Show 11 jill fill I 1 I 1 jill A pecks good soy 31 john peck had the good fortune to have been born barn of sensible parents it la Is not every boy who has for or an heritage common sense and begins life under tinder such favorable circumstances johns mother did not consider inis chievous ness a particular mark of intelligence telli gence so he p passed asse d the interesting period of boyhood without ever once having cut the curls off his sisters erts favorite doll or the ears off the house cat neither had john worried th neighbors dogs with sundry tin cans cana A few other things had also flourished in the vicinity without his interference namely some fine watermelons water melons peach orchards and vineyards halloween hallow een night found him happy and interested in his home yeti yet notwithstanding all these delights 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 sister bister 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 at that time in summer he worked on the farm and in winter he went to school joba 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 accomplished complis hed that which he attempted he did learn this was to be his last term at the district school another year he would go to the academy and john was anxious to pass a good examination amin atlon 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 I 1 take trestle this morning mother there goes number two and there cant possibly be another train tor for halt half an hour and I 1 can make that trestle in ten minutes any time yes answered his mother 1 I shall not object as you are ite ate this morning by that you may be able to reach the school room in time tor for your first recitation I 1 will watch you sate safe across she added as she kissed him john was not at all ashamed to kiss kisa his mother still since he had got to be so much the taller of the two the goodbye good bye kiss did not seem to be so much of a necessity as in earlier years but somehow it seemed to be just what he needed that morning by crossing the trestlework trestle work and railroad bridge john could gain halt half a mile but this was not his usual route to school principally because his mother opposed sed it so strongly the trestlework and bridge combined were nearly a mile in length and as there were trains passing frequently it was rather dangerous to attempt to cross it he was nearing the approaches approach ea of the bridge when his attention was attracted by a broken rail at his feet had it broken under the weight of the heavy train that had just passed over certain it was that another train would never pass over it in safety tor for the broken ends had sprung several inches apart no school tor for me this forenoon thought john 1 I must hurry back to the station and give the alarm but john did not know that the express had been delayed two hours at the junction and was now hurrying along at a tremendous rate trying to make up for lost time As he turned to go back his 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 danger many times but his he had never faced death by turning and running back he ha 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 it seemed to john as though he stood there for hours so BO 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 bis duty to stay there and perhaps be ground to pieces was it right to bring such desolation on his borne as his death would bring yes better ose ore desolate home than many and they thet woula mow that he fae died on duty at last the shrill rhall pierced the clear frosty air and john knew by the jarring of the rails that the breaks were being applied promptly and firmly with an inaudible prayer that the all powerful hand might stay the awful calamity he sank on his knees the rho swift flowing river below the ring bridge beneath his feet and the smoking engine in front all mingled min 91 ed together in one dizzy blur and john peck tor for the first time in his life felt hla bin limbs refuse to bear his weight but bg be stin still retained his presence of mind ind and holding his hand band high above his big hega head kept waving the chandker beef the train men called it luck but john knew that a higher power that terrible momentum and brought the train to a halt twenty feet from the broken rall the engineer sprang from the cali ind and beg began firing a volley of abuse at ohi john for his he had supposed losea that when the boy found the tvan train him he had been too badly ft frightened to try to es escape cape when his eye 00 cabot aught V the brodeu auf arace elwe grew gratia ashens and motioning to he hurried to lo where john the nd r I 1 W T john sailed a little faintly it if must be admitted but he said 1 I hardly think you yon would run your engine over me mr harris john peck as aa I 1 exclaimed the engineer the tears team starting to his eyes no other boy could have done such a courageous act and faced such danger by this time the train men had gathered around him each trying to getas get ills hand when the passengers realized the awful danger and how it had been averted they insisted that john should be brought into the train and calls for john peck rang out ont from men women and children child reiL but bus john refused to be made a hero of saying that he must return home immediately as his mother had witnessed his peril and would be frantic with anxiety till she saw that he was sate safe several gentlemen declared that they would accompany him home among them was one of the officials of the road who was aboard the train as it was as not safe tor for him to cross the trestlework trestle work and bridge alone after all that he had gone through let iet I et us precede them and take a peep into johns home mrs peck took up her work again pausing occasionally to look out after the lithe young figure as it hurried down the lahe how foolish I 1 am she said 1 I believe I 1 am growing nervous nothing could harm him I 1 know there Is never less than a halt half hour between trains and generally more mom As he neared the tar far end of the bridge she forgot her anxiety and with her eyes on her work knew nothing of her boys danger till the piercing shriek of the engine caused her I 1 heart to give one great bound and then to lie like lead in her bosom how she reacted the porch she never knew but there she stood with nell baby and her husband who had been brought to the scene by nells agonized shriek As they stood there watching the grim monster bearing down upon their loved one each breathed a prayer tor for hla his rescue oh why dont he turn and run groaned nell but neither father nor mother could speak they saw I 1 that the train was slacking its speed but it seemed impossible for it to be I 1 stopped in time they saw john drop down on his knees then mrs peck could bear the sight no longer and covering her face with her hands she fell to the floor in a dead swoon the next instant the train stood still on the track nell saw the men get oft off and run toward john she saw him lifted to his feet and wave his hand toward home nell had no time to indulge in hysterics which would have been a great relief to her overtaxed nerves she could not even sit down for a moment the shock might kill her mother and hurry hurrying inZ as fast am aa her weakened limbs would carry cam her she brought restoratives restora tives which she and her father applied chafing the cold hand she called again and again john is not hurt marnma mamma he has waved his hand to us to let us know that he its is all right when her son entered the room mrs peck seemed to realize for the first time that he was really alive but it was many weeks before she was able to leave her room the snowwhite snow white hair which supplanted the rich brown braids and crowns a face still young john often says proudly Is worn expressly tor for him the railroad official said to mr peck at parting your son eon is quite a hero his courage and presence of mind have saved the railroad company many thousands of dollars he will be suitably rew rewarded added he Is no more a hero now than behas he has always been answered s mr peck if john had neglected to do his duty today to day I 1 believe it would have been the first time that evening a messenger brought john an I 1 elegant gold watch and chain a gift from grateful passengers and as the express crossed the bridge and trestle every window was thrown open and handkerchiefs and hats waved many a goodby good by to the hero of the day after a few weeks a letter came from the president of the road asking mr peck and john to meet him in cincinnati cin nati as he wished to have an interview with them during this interview it was agreed that john should enter a certain school to fit him for far a position which the great railroad man seemed to think thin him so well calculated to fill in the busy useful life which followed john peck filled many positions of honor and trust and found many opportunities port unities for great and noble deeds but he still found time to attend to the minor duties of life which came to h him every day the boy who neglects the present opportunities and waits for a chance to do some great deed will probably y be absent or tardy when the opportunity for greatness arrives maud maxwell dillow dubow |