ave
appointed you Chief Clerk in the Schedule Department in
succession to Gustavus Rodway, Esq., who retires, and their
Honors desire me further to express their appreciation of your
long and valuable service, and to express their earnest hope
that you may be speedily restored to health.

"I am,
"Your obedient servant,

"ARTHUR WRAXALL,

"_Secretary_."

For a little time it was too much for Mr. Perkins, and then he
whispered:

"The one thing on earth I wished, and--more than I deserved--not
usual, personal references in Board letters--perhaps hardly
regular--but most gratifying--and--strengthening.

"I feel better already--some words I would like to hear again--thank
you, where I can reach it--nurse will be so good as to read it."

Mr. Perkins revived from that hour, having his tonic administered at
intervals, and astonished the doctors. On Christmas Eve he had made
such progress that Lighthead was allowed to see him for five minutes.

"Heard about your calling three times a day--far too kind with
all your work--and the messages from the staff--touched me to
heart.--Never thought had so many friends--wished been more friendly
myself.

"My promotion, too--hope may be fit for duty--can't speak much,
but think I'll be spared--Almighty very good to me--Chief Clerk of
Schedule Department--would you mind saying Lord's Prayer together--it
sums up everything."

So we knelt one on each side of Perkins's bed, and I led with "Our
Father"--the other two being once or twice quite audible. The choir of
a neighboring church were singing a Christmas carol in the street, and
the Christ came into our hearts as a little child.

THE FASTEST RAILROAD RUN EVER MADE.

DISTANCE, 510 MILES.--AVERAGE RUNNING TIME, 65.07 MILES AN
HOUR.--HIGHEST SPEED ATTAINED, 92.3 MILES AN HOUR.

BY HARRY PERRY ROBINSON,

Editor of "The Railway Age" and one of the official time-keepers on
the train.

[Illustration: VIEW BACK ON THE TRACK.--A SNAP-SHOT TAKEN BY MR.
ROBINSON FROM THE REAR PLATFORM OF THE LAST CAR WHEN THE TRAIN WAS
RUNNING AT ABOUT EIGHTY MILES AN HOUR.]

When, on August 22d last, a train was run over what is known as the
West Coast line (of the London and Northwestern and the Caledonian
Railways) from London to Aberdeen, a distance of 540 miles, at an
average speed, while running, of 63.93 miles an hour, the English
press hailed with a jubilation which was almost clamorous the fa