Year: 1871

usr'Jus uu ulu not nOtlcc uly UDy


Minute after minute passed away
and at last when began to be ccrtair
that some accident had occurred it how,
in sight just five minutes before tht
express was due, which | knew could
not be two miles behind. [ saw q,
once the cause of delay the train
was unusually long and heavy. and tn
engine number forty-two, which th,
fireman had christcncd old Rick"t
ty," was the worst on the road. The
switch was all ready. but the tral
moved so slowly that the last car ha,
hardly left the main track, when
heard the whistle Of express, aud the
next moment she rounded the bond a,


full speed. knew that didn't have
any too much time to get the switch il
position, aud went at my work with
n will, when suddenly heard a child
scream and turning round saw little
Willie struggling 10 tho water For NJ
instant the sight Of my chid's danger
overpowered every other consideration
and sprang for the river, but before
| got half tho distance the hoarsc
whistle of the approaching train rang
in my car like trumpet, and the
thought of my duty, and the hundreds
Of lives that would be sacrificed if
deserted my post, we Mt through my
brain like fash Of lightning, while
all the timo there was feeling about
my heart can't tell in so many words
i only knew that it was worse than
Misunderstanding me to save my
boy.


The whole thing couldn't have


lasted more than two seconds, and how
the ono iccling got the better OF the
obhci L ucNcI hutW' IuNc uO ItC-
objection Of turning back, but the next
thing remember | was at the switch
working away like mad. never bad
such strength. | felt that could
have wrcpchcd up the solid rails in
my agony, aud bent them like straw ;
and | did not seem to see anything
about me distinctly neither rails nor
ties-but dimIy aud vaguely, as if ia
dream, or at n great distance. What
| did see as plainly as DO now, al
though it was behind me, was the
clear and beautiful river flowing on iu
the morning sur, and in the midst Of
it little Willie weakly struggling for
help, while the bright, cruel waves
smote him in the face and laughed.
! had no ear for the nearing train,
but all | hcard-or seemed to, for
can't rightly say-were is cries to his
father for help, growing fainter and
fainter; and then the horrible bub-
bling sound, as no sank finally, aud
his last breath found its way to the
surface.


"At length the switch was in posi-
ton, and although its a short job at
best, and | must have accomplished
it at that time with quickness | can
never again equal, yet it seemed
longer than tho longest summers day /;
but 1t was done, and | rushed to tho
river and gazed eagerly around for
some sign that might toll me wherc
to oPlunge 10 to rescue my child but
there was nothing, nothing but the
sunlight that glistened brightly on
the little wavelets that smiled mock
ingly in my face as. they hurried on
ward. l don't remember anything
further. There was a great Choking
in my throat, huge wheight Of lead
seemed to fall on my brain, and all was
black. When / came to my senses it
was three weeks afterward, with my
old woman-God bless her-sitting
along side Of me holdin' my hand 10
hers. The doctor said | had mado
close miss Of it and at first | felt sorry
that lived at all; but that didn't
last long, for l knew there was an-
other one-she who sat beside me
who had suffered more than | had
and stood it nobly, SO l tried to get
better In ordor to console her. 1t was
two weeks more before got out OF
bed, and quite two months before l
was able to 60 around. ] will never
DO tho same man again.


"Tho company pensioaed me, and
didu't want me to do any more work
at all. But couldn't bear to be idle
you see, sir, wasn't brought up to
it, and strange rs it may appear, |
didn't feel like working anywhere save
in the old place ; seemed to be clos
er to my boy there. l found the lily
ho had gathered, just as had placed
10 my jacket pocket, and gave it to
his mothcr She has n vat all wiLher