Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-06-19
TIE UNHAPPY REPLY.


Il do not think ita selfish act, i'll occupy
this whole seat myself as ! am % travel all.
this long day. SAID | TO q lady nearest me, as
] took The out-of the way end seat in The cars
a, Buffalo for Albany one sullry morning.
sCert ainly not, was The reply. as | put my
shawl. books, papers. fan, boquet &c, 10 the
one end aud nestled myself down on the 9th
er. l soon wesfied Of conversation aud read.
ing. had sunk into q 1ifhi siamber, when .
gentle tap upon my shoulder and a please,
miss mate me wake with a sudden start.
The car was filed TO oseFaowing, and a
newly arrived party had entered, and a pale
little woman, with . ftelfnl baby in her arms,
stood asking permission to sit beside NEE
With more OF pity than Of pleasure | shared
INV seat V iih her, yet spoke but few words
and sulkily forbote taking the restless little
creature 10 ease her poor wearied aims; but |
merely smoothed It's yellow hair aud its pale
baby cheeks. aud said, Mary was a good and
sweet name.
For my own comfort ! had opened the win
dow that | might get a more perfect view Of
the country through which we were passing
when my attention was drawn 10 my compan'
ion, who was necessarily coughing.
81 do wish YOU would let down that window
said she; that coal smoke M kes ME cough
so much worse
am ashamed 10 confess 1t now, but felt
the angry blood burn in my cheek aud a Hash
of the eyes as | replied;
II am quite sick aud wesfied, and troubled
aud hungry, aud thitstyand crowded, end here
YOU come as an intruder and keep from me
The mite Of cool fresh air that was trying To
gel. d. you think you are doing as you would
be done by r said | ,artly; and without walt
ing for a reply, | rose and was letting down
the window with an angry crash, as a naughty
child would slam a door. to shu, it, when she
laid her poor wasted little b nd on my arm,
and said,
.Oh, don't do il thenp and burst into tears,
and leaned her head down on her baby, and
swept bitterly.
The woman in my heart was touched, bur
putting ON the injured air OF a marlyh / cfm-
pressed my lips and took up a paper, pretend
lug 10 read. Pretty soon my eyes grew dim, !
could not see without brushing The Tears ollen
and resolved to ask pardon for my unkini.
ness, but minute after minute glided by, and
we soon reached her place OF destination, and
she rose 10 l. ave. | rose, TOO, and the words
were on my lips, when a gentleman came To-
assist her out.
She turned hergentle, fearful eyes upon me,
with a sad expression, and bowed so sweeily
that my hand was lmoSt appraised for her Tor.
giyeneSS, the words were just dropping from
my lips, but she was gone.
1t was 100 la'e: and l., woman, with .
woman's heart was left with that stingi <
wrong done yet sticking in it, and the sweet
words and wasted little. hand that could re-
move it weIe gone from me forever. sank
back in my seat and also wept bitterly.
The gentleman returned from assisting her,
and rs The car was full, he occupied The place
she had vacated. / inquired who the lady
was, and he replied.
Her home is in w Wisconsin, and she has now
returned 10 the home ofher childhood 10 die.
The whole family OF brothers and sisters have
died Of Consumption, and she was the last
one left, and is fast going TOO
ohlrI tu tned away, sick ut heart, and tried
10 shut out from remembrance that paid, ap
pealing face, asI resolved, and re-resolyed,
never again in this poor life Of mine, TO speak
an unkiEd word to q stranger.