The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-10-28
Misplaced Kindness.

/ SAACkSAoSCu
|
There Is nothing like an obliging disposition
! thought to myself one day when travelling il
railway car from Boston to Worcester, see.
ing gentleman put himself to considerable,
trouble to land another gentleman, who had
fallen asleep, at his destination.
"PasseEgers for West Needham p, cried an,
the conductor-'the cars stop but one min.
ute."
"Hallo J" exclaimed . young man in spec.
tacies. at the same time SEEING an old gentle.
man by the shoulders, who was sleepine verv
soundly, "here's Captain Holme. fast asleep,
snd this is West Needham, where he lives.-
Come, get up, Captain Holmes, here you
are."
The gentleman got upon his feet and began
to rub biz eyes, but the young man forced him
along to the door Of the car. and gently land
ed him on the road side. Whiz went the
steam, and we began to Ay again. The sblig-
ing young man took his seat again, and said
with good deal Of satisfaction to somebody
near him: swell, il it hada't been for me.
Captain Holrues would have missed his home
finely. But here he has left his bundles" and
the young man picked mp paper parcel and
threw it out. swell )" he said again, "ie il
hadn't been Tor me, Captain Holmes. would
have missed his bundles fnely.n
When We stopped at the mex. station, lady
began to rummage under the seat where Cap
tain Holms had beef sitting, and exclaimed In
great alarm:
81 can't find my bundle"
"Was it done up in piece Of brown pa
per?" Iasked.
eyes it was, 10 be sur" said the lady.
"Then" said I, ''that young man yondsr
threw II out Of the window at the last stopping
place."
This led to scene between the obliginp
young man and the old lady, which ended in the
former taking the address Of the latter, and
promising to return the package in q few days
provided he should ever find it.
"Well," said the obIiging young man, s'catch
me doing good natured thing again. What
cen do for that old woman, If I cannot end
her bundle ?''
Whlz went the steam, ding, ding, went the
bell, the dust few, the sparks few, and the
cars Jew, as they say, like lightning, till we
stopped again at the next station; 1 forget
the name Of it now, but it would be Of no con-
sequence il could remember it. An old gen.
tleman started up aad began to poke under the
seat where Captain Holmes had sat.
"What are you looking fors'' inq aired.
"Looking for?" said the old gentleman
"why, | am looking for my bundle Of clothes.n
"Was it tied up In a yellow handkerchief ?''
Iencuired.
eyes, and nothing else" said the old man
"Good heaveusp' exclaimed the obliging
young man, 81 threw it out Of the car at Need
ham; thought ii belonged to Captain Holmes"
Captain Holmes 20 exclaimed the old fellow
with look Of despair, 'swho is Captain
Holmes? That bundle contained oil my clear
clothes, that was to wear at my sons we'd
ding to morrow morning. Dear me what can
do?'s /.
Nothing could be done but to give his id
dress to the obiging young man as before, and
console himself with the promise that The
bundle should be returned to him, provided it
was ever found. The obllging young man was
now il despair, and made another solemn vow
that he would never attempt to be obiiging
again. Tue next station was his landing
place, and as he went towards the door Of the
car, he saw silver-headed cane, which he
took hold OF and read the inscription on it,
Moses Holmes, East Needham."
"Weil ~ again exclaimed the obliging young
man, "if here isn't Captain Holmes cane %
"Yes," said a gentleman, who got in at the
last station, "and the old fellow is lame toe.
He will miss has stick"
: "De you know him?" inquired the obligipg
young gentleman.
':Know him? should think 80" replied the
gentleman; she is my uncle.''
"And does he live at East Needha m?' asked
he obliging yourg man.
.'Of course be does. He never lived any.
where else."
"Well il it don't beat every thing" said the
obIiging young gentleman, s'and put him out
at West Needham a mile and half the other
side Of his home"