Various - Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. XII, Jan. 3, 1891

V >> Various >> Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. XII, Jan. 3, 1891

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GOLDEN DAYS

For Boys and Girls

Vol. XII--No. 6. January 3, 1891.

Philadelphia:
JAMES ELVERSON,
Publisher.

* * * * *

[Transcriber's Note:
The notation "->" represents the pointing-finger symbol. Text
incorporated into advertising illustrations is shown in (parentheses);
where necessary, a brief description of the illustration is given in
{braces}.
The layout of the advertising pages is shown after all text, along
with a list of file names for major illustrations. Typographical errors
in the original, whether corrected or not, are listed at the end.]

* * * * *

"BIRTH IS MUCH, BUT BREEDING MORE."
Where were you born that you DON'T use
SAPOLIO

SAPOLIO is a Solid Cake of SCOURING SOAP
used for ALL Cleaning Purposes, except the Laundry.

* * * * *

[Illustration: (Telegraphy)]

THE "MORSE" OUTFIT, $3.75.

Complete Outfit for learning Telegraphy, and operating Short Lines of
Telegraph, from a few feet to several miles in length. Consists of full
size, well made Giant Sounder with Curved Key Combination Set as above,
together with Battery, Book of Instruction, insulated Wire, Chemicals,
and all necessary materials for operating. Price $3.75. Sent by express
upon receipt of amount by Registered Letter, Money Order, Express Order
or Postage Stamps. Morse Pamphlet of practical Telegraph Instructions
free to any address. J.H. BUNNELL & CO., 76 Cortlandt Street, New York.
Largest and Best Telegraph Supply House in America.

MAGIC

LANTERNS WANTED AND FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.
HARBACH & CO. 809 Filbert St. Phila. Pa.

[Illustration]

** The STAR BANJO **

Is made on entirely new principles and produces the most desirable
QUALITY of tone combined with the greatest volume and carrying power,
making it the finest instrument extant for stage or parlor use.
PRICE LIST MAILED FREE.
*LYON & HEALY, Chicago.*

*CIRCULARS* to young people only. Money for you.
Address Novelty Typewriter Co., *Oswego, N.Y.*

[THIS IS NOT AN IDLE]

This company does not handle Farm Mortgages, but City Investments only.
The WINNER COMPANY has paid its investors over Two Million Dollars in
profits since 1883, without a single case of loss.

[TALE OF IDLE MONEY]

To be convinced of this send to WM.M. PARMENTER, 50 State St., Boston,
Mass. for circulars explaining the business of the WINNER INVESTMENT CO.
Mailed free to any address.

CARDS

Send 2c. Stamp for Sample Book of all the FINEST and Latest Style
CARDS for 1891. We sell Genuine Cards, not Trash. UNION CARD CO.,
COLUMBUS, OHIO.

MAGIC LANTERNS

*And STEREOPTICONS*, all prices.

Views illustrating every subject for *PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS*, etc.
-> _A profitable business for a man with a small capital._
Also, Lanterns for Home Amusement. 208 page Catalogue _free_.
*McALLISTER*, Mfg. Optician, *49 Nassau St., N.Y.*

*WORLD'S* Fair Railway Puzzle. Lots of fun: sample 10c.; 3 for 25c.
Morton & Co., Box 848, Chicago

*MINIATURE PHOTOGRAPHS 12 for 25c. Sample 2c.*
Copied from photographs or tintypes, which WE RETURN.
THE BARTHOLOMEW STUDIO, WALLINGFORD, CONN.

Advertising Rates for "Golden Days."

Single insertions, 75c. per Agate line.
Four insertions, 70c. per Agate line for each insertion.
Thirteen insertions, 65c. per Agate line for each insertion.
Twenty-six ", 60c. per Agate line for each insertion.
Fifty-two ", 50c. per Agate line for each insertion.

_Eight words average a line. Fourteen lines make one inch._

JAMES ELVERSON, Pubisher,
Philadelphia, Pa.

* * * * *

STAMPS.

[Illustration: (CEYLON POSTAGE TEN PENCE)]

*STAMPS--ALL GENUINE!*

*100 Rare Varieties*

China, Nicaragua, Honduras. Old Japan and Egypt, Bosnia, Peru, Orange,
Hawaii, fine old U.S., Interior. Treasury, P.O., War, etc., *with
elegant Stamp Album, only 25c*. 100 assorted rare Mexico, Ceylon,
Guiana, Turkey, Costa-Rica, etc., *only 10c*. *Large new 20 page
Price-list, etc., FREE! AGENTS WANTED* at 33 1/3 per cent com.
*STANDARD STAMP CO.*, removed to 923-925 Lasalle St., St. Louis, Mo.

STAMPS

We lead; others follow. We are the world wreckers on low prices.
Ten-cent sets--3 Malta, 2 Montserrat, 5 Newfoundland, 2 Paraguay, 4
Dominica Republic, 2 St. Vincent, 2 Sierra Leone, 5 Straits Settlements,
3 Suriname, 2 Tobago. 40-page price list, 2c. New coin catalogue, 10c.
E.F. GAMBS, Coin and Stamp Dealer, 4 Sutter Street, San Francisco, Cal.

STAMPS

100 all different, 10c.; 300 all different. $1.25; 500 all different,
$2.25. price lists free. Agents wanted to sell stamps from my unequalled
sheets at 33-1/3 per cent, com. Wm. E. Baitzell, 412 N. Howard St.,
Baltimore, Md.

300
Mixed, rare Australian, etc., 10c.: 75 fine varieties and *nice* album,
10c. Illustrated list free. Agents wanted, 40 p.c. com. F.P. Vincent,
Chatham, N.Y.

STAMPS

Agents! Approval Sheets, 1-3d com. List free. Conrath & Co.,
1334 Lasalle St., St. Louis, Mo.

STAMPS

Price list *FREE*. Approval sheets 50 per ct. com.
E.A. OBORNE, Jamaica, New York.

STAMPS--Agents wanted for the _very best_ approval sheets at
40 per ct. com. *Putnam Bros., Lewiston, Me*

* * * * *

15 CENT PACKAGE OF GAMES.

The Best Collection Ever Sold for
Four Times the Amount.

*Game of Authors*, 48 cards with directions.
*Set of Dominoes*,
*Chess Board*, with men.
*Checker Board*, with men.
*Fox and Geese Board*, with men.
*Nine Men Morris Board*, with men.
*Mystic Age Tablet*, tells age of any person.
*The Beautiful Language of Flowers*.
*Morse Telegraph Alphabet*.
*The Improved Game of Forfeit*.
*Parlor Tableau*,
*Pantomine*,
*Shadow Pantomine*,
*Shadow Buff*,
*The Clarivoyant*, how to become a medium.
*Game of Fortune*,
*The Album Writers Friend*, 275 Select Autograph Album Verses (new).
*50 Choice Conumdrums or Riddles*, with answers (new).
*Thirteen Magical Experiments*,
*Eleven Parlor Games*,
*Magic Music*,
*Order of the Whistle*,
*Game of Letters*, and many others.

To introduce our goods and get new customers, we will send the whole
lot to any address, freight paid, on receipt of 15c.; 2 lots for 25c.;
5 lots, 50c. Stamps taken. *STAYNER & CO., Providence, R.I.*

CARDS

FINEST GOODS, LATEST STYLES, LOWEST PRICES, SAMPLES *FREE*
LAUREL CARD CO., CLINTONVILLE, CONN.

[Illustration]

*Will Do It.*

Our Beard Elixir will force a *Mustache* in 20 days.
*Full Beard* in 30. Sample package, postpaid, 15c; 2 for 25c;
one dozen, 75 cents. Agents wanted. WESSON MFG. CO., 5 E St.,
Providence, R.I.

USE BOILING WATER OR MILK.
EPPS'S
GRATEFUL--COMFORTING.
COCOA
SOLD IN LABELED 1/2 LB. TINS.

CARDS

NEW SAMPLE BOOK of Hidden Name, Silk Fringe, Gold, Silver and Tinted
Edge Cards. The Finest ever offered for 2 cent stamp. NATIONAL CARD CO.,
SCIO, OHIO.

MAGIC LANTERN VIEWS FOR SMALL LANTERNS.
COMIC, BIBLE SCENERY, NOTED PLACES
SEND ONE CENT FOR NEW PRICE LIST
CAEL BROWN
155 WASHINGTON ST., CHICAGO, ILL.

CARDS!

30 Samples *Free.* Jewel Co., Clintonville, Conn.

ASTHMA CURED

DR. TAFT'S ASTHMALENE never fails; send us your address,
we will mail trial BOTTLE *FREE*
THE DR. TAFT BROS.M. CO., ROCHESTER, N.Y.

WINTER PRICES ON BICYCLES

[Illustration]

DEALERS DISCOUNTS OUTDONE.

Don't wait till spring, buy *now* and save big money. Easy payments,
all makes, new & 2d hd. Extraordinary prices on job lots. Cata free.
*Rouse, Hazard & Co., 84 G Street, Peoria, Ill.*

CARDS

LATEST STYLES, BEST PREMIUMS, -> COSTLY OUTFIT. *FREE*
YALE CARD CO., NEW HAVEN, CONN.

100

Popular Songs, 32 complete Love Stories, 11 thrilling
Detective Stories and large catalogue, all for 10c silver.
*Handford & Co., Lincoln Park, N.J.*

I CURE FITS!

When I say cure I do not mean merely to stop them for a time and then
have them return again. I mean a radical cure. I have made the disease
of FITS, EPILEPSY or FALLING SICKNESS a life-long study. I warrant my
remedy to cure the worst cases. Because others have failed is no reason
for not now receiving a cure. Send at once for a treatise and a Free
Bottle of my infallible remedy. Give Express and Post Office.
*H.G. ROOT, M.C., 183 Pearl St., N.Y.*

PLAYS

Dialogues, Tableaux, Speakers, for School, Club & Parlor. Best out.
Catalogue free. T.S. DENISON, Chicago, Ill.

[Illustration:
(The Ready Binder
for binding
THREE MONTHS
of the
GOLDEN DAYS
*Price, 10 Cents.*) ]

THIS BINDER is light, strong and handsome, and the weekly issues
of GOLDEN DAYS are held together by it in the convenient form of a book,
which can be kept lying on the reading-table. It is made of two white
wires joined together in the centre, with slides on either end for
pressing the wires together, thus holding the papers together by
pressure without mutilating them. We will furnish the Binders at
Ten Cents apiece, postage prepaid. Address JAMES ELVERSON,
Publisher, Philadelphia, Pa.

* * * * *

Children Cry for Pitcher's Castoria.

* * * * *

DOCTORS RECOMMEND

Ayer's Cherry Pectoral in preference to any other preparation
designed for the cure of colds and coughs, because it is safe,
palatable, and always efficacious.

"After an extensive practice of nearly one-third of a century,
Ayer's Cherry Pectoral is my cure for recent colds and coughs.
I prescribe it, and believe it to be the very best expectorant now
offered to the people. Ayer's medicines are constantly increasing in
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"I have never found, in thrty-five years' practice, any preparation
of so great value as Ayer's Cherry Pectoral for treatment of
diseases of the throat and lungs, and I constantly recommend it to
my patients. It not only cures colds and coughs, but is effectual in
relieving the most serious bronchial and pulmonary affections."
--L.J. Addison, M.D., Chicago, Ill.

->For croup and whooping cough, take

Ayer's Cherry Pectoral,

Prepared by Dr. J.C. Ayer & Co., Lowell, Mass. Sold by all Druggists.
Price $1; six bottles, $5.

* * * * *

[Illustration]

FREE
TO BOYS AND GIRLS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.

The WESTERN PEARL CO. will give away 1000 or more first-class safety
bicycles (boy's or girl's style) for advertising purposes. If you want
one on very easy conditions, without one cent of money for it.
Address, enclosing 2 cent stamp for particulars,
*WESTERN PEARL CO., 308 Dearborn Street, CHICAGO, ILL.*

SAMPLES 2c. World CARD Co. 47 Elder Cin'ti O.

[Illustration: (Excelsior)]

PRINT Your Own CARDS and Advertisements!

Card Press, *$3;* Circular size, *$8;* Small Newspaper Press, *$22.*
Fast 9x13 Jobber, *$100.* You can *SAVE MONEY* and *make big money*,
too, by printing for others. _Fun for spare hours._ Type Setting easy
by our printed rules. Send 2 stamps for large catalogue of presses,
type, cards, paper, etc., direct to factory.
*KELSEY & CO., Meriden, Conn*

[Illustration]

GOLD PLATED PEARL SCARF PIN FREE

To introduce our Watches and Jewelry, we will send the above beautiful
Scarf Pin free to anyone. Cut this ad. out and return to us. Large
illustrated catalogue sent free with pin.
*W. HILL & CO., Wholesale Jewelers, 11b Madison St., Chicago, Ill.*

100 NEW SONGS

(no 2 alike). 1 pk. May I.C.U. Home Cards. All the late flirtations,
etc. 20 Fine Photos, large Ill. Cat., Lovers' Telegraph and 15 Versions
of Love, all 10c. EASTERN SUPPLY CO. Laceyville, O.

Piso's Remedy for Catarrh is the Best, Easiest to Use, and Cheapest.

[Illustration: (CATARRH)]

Sold by druggists or sent by mail. 50c. E.T. Hazeltine, Warren, Pa.

32 *COMPLETE* Love Stories, 11 Thrilling Detective Stories and 100
*Popular Songs*, postpaid, 10c. (silver). J. Roush, L. Box 615,
Frankfort, Ind.

[Illustration: (THE GREAT AMERICAN TEA COMPANY)]

GOOD NEWS
TO LADIES!

*Entire New Departure. Handsome Present to every Purchaser.*

Greatest offer. Now's your time to get orders for our celebrated
*Teas, Coffees* and *Baking Powder* and secure a beautiful Gold Band
or Moss Rose China Tea Set, Dinner Set, Gold Band Moss Rose Toilet
Set, Watch, Brass Lamp, Castor, or Webster's Dictionary. 3-1/2 lbs.
Fine Tea by mail on receipt of $2. The Great American Tea Co., 31
and 33 Vesey St., New York. P.O. Box, 289

10 CENTS

(silver) pays for your address in the "AGENT'S DIRECTORY," which goes
whirling all over the United States, and you will get hundreds of
samples, circulars, books, newspapers, magazines, etc., from those who
want agents. You will get lots of good reading free and will be *WELL
PLEASED* with the small investment. -> List containing name sent to
each person answering. *T.D. CAMPBELL, D 105, Boyleston, Ind.*

DO YOU PLAY CARDS?

No game complete without our *Patent Counters.* Scores any game.
Send 10 cents for a pair. 30 cents buys fine pack Cards and
100 Poker Chips. *REED & CO., 84 Market St., Chicago, Ill.*

CATARRH CURED

I will send FREE to every reader of this paper a copy of the
original recipe for preparing the best and surest remedy ever
discovered for the permanent and speedy cure of Catarrh. Over one
million cures in five years. Send your name and address to Prof.
J.A. LAWRENCE, 58 Warren Street, New York, and receive this free
Recipe. Write to-day. A Postal Card will cost you but

ONE CENT!!

[Illustration: ring]

30 New Style Cards, 275 Album Verses, 50 Conundrums with answers,
slight of hand tricks, games and RING, 10 cents. Address HOME CARD CO.,
PROVIDENCE, R.I.

FUN

Game of Forfeit, with full directions, 275 Autograph Album
Selections, 11 Parlor Games, 50 Conundrums. Game of Fortune. Mystic
Age Table. Magic Music, Game of Letters. The new book, Order of the
Whistle. Language of Flowers, Morse Telegraph Alphabet, Game of
Shadow Buff and 13 Magical Experiments. All the above on receipt of
3 cents for postage, etc. Address, NASSAU NOVELTY WORKS, 58 & 60
Fulton St., New York. FREE

*SAMPLE BOOK* of Cards, 2c. Globe Co., Wallingford, Ct.

25c PRINTING OUTFIT

[Illustration]

*A WHOLE PRINTING OUTFIT, COMPLETE AND PRACTICAL*, Just as shown
in cut. 3 Alphabets of neat Type. Bottle of Indelible Ink, Pad,
Tweezers, in neat case with catalogue and directions "HOW TO BE A
PRINTER." Sets up any name, prints cards, paper, envelopes, etc.
marks linen. Worth 50c. The best gift for young people. Postpaid,
only 25c., 3 for 60c., 6 for $1. Ag'ts wanted. Ingersol & Bro.,
65 Cortlandt St., N.Y. City.

4 CTS.
100 Assorted U.S. and Foreign Stamps 4 cents; 500, 18 cents;
1000, 33 cents HANDFORD & CO., Lincoln Park, N.J.

* * * * *

THE DOLLAR TYPEWRITER

$1

THIS IS THE TYPE USED. ABCDEFGHI

[Illustration:
(NEW YORK 007 2
DEAR SIR.
THIS TYPEWRITER DOES THE SAME
QUALITY OF WORK AS A REMINGTON.
AND WILL WRITE 20 WORDS A MINUTE)]

A perfect and practical Type Writing machine for only *ONE DOLLAR*.
Exactly like cut; regular Remington type; does the same quality of work;
takes a fools cap sheet. Complete with paper holder, automatic feed,
perfect type wheel & inking roll; uses copying ink. Size 3x4x9 inches;
weight, 12 oz; Satisfaction guaranteed; Circulars free; *AGENTS WANTED.*
Sent by express for *$1.00*; by mail, 15c extra for postage.
*R.H. INGERSOLL & BRO., 65 CORTLANDT ST., N.Y. CITY.*

MOUTH ORGAN

Chart teaches a tune in 10 minutes. Agts. watd. 2c. stamp.
Music Novelty Co., Detroit, Mich.

GUNS

Watches, Clocks, Etc.
DOUBLE Breech-Loader $7.75
RIFLES $2.00
PISTOLS 75c

All Kinds cheaper than elsewhere. Before you buy,
send stamp for Catalogue. Address POWELL & CLEMENT,
*180 Main Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.*

MOTHERS

Be sure und use *"Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup"*
for your children while *Teething*.

FORCE BEARD OR HAIR.
EITHER SEX. ANYBODY.

Prof. Dyke's Elixir has restored the hair on my head, when I was
perfectly bald, J.T. Biggs, Bryan, Tex., Oct. 8. John Millard says,
Prof Dyke's Elixir has produced a heavy moustache on my upper lip in
4 weeks. My face was entirely smooth. Thousands more

Prof. Dyke's Elixir grows the heaviest beard and hair in 4 weeks.
Complete remedy, in bottles or metal cases, with the finest perfume
known, for 25c, in stamps or silver. Worth four times this amount.
We mail secure. Address *Smith Med. Co. Palatine. Ills.*

$25 A WEEK to LADY AGENTS

"Victoria Protector" and rubber goods for ladies and children.
Victoria by mail $[**] Circulars free. Mrs. L.E. Singleton,
Box 865, Chicago, Ill.

For boy or man, as an educator or as a source of amusement or income,
at a small expense, get one of our

PRINTING PRESSES
JOSEPH WATSON,
25 Murray St., N.Y. City.

Specimen Book of type, [**] cents. Circular sent free.

Amateur Printers' Guide Book. 15 cents.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

375 Plush Floral Silk Fringe cards, games, album verses,
&c., Initial Handkerchief, Ring, Pocket Pen & Pencil &
*Agents' Samples 10c. CLINTON & CO., North Haven, Ct.*

SEND 30 CENTS

in stamps for elegant *Concert Harmonica*, worth $1.00.
Money refunded if not satisfactory. JOHN C. HAYNES & CO.,
33 Court Street and 694 Washington Street, Boston, Mass.

100 SCRAP
PICTURES & AGENT'S CARD OUTFIT
2c AND PRESENT
FREE
E.H. PARDEE, MONTOWESE, CONN.

PLAYS! PLAYS! PLAYS!

De Witt's AMATEUR and STANDARD PLAYS DICK'S LONDON ACTING EDITION OF
PLAYS Complete Descriptive Catalogue of over 2000 Plays: Dialogues;
Headings and Recitations; Charades; Tableaux; Pantomimes; Books of
Games, Sports and Amusements, Athletics, Gymnastics, etc., etc., sent
free on application to The De Witt Publishing House, 33 Rose St., N.Y.

OPIUM

Morphine Habit Cured in 10 to 20 days. No pay till cured.
Dr. J. Stephens, Lebanon, Ohio.

BARNEY & BERRY

[Illustration: {ice skate}]

CATALOGUE
Springfield, Mass. FREE.

CARDS FREE

Send your name and address on a postal card for all the Latest
Styles of Silk Fringe, Photograph, Envelope, Beveled Edge, Crazy
Edge Cards &c., Samples of all free. HOME and YOUTH, Cadiz, Ohio.

[Illustration: (TONS OF MAIL)]

ONLY DIRECTORY ON EARTH

Guaranteeing 50,000 Circulation. For 10cts. (silver) your name will
be inserted and copy mailed you accompanied by positive proof that
your name is sent to 50,000 Publishers, Advertisers, Mfgrs, and
others, and from these you will receive hundreds, probably
thousands, of valuable Samples, Papers, Books, Magazines, etc.
ALL FREE. Always address AMERICAN DIRECTORY CO., Buffalo, N.Y.

Vernon Hill, Va.-- Gents: I have already received over 1,000 parcels
of mail, scores of magazines, etc., for which I had often paid 25c
each before. My experience proves your Directory far excels all
others, as I find most of them are frauds and cheats. R.T. James.

FREE

SAMPLE CARDS. THE FINEST, CHEAPEST AND BEST.
COSTLY OUTFIT FREE to all who will act as AGENT.
Send 2c stamp for postage. U.S. CARD CO., CADIZ, OHIO.

DEAFNESS
& HEAD NOISES CURED by
Peck's INVISIBLE *TUBULAR EAR CUSHIONS*. Whispers heard. Comfortable.
Successful where all Remedies FAIL. Ills. book & proofs free. Address
F. HISCOX, 859 Broadway, New York.

* * * * *
* * * *
* * * * *

GOLDEN DAYS
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

(Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1891, by
James Elverson, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at
Washington, D.C.)

VOL. XII.

JAMES ELVERSON, Publisher.
N.W. corner Ninth and Spruce Sts.

PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY 3, 1891.

TERMS
$3.00 Per Annum, In Advance.

No. 6.

* * * * *
* * * *
* * * * *

RAILROAD ROCK,
THE TRAIN BOY OF THE PEN YAN

Or, Doing His Level Best.

by VICTOR ST. CLAIR,

Author of "Bayard the Bicyclist," "From the
Forge to the Forum," "Roughing It
on Range and Ranch," etc.

CHAPTER I.

"Discharged from your last situation, young man? For what reason?"

And the busy superintendent of the Pen Yan Road, one of the largest
railway systems in the country, turned from his maps and statistics to
glance suspiciously at the slight figure, before him.

Clear and prompt came the answer:

"For doing my duty, sir."

"Humph!" replied the official, shrugging his shoulders and eying the
youthful speaker more closely. "Men--nor boys, for that matter--never
lose situations from attention to business. You will have to find
another excuse."

"I have no other, sir."

By this time the notice of the subordinate officials and clerks, of whom
there were twenty or more in the company's spacious rooms, was fixed
upon him who stood at the iron railing encircling the chief's desk.

He was not over sixteen years of age, of medium size, poorly clad, and
evidently used to hard work. But his features, though browned with a
deep coat of tan and bountifully sprinkled with freckles, made up an
honest, manly-looking countenance, while the blue eyes met the railroad
superintendent's sterner gaze with an unflinching light.

Everything had seemed to work that day at cross-purposes with
Superintendent Lyons, and he was in no humor to parley with the poor
boy, who had thrust himself into his presence with more boldness than
discretion.

But the very attitude of the youthful applicant, as he stood there with
uncovered head, respectfully waiting for his answer, showed he was not
to be put off with the ordinary excuse.

General Lyons was so favorably impressed with his appearance of quiet
determination that he was fain to ask:

"You say you have come from Woodsville, a hundred miles, for a situation
on the road?"

"Yes, sir."

"And that you have recently been discharged from our employ? I must say,
your audacity is only equaled by your frankness."

"But, sir, it was no fault of mine. I was trying to do my duty."

"Give me the particulars in as few words as possible."

"Thank you, sir. I have worked on Section 66 nearly two years--"

"Let me see," interrupted the superintendent, "that extends from Trestle
Summit to Wood's Hollow."

"Yes, sir."

"The most troublesome section on the entire line of the road. But go on
with your story."

"It's a bad section, sir, and it usually takes five regular hands to
keep it in repair. But for two weeks a couple of the men have been off
on account of illness, while our foreman, Mr. Gammon, has not been on
duty half of the time. This left one man, with myself, to look after the
road. That, with the rains we have been having, has given us more than
we could do as it ought to be done. But Mr. Gammon refused to put on any
more help, so Mr. Baxter and I have done the best we could.

"Day before yesterday it was after dark when we had finished a repair
which had taken us all the afternoon, at Trestle Summit, the extreme
upper end of our section.

"The northern mail train was then due, and we were waiting for that to
pass, so we could have a clear track to go home, when a man, coming from
the direction of Woodsville, told us the bridge, two miles beyond the
station, had been washed away. The stranger didn't look like an honest
man; and we knew, if he had been, he would told them at the station. But
the bridge had been threatened for several days, and, as we had not seen
it for thirty-six hours, we knew there was more than an even chance that
the tramp was right.

"Mr. Gammon had promised to look to it that day; but he so seldom did as
he would talk that we did not believe he had been near it. If it was so,
every life on the train was in peril, and, as I have said, it was then
time for it to come along.

"So Mr. Baxter and I decided to signal the train, and tell them of the
situation. But it was raining hard then, the wind was blowing furiously,
and our matches were damp, so we worked in vain to make a torch. It was
too dark for our flag to be seen. We had no way to stop the train. At
that moment we heard its whistle in the distance and knew it would soon
reach us.

"We were on the backbone of Trestle Summit, where, either way, the track
descends at a sharp grade for over three miles. It was nearly six miles
to Woodsville; but I knew while the mail was climbing the up grade we
could get well on toward the station. So I said to Mr. Baxter:

"'Let's take our hand-car and go on ahead of the train. It's our only
chance.'

"We weren't long in getting the car upon the track. But we had barely
sprung aboard when the mail head-light burst into sight less than half a
mile away!

"'We are too late!' gasped Mr. Baxter; and, whether from fright,
excitement or illness, he fell in a swoon.

"The car had started down the grade. Pulling Mr. Baxter on, so he would
not fall off, I lent my strength to the car's momentum, and we shot down
the track like lightning.

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