True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-04-24
gBgJiistslIatg,
THE UNKIHD REPLY.
ny RosALIE.

a do aet think i selfish act if ] oc-
cupy this whole seat myself, as | am to
travel all this long, warm day said to
the lady nearest me, Que saltry morning,
as I took the out Of the way end seat, in
the cars at Buffalo for Albany.
Certainly not" was the reply, as 1 put
my shawl, books, papers, fan, boquet, &c.,
in the one end, and nestled myself down
in the other. | soon wearied'of conyer-
sation and reading, and had sunk into a.
ftful slumber, when gentle tap on my
shoulder and a low, 'please Miss" made
me wake with sudden start.
- The car was filed to oyerAowing, and a
newly arrived party had entered, and u
pale little woman with a fretful baby in
her arms, stood asking permission to sit
beside me. With more of pity than pleas
urc, Isharcd my seat with her, yet spoke
but few words, and sulkily forbore taking
the restless little creature, to case her
poor, wearied arms; but merely smoothcd
/ its yellow hair, and patted its pale, baby
checks, and said Mary was a good and
sweet name. ~
For my own comfort had opened the
window that | might more distinctly catch
those picturesque views, that fitted by SO
quickly that they seemed like glowing pic
lures, without one imperfection to mar,
when my attention was drawn to my COM
panion, who was necessarily coughing.
~ do wish you would let down that
window" said she, "the coal smoke makes
my cough 50 much worse"
/ am ashamed to confess it now, but
fell the angry blood burn in my cheek,
and flashing of the eyes, as [ replied,
81 am quite sick, and so wearied, and
troubled, and hungry, and thirsty, and
crowded, and here you come as an intru
der, and would keep from ms the mite ot
cool, fresh air that | am trying to get
Do you think you are doing as you would
be done by% said |, tartly, and withou
waiting for reply, / rose and was letting
down the window with an angry crash, a
a naughty child would slam door shut
when she laid her poor, wasted little han'
on my arm, and said, "Oh don'tdoI 1t then,
and burst into tears, and leaned her hea'
down on her baby, and cried bitterly. Th
woman in my heart was touched, but put
ting on the injured air Of martyr, com
pressed my lips, and took up paper pre-
tending to read. Pretty soon my eye
grew so dimmed could not see withou
= crushing the tears often, and | resolved
ask her pardon for my unkindness; bl
minute after minute gided away, an
we soon reached her place of destin;
ton, and she rose to leave. | rose to-
and the words were on my lips, when
y gentleman came to assist her out. Sh
turned her gentle and fearful eyes upc
Inc, with a sad expression, and bowed {
sweetly that my hands were almost u
raised to appeal to her forgiveness, tt
words were just dropping from my lip
but-she was gone, it was too late, and
;, a woman with woman's heart, was Ii
with that stinging little barb sticking
% it, and the sweet words and wasted lit
> hand that alone could remove it were go
from me forever / sank back on my Sc
and wept bitterly.
The gentleman returned from assisti
her, and as the car was full, he took t
Q place she had vacated l inquired W
>. the lady was, and he replied, "her hol
y is in Wisconsin, and she has returned
y the home of her childhood, to die. I
whole family of brothers and sisters di
- of consumption, and she, the last one lie
y :" is going too"
- - Oh! I turned away sick at heart, a
y tried to shut out from remembrance Il
- - pallid, appealing face, as l resolved, a
~ re-resolved, never again in this poor life
~ mine to speak another unkind word.