The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-05-17
THE UNHAPPY REPLY.

i do not think it a selfish act, if | occupy
this whole seat M, self, a> am to travel all
,hi, lopy iav, said | 10 IA lady nearest me, as
ltook the out.of-t the -way-end seat in the cars
A, Buffalo for Albany one sutry morning.
'l.rianly not was the reply. as put my
shawl books. papers. tan, boIuet &c., IN the
one end and nestled myself down on the oth-
.r soon wtarI-,l o COnvrr>a,, III ana r'a'.
inv. and hal sunk INTO ii'iul >lumhcr, when
crntle tap upon NV shoulder and a please,
miss made me wake with sudden start.
The car was filled to Overlooking, and a
newly arrived party had entered, aud pale
little woman with irrtful baby in her arms,
stood asking permission TO SIT beside me- -
With more OF pity than OF pleasure shared
INV seat with her, vet spoke but few words,
and sulkiv torbore taking the restless little
creature to ease her poor wearird arms: but
merely smoo;hed its yellow hair and its pale
t,tv cheeks, and said Mary was a good and
sweet name.
For INV own comfort had opened the win
dow that might more distinctly catch those
li,:nre,uue views that fitted by so rapidly
that they seemed like glowing pictures with
ont one lnperieciion to mar. when my atten-
ton was drawn TO my companion, who was
lnceS>an,v coughing.
i do wish YOU wouldle down that window
said she that coal smoke makes me cough
50 much worse.
am ashamed to confess it now. but felt
the ansry blood burn in my cheek and
flash OF the eyes as replied:
Il am quite sick and wearicd. and troubled
and hungry, and thirsty and crowded, and
be-e YOU come as an intruder and keep from
me the mite of cool fresh air that | was trying
10 oct. DO YOU think YOU are doing yor
would be done bv = said ], tartlv; and with
ont waiting for reply, rose and was let
ting down the window with an angry crash
anaush,v child would slam door to shu
it. when she laid her poor wasted little hand
on nv arm and said:
.Oh. don't do it then" and burst INTO tear
and LEANED her head down on her baby an,
wep' bitterly.
The woman i'm nv heart was touched, bu
putting on the injured air OF a martyr, com
pressed my lips and took up apapcr, pretend
inc to read. Pretty soon my eyes grew dim
lcould not see without brushing the tear
often. and resolved to ask pardon for N.
unk,ndness. but minute after minute glide,
away. and We soon reached her place oi DIES
,ination. and she rose to leave. rose, too
and the words were on my lips. when gen
tleman came 20 assist her out
She turned her gentle. fearful eyes upo'
me with a sad expression, aud bowed s.
sweetlv that my hand was almost up
raised for the forgiveness, the words wer
lust dropping irom my lips, but she wa
gone.
1t was too late; ard !, woman, with
woman's heart. was left with that stngInI
wrong done We, sticking TO it, and the swee
words and wasted little hand that could re
move it were gore from me forever. l sanI
back in my seat and also wept bitterly.
The gentleman returned from assis:in!
her, and AS the car was iu:l. he occupied tn.
place she had vacated. Inquired who tn.
lady was, and he replied:
Her home is in Wisconsin, and she has
now returned to the home OF her childhood
to die. The whole family Of brothers and
sisters have died of consumption and she wa:
the last one leit and is fast going too
Oh. turned away, sick at heart, and trl'
ed to shut out from remembrance that paiIId
appealing face, as resolved. and re'resolved
never again, in this poor life of mine, to
speak All unkind word to a stranger