Many years ago, in a small house on the bank of the Hudson river, there lived a man with his wife and two children--a daughter and a little son. He was in
charge of the train bridge, a large swing bridge near their house that he had to open in order for big boats to pass by and close so trains could cross the
river. Since he could not leave his post during the day, his daughter would carry his lunch over the bridge to him when she was able.
One day, however, his daughter could not make the trip to the little house on the other side of the bridge where her father sat at the controls, so mother asked the little boy if he thought he was now big enough to take Daddy's lunch to him. He had always wished to go along with his sister someday, and felt very honored to be asked to do this job alone. He assured his mother that he would be very careful and do a good job, so she kissed him and sent him on his way.
As he approached the big bridge, he felt a little unsure, but seeing where his father was at the other end gave him fresh courage. Carrying the lunch basket which was almost as big as himself, he slowly made his way down the tracks. His father, realizing it was now approaching noon-time, looked out the window to see if his daughter was on her way, and was surprised to see his little boy coming in her place. He was happy to see how big his little boy was getting, and lovingly watched him take his small, careful steps.
On and on the little boy trudged, looking only straight ahead, when to the father's horror a train whistled for the bridge. The signal down the tracks let the train know that the bridge was already closed, so it did not slow down. The father quickly realized that his son was in the very middle of the bridge, and would have no chance to escape the oncoming train. As the train came into view, the father thought that he could save his son by opening the bridge--but that would cost the lives of all those on the train. Bravely, he held the bridge closed, and the speeding train made it safely to the other side.
The people on the train were saved, but at the great cost of the bridgeman's son. Saving those people cost the father his only son, and it cost the son his life.
One day, however, his daughter could not make the trip to the little house on the other side of the bridge where her father sat at the controls, so mother asked the little boy if he thought he was now big enough to take Daddy's lunch to him. He had always wished to go along with his sister someday, and felt very honored to be asked to do this job alone. He assured his mother that he would be very careful and do a good job, so she kissed him and sent him on his way.
As he approached the big bridge, he felt a little unsure, but seeing where his father was at the other end gave him fresh courage. Carrying the lunch basket which was almost as big as himself, he slowly made his way down the tracks. His father, realizing it was now approaching noon-time, looked out the window to see if his daughter was on her way, and was surprised to see his little boy coming in her place. He was happy to see how big his little boy was getting, and lovingly watched him take his small, careful steps.
On and on the little boy trudged, looking only straight ahead, when to the father's horror a train whistled for the bridge. The signal down the tracks let the train know that the bridge was already closed, so it did not slow down. The father quickly realized that his son was in the very middle of the bridge, and would have no chance to escape the oncoming train. As the train came into view, the father thought that he could save his son by opening the bridge--but that would cost the lives of all those on the train. Bravely, he held the bridge closed, and the speeding train made it safely to the other side.
The people on the train were saved, but at the great cost of the bridgeman's son. Saving those people cost the father his only son, and it cost the son his life.
