He was dressed for the wedding, the Christmas morning, or whatever awaited him, and was anxious that the couriers of the King should come. When the moment came the old engineer’s headlight was undimmed, the switch signals showed green, and when he called for the last board at the home station the signal came back: “All’s well; come on in.”
He had received his coveted promotion.
AN UNUSUAL KINDNESS
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That best portion of a good man’s life–– His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love. ––Wordsworth. |
The Methodist locomotive engineer had died joyful. “I am so glad to go,” he said. “I am like a boy when there’s a circus in town; I’ve got the price, and my baggage is checked clear through.”
I was holding a memorial service for him in his old home town, and at the close a big, broad-shouldered man came forward to the altar rail and quietly said, “You did not know that man.”
The remark startled me a little, for I had been acquainted with him for many years; in fact, had once been his pastor.
“I thought I did,” replied I.