The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-01-07
The Unhappy Reply.

The Unhappy Reply.
I DO not think it is selfish act if
occupy this whole seat myself, as am
TO travel all day long. said to lady
nearest me, one sultry morning, as took
the out.of-,lie. way end seat in the cars
at n. York for Boston. Certainly not,
was the reply, as put my shawl. books,
papers, fan, boquet, &c, in one end, and
and nestled myself down in the other.
/ soon wearied of conversation and read.
ing, and had sunken into q ftful sum.
Der, when a genie tap on my shoulder,
and a Please Miss ! made me wake with
q sudden start. The car was filing to
ovelfowing, and newly arrived party
had entered, and pale little woman with
fIe;fai baby in her arms, stood asking
permission to 81, beside me. With more
OF pity than of pleasure, | shared my seat
with her, yet spoke but few words
and sulkily forbore taking the restless
lltle creature TO ease her poor arms but
| merely smoo;hed its yellow hair and
is pale baby cheeks, and said Mary was
good aud sweet name.
For my own comfort had opened the
window, tia, | might more distinctly
catch those picturesque views that fitted
by 50 rapidly that they seemed like
glowing pictures. without one imper'ec
lion TO mar, when nay attention was
drawn to my companion, who was in
cesssntly coughing. i do wish you
would lei down that window said she
The coal smoke makes my cough SO
mach worse ! am ashamed TO con
iess ii nov, but l felt the angry blood
burn in my cheek ; and q flashing of the
eyes, az replied 1 am quite sick and
weariei, AMI troubled, and hungry, and
crow ie!, and here YOU come as an ntru
der, ana keep me from the mite of iresi
mir that am trying to get. Do you
think you are doing as you would b.
done BY @ sail /. tar,ly and wiphnu
waiting for reply rose and was letting
down lhe window with an angry crash,
Il. q naughty child would slam doc
shut, when she laid her poor, wasted
little hand on my arm and said-'Oh,
don't Do !; then " ana burst into tears,
and leaned her head down ON her baby
and cried bitterly.
Tie woman in my heart was touched:
hut putting on the injured air of a
martyr. compressed my lips and took
up paper, pretending to read. Prett,
soon my eyes grew dimmed. | could
not see without crushing the tears often
and | resolved to ask pardon for my un
Kindness but minute after minute glided
away, and soon reached her place o
destination, aad sic rose TO leave |
rose, too, and the words were on my lips,
when gentleman came to assist her GU
She turned her gentle fearful eyes upon
ne with sad expression. and bowed So
so sweety that my hand was almos. up
raised foI the fo.giveneas-the words
were just dropping from my lips, but che
WAS gone. Ii was too late and !. a
woman, with womsn's heart, WAS lei,
With that singing liltle barb sticking in
il, and sweet words and wasted ltd.
hand that could remove it were gone
from me forever. sauL back in my
seat and wept bitterly. Tho gentleman
returned from assisting her, and rs the
car was full he took up the seat she had
vacated. inquired who the laly was,
and he reptile "lier home is in Wis
consin, aud she has returned to til,
home Of her childhood to DIE. The
whole family Of brothers and sisters died
u consumption, and she, the last one
left, is going, too" Oh turned away
sick at heart, and tried to shut out from
remembrance that pallid, appealing face.
ms ! re resolved never again in Ibis poor
life Of mine TO speak an unkinl word.