters made no answer,
but stood back while the car passed
them. Then the foreman shouted a
last warning, "There'll be a freight
going north soon!"
All were glad to know that train
would pass and everyone except Louis,
one of the larger boys, thought what
g., h o1i hn
and watch it go by. Louis had a plan
of his own, as you will quickly learn.
He remembered that little farther
north the track was on steep grade,
so he figured that the train would be
going slowly there. "Then,' said he to
himself, I'll show 'em how the brake
man hops the train!"
vi.
Well, they kept on going ahead,
merry as crickets. After while. a
whistle in the rear let them know the
train was coming Long before the
train reached them, most Of the chill
dren were safely perched on the fence
But not so with Louis. He waited till
the engine was quite close before he
left the track Then he waved his
hand to the others and prepared to
! SHOW Off" AS one of the big coal
cars went by, he ran along it's side and
caught one of the grabirons. At the
same time, he pulled himself up and
tried to put his foot on the stirrup-
but alas, his foot slid through. And
now the weight was too much for his
arm. so he had to let go. and the next
instant hung head downward, his poor
head humping along the gravel and
ties. Soon he lay perfectly still. When
all the cars had passed by, some of
the boys and girls ran to him. His face
was badly cut and bruised: both of his
legs were broken and the wheels had
passed over one of his arms.
VII.
The conductor, noticing the excited
children. saw that an accident had
happened. He stopped the train, the
train men came running back and
poor Louis was carried to nearby
farm house. When the doctor arrived,
he said there was chance that the
boy might live, but he would have to
go through life with only one arm.
All the pleasure Of that picnic party
was spoiled. Sadly the children start
ed for home. This time they kept away
from the railroad. AS they went along,
they spoke of the injured playmate and
more than one of them remarked, Eve
had all I want Of walking on the rail
track"
And this is how Louis Learned a Les
son. Yes, the others learned the les
son also, but they did not, like him,
have to pay a terrible price.
VIII.
Does it pay to be safe? If yo.i
should ask Louis, he would say You
see that have only one arm and one
hand; tomorrow make believe that yor,
are me. Dress yourself, eat your
breakfast, play your games. all with
one hand-try it. See how hard it is
to get along with only one hand. and
then be thankful that you have two
good hands and also two arms and
two legs. Never, never, risk losing
them foolishly PLAY SAFE, TT
PAYS"
In Louis schoolhouse there is a
framed card hanging up in every class
room on which is printed the word
, THINK" OF course you must
think to get any good ont of going to
school If you will think, not one OF