The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-01-24
[For Tho UniOn.l l1 tl
A PLEASING INCIDENT.

One hot day lnst summer stranger
was found lying on the track Of tho Pitts.
burgh, Ft. Wayne q Chicago Rail Road,
about half mile below Perrysvile. 1t
appeared that be had fallen from the ex.
press train bound eastward. He was in.
sensible, bleeding Ind mangled, and in
this condition was borne on litter to the
depot at PerrIsyille. People gathered
around him, looked on, and shuddering
turned away. TIE humane physician did
all he could to alleviate pain, aud render
the poor man comfortable, but no one
wanted to take him into his own home
and minister to him. The best men in
the village were put to the test. Poor
man he had no broad cloth on to re.
commend him,--no golden chain loopej
across his vest for passport, his hard
brawny hands were guiltless Of kid gloves,
and instead of a well.flled purse in his
pocket there were only simple little hooks,
used in pruning and vine dressing, be.
traying alas his plebeian occupation,-
as did his clean.Eickory shirt, jeans pan.
falcons, and stout brogans
While he lay there inscnsible, and un.
winking in the hot sunshine, his head
and one poor eye gashed and bleeding
and srimy with dust ,-our oldest citizen,
JOHN COULTER, one of the pioneers Of
1910, feeble old man, came tottering
along, and on hearing the state of affairs,
burning with shame and indignation he
ordered the stranger carried to his own
house and laid on his own bed The
body had by that time become filthy,
lcatbsome in the extreme, and while
stout young men turned aside, sickened
and disguised, this old man bravely kept
his post, and alone, undressed, washed
and made clean the poor iusensible body.
This he did, while many stood aloof, not
comprehending the wondrous depth Of
that God. like love and charity that pass.
eth all understanding.
His youngest daug liter, girl Of unu
sual talents, cheerfully assisted in caring
for the unfortunate stranger-and he
grew better, and faiut gImmers of mind
and body restored again, rewarded them
Tor their trouble. When he was able to
sit up his friends came from Crawford
county and took him home.
Such noble charity in this fast age Of
the world is rcfreshiugl 1t did US all
good to have glimpse of the genuine
good ,oM 10 all men, that filled the honest
hearts Of our pioneer fathers half cen.
tury agone. This was fair specimen Of
it. Blessed old pioneers ! they still carry
with them the freshness and frankpes.
aud goodness Of those early days when
the very fragrance Of the wild woods per.
vaded their garments:
II is nearly two years since Father
COULTER and his excellent wife celebra
ted their golden wedding, aud we al
unanimously say: Long may they wave
Long may they wavel
But this little newspaper waif has q Sc,
quol yet. Father COULTER repeatedly
said when urged to make out q bill, for
services rendered the poor man, and pre-.
sent to the township,-that the mans re-
covery was his abundant reward.
AT the urgent solicitation Of his friends
however he consented to present his bill
which he nodestly placed at ten dollars.
Esq. CARY was present at the board and
with his usual generosity, had the bill
doubled, without word Of opposition
This was oil very kind and was right
But on the morning Of the New Year
when Father COULTER sat down 10 look
over bic mail matter, out Of the first let
ter he opened, auttered clean crisp ten
dollar bill--a testimonial of good will
from his neighbors around him, accom-.
panied only by the blessed words Of cheer
from the lips of Our Savior, which the
old man read through his gathering tears
"In as much as ye did it unto one Of
these, 70 did It patO me !"
I...