"A NOBLE BOY."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1478, 9 February 1887, Page 3

" A NOBLE BOY."

One morning the eDglueer of an express train on an Eastern road vtrb startled by the sodden appearauco on the track ahead, of a boy who wna frantically waving a piece of red fUnne', Interpreting thia aa a warning of danger, the engineer whistled for * down brakes. ' Jußtthon Iho vraio, which had been goin« at the rate of Bixty milea an hoar, turned a sharp curve, and a ovy of horror broke from the lipa of engitie< r and fireman, for m ihe centre of the track, bat a fvw yards ohend, was a large boulder. In a f'.s\V Beconds ihe train cams to a at;>nd?itil', the cowcatcher almuot touching the huge Bttmo. .A fow Beconda later tho boy who had Bayed the lives of bo many of his Miow. creatures was surrouuded by the pale and excited passengers, who were liatoning to .the Btory of tho rosaue. "I was walkin' along tho track on my way to my Sunday-3chool teacher's house, whfn I Boe the stun on tho track," bsaau the little fallow, modestly, and if his grammar was not of the b9st, •. o one thought of ctitioiaing it (lion. "I knew this train waa pretty noar duo, an 1 I made up my mind I'd have tar Btop her. So I locked round and found this here flannel — it's a pleos of ai old flag, ye eoe, that some signal man's fired away — an 1 I run ahead wi'h it— an' that's all there is to toll." " You are a noblo bey," said an old gentleman In a voice brokon with emotion. "Friends," he addod turning to bis fellow-passengers. '' this little hero must not go unrewarded. 1 am going to pass my hat round for contributions' for fiis benefit, and here is a five-dollar notimfbt my share. Sytfie of tha pp.BS : ngora took thetr departure m considerables hrtsto r.t thia, but many remained, and m a few minuted a heap of C'in and crisp bank notpg was thrust into the hands of the bl shing and bewlldcrnd HtUo fellow. Thon the old gentleman who had started Uio colleotlon liß»ded h ; m a card, paying : " Here you have my name and odflrea?, my lad, and if you ever need a friend, oometome." ,< Then the boulder huvfnc been removed from the track, the train started. The i boy watohed till It diaappaiired In the distance; then he Bat down bes ; do the track and began counting tho money. It wao than that fivo othor boys emerged from behind a clump of bushes by the roadeideard advanced towarddour hor>. ." Y.er done U Vuliy," eaid one of them " How much did ycr get, V* " F»>rty-B6von dollars and ninety-five cants," waß tha leply. " I'll give y v fellows yor share before wa go home. Way, don't tMs lay over plckln 1 hucklt* berries and sellin' 'cm for five centa a quart 1 Will, I Bhould ejackerlate !"