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Literary
May 26, 1893
Weekly Graphic
Kirksville, Adair County, Missouri
What is this article about?
A young girl in Oakland, California, affectionately thanks the train engine and its grimy crew for safely returning her parents from a mountain journey, briefly illuminating their tough lives with her innocent love and a sunbeam.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
A Little Sunbeam
Railroad engineers and firemen, grimy and taciturn, lead a more dangerous life than any soldier; but their occupation is prosaic, and few give them credit for heroism or the gentler feelings which make up the romantic side of human nature. Yet in their existence there sometimes falls a spark of light and a ray of sunshine that illuminates the smoky cab. The overland train had arrived at Oakland, Cal., and the great iron engine was throbbing and puffing after the long, sinuous trip over the mountain sides and rocky defiles, lofty trestles and marshy stretches.
The din in the depot was deafening; but out of the chaos of sounds a sweet girlish voice was heard welcoming home her parents, who had arrived on the train. She was a little golden-haired beauty, scarcely seven years of age, with a quick, intelligent eye, and a loving nature, to which she gave full vent in the radiant and impulsive way she welcomed her parents back. At last they took her by the hand and proceeded toward the waiting ferry boat.
As they passed by the engine attached to the train the little one broke away, ran up to the big black machine, and patted the driving wheels affectionately with her small, white hands. Then looking up at the smoke stack, she said:
"You good, big, old iron horse you have brought back papa and mamma safe over the great mountains to their little girl, and I want to thank you, even if you don't care for me, because I am so little. And you, too," she continued, turning her face wistfully toward the grimy engineer and fireman, who were looking down at her—"I love you all." Then she kissed her hand to them, and was gone.
"Bill," said the engineer to his fireman, "what was that?"
"Peared like an angel," said the fireman, echoing the other's thought.
Just then a fleeting sunbeam from the great orb sinking down in the Golden Gate came stealing through a chink in the depot, and stole by the engineer into his cab. There was a strange look on his face for an instant; and when he turned his head, there were two light spots on his dust-begrimed cheeks.—Christian Journal
Railroad engineers and firemen, grimy and taciturn, lead a more dangerous life than any soldier; but their occupation is prosaic, and few give them credit for heroism or the gentler feelings which make up the romantic side of human nature. Yet in their existence there sometimes falls a spark of light and a ray of sunshine that illuminates the smoky cab. The overland train had arrived at Oakland, Cal., and the great iron engine was throbbing and puffing after the long, sinuous trip over the mountain sides and rocky defiles, lofty trestles and marshy stretches.
The din in the depot was deafening; but out of the chaos of sounds a sweet girlish voice was heard welcoming home her parents, who had arrived on the train. She was a little golden-haired beauty, scarcely seven years of age, with a quick, intelligent eye, and a loving nature, to which she gave full vent in the radiant and impulsive way she welcomed her parents back. At last they took her by the hand and proceeded toward the waiting ferry boat.
As they passed by the engine attached to the train the little one broke away, ran up to the big black machine, and patted the driving wheels affectionately with her small, white hands. Then looking up at the smoke stack, she said:
"You good, big, old iron horse you have brought back papa and mamma safe over the great mountains to their little girl, and I want to thank you, even if you don't care for me, because I am so little. And you, too," she continued, turning her face wistfully toward the grimy engineer and fireman, who were looking down at her—"I love you all." Then she kissed her hand to them, and was gone.
"Bill," said the engineer to his fireman, "what was that?"
"Peared like an angel," said the fireman, echoing the other's thought.
Just then a fleeting sunbeam from the great orb sinking down in the Golden Gate came stealing through a chink in the depot, and stole by the engineer into his cab. There was a strange look on his face for an instant; and when he turned his head, there were two light spots on his dust-begrimed cheeks.—Christian Journal
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Love Romance
What keywords are associated?
Short Story
Railroad Engineers
Child Affection
Heartwarming Encounter
Moral Tale
What entities or persons were involved?
Christian Journal
Literary Details
Title
A Little Sunbeam
Author
Christian Journal
Key Lines
"You Good, Big, Old Iron Horse You Have Brought Back Papa And Mamma Safe Over The Great Mountains To Their Little Girl, And I Want To Thank You, Even If You Don't Care For Me, Because I Am So Little. And You, Too," She Continued, Turning Her Face Wistfully Toward The Grimy Engineer And Fireman, Who Were Looking Down At Her—"I Love You All."
"Bill," Said The Engineer To His Fireman, "What Was That?"
"Peared Like An Angel," Said The Fireman, Echoing The Other's Thought.