The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-01-25
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1HE uNaAPPY REPLY.

II do not think it is aselfish act if / occupy
this whole seat myself, as | am to travel all
this long day, said to a lady nearest to me,
one .sultry morning, as took the out-oi-the-s
way end seat IN the cars at Buffalo Tor AL
Ibany.
Certainly not was the reply, as put my
shawl, books, papers, fan, boquet, DC, IN the
one end, and nestled myself down ON the other.
lI soon wearied of conversation and reading,
and had sunk into ftful slumber, when a
gentle tap on my shoulder, and please mss, =
made me wake with sudden start.
The car was filled to overheWlng, and a.
newly arrived p + = had entered, and pale
little woman with a fretful baby in her arms,
stood asking permission to sit beside me-
| With more of pity than Of pleasure, | shared
Il my seat with her, yet spoke but few words,
and suikily forbore taking the restless little
creature to ease her poor wearied arms; but L
merely smoothed It's yellow hair and its pale
baby cheeks, and said Mary was good and
sweet name.
For nv own comfort, had opened the win
dow that / might more distinctly catch those
picturesque views that fitted by so rapidly
that they seemed like glowing pictures, with
out one irnperfection to mar when my atteil-
Etion was drawn to my companion, who was IN
cessantly coughing.
Il do wish you would let down that vim
dow said sne. THAT coal smoke makes my
cough 50 much worse
lam ashamed to confess it now, but felt
the angry blood burn in my cheek, and a flash
/ of the eyes as Ireplied-
II am quite sick and wearied, and troubled,
and hungry and thirsty. and crowded, and
there YOU come as an intruder and keep NE
ifson1 the cool. fresh air that was trying to
lget. DO you think you are doing as you would
lbe done by?" said ], tartly;; and without wait
ing for a reply, / rose and was letting down
1.-The window with an angry crash.;ss llaaghty
lchild would slam a door to shut it, waen she
laid her poor wasted little hand On my arm az d
Isaid--
'.0h, don't doit then;'' and burst into tears,
land leaned her head down on her baby ana
lwept bitterly.
i The woman in my heart was touched, but
putting on the air ofa martyr, compressed
lmy lips, and took up a paper, pretending to
Tread Pretty soon my eyes grew dlmmed. |
Icould not see without crushing the tears Of
ten, and / resolved to ask pardon for my un-
Kindness; but minute after minute glided
away, and we soon reached her destination,
land she rose to leave / rose too, and the
words were on my lips, when gentleman
: Icame to assist her out.
III one JufIed neT gSHttcs tSiiul y % uAot l-iS
with sad expression and bowed SO sweetly
THAT my hand was almost upraised for the for
lgiyeness-fhe words were just dropping from
lmy lips-but she was gone. t was too late
land I, woman, with woman's heart, was
,Ileft with that singing wrong done yet stick
ling in it, and the sweet words and wasted lit
tile hand that could remove it, were gone from
llne forever / sank back in my seat and also
wept bitterly.
The gentleman returned from assisting her
land as the car was fall he occupied the plact
: lshe had vacated inquired who the lady was
land he replied
( aIIer home is in Wisconsin, and she has
Inow returned to the home of her childhood te
Idle. The whole family of brothers and sisters
Ihad died of consumption, and she was the las
lone left, and is fast going too"
OH / turned away sick at heart, and triee
/ to shut out from remembrance that pallid. ap
lpealing face, as resolved and re-resolvel neye
!. Iagain in this poor life Of mine to speak al
unkind word to a stranger.