The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-02-02
How much did you say you needed!


/ Without saying another word, she qui-
city drew out her purse, The effect was
electrical. Every lady fum6led for her
purse; every gentleman put his hand into
his pocket, as they do in the city cars,
when the conductor comes along and says,
'Fare, gentlemen' And almost before
the lady could put her money into the
young mans hand, six OF eight hands
were extandsd to him with their contrib
utions.
There, there said the young man;
Ftake care-don't give me too much. |
only want flty-fvO cents: that's all
There, you keep that-no, don't want
it, here's enough:' and he refused to take
several pieces that we're held out. Thank
you, ladies and gentlemen and immedi-
ately he jumped from the stage and was
out Of sight. aeraa|
looked at that lady, whose magic
touch Of her purse called money from SO
many pockets, more surprisingly than Sig
nor Blitz could possibly have done. She
was perhaps thirty, we'll dressed, though
not richly, with fine, interesting counte-
nance, yet not particularly beautiful. She
was evidently in easy circumstances in
life, and yet as evidently not wealthy
She was also, l suppose, mother, as
she had beautiful little girl, of some
four years old, about whose smiling rosy
cheeks the chcsnut curls danced, as she
nestled into her mothers lap, or whirled
round to look out of the window.
The gift of the money was very small
affair: but the manner in which it was
done, and the circumstances, made deep
impression on my mind. She did not
ask who his father was, and where he
lived, and what he came to New York for,
and why he was not more careful, and if
he could not beg the money, or borrow it,
or work for it. There was no flourish
or parade-not word: no vain glorious
look Of triumph. She did not gaze round
at others, as much as to say, Now follow
my example, a Fifth Avenue Madame
Gust moved into that quarter) would have
turned up her aristocratic nose, and said
to her coachman, John. send the fellow
away: we cant be troubled all the time
with those cheats and beggarsH
1t was small particle, but it was the
genuine, pure gold. She was a mother;
perhaps she had son; and he might
meet some time with a little accident a.
way from home, and need few pennies
to return him to her freside and her en-
brace. Would she not then bless the
heart that might prompt generous tho
trifing service!
fit had only been an old fashioned
country stage-coach, SO could have talk
ed with herl In stage-coaches, anybody
may talk to anybody without being intru-
siye. Even in a railroad depot, waiting
for the cars, you might venture to speak,
But in omnibus, it is scarcely polite to do
more than assist lady in getting in OF
out, or make change for her when she
pays her fare, or-give her your seat.
But mother has always second sell
in her child. The little rosy checked CIR
was reaching her dimpled hands out o
the window, catching at the carriages a.
they passed and laughing at the sport
1 patted her cheek and said, Won't 20,
come and sit with mel
She turned around with mer ry laugh
that made her sweet face radiant as if tn
golden borealis was pla ying with her curls
Wont you 60 and sit by the gentle
mani said her mother, turning arounc
and smiling.
What mother ever failed to be pleasec
when you caressed her child?
'Ah! hold up, driver-I must get out
No matter; | left the stage, and tn
child, and the mother. Who she was
where she went, ] do not know. It's
no consequence. But there is one home
!, S01leschere, that she makes happy; ther
, is one fireside, not very rich, not yer
poor, whercth comforts if not the luxurie
of life, and even its tolls, are sweetene
by her goodness.
God bless her! whatever joys or SORROW
she may have in life; may she, every da
do some HHle deed Of noble, generou
; sympathy and love, that shall help
: tighten somewhat the heavy load OF trot
: bic, misfortune and misery that attic
u humanity Every such act shall be
1t new star TO clean in life's dark frInt