Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-01-10
Aliseellanu.
A Ride in the Connecticut River


Cars. -
Bodies are better wrapped up than
souls in travelling. 1t is amusing to see
people so muflled and bundled that you
can hardly tell the color of their eyes or
the shape of their faces, and yet not even
fimsy veil over their selfishness or vul-
garity. In the seat opposite to mine are
man and woman, with dear boy,
perhaps six years old. They are people
who have much money, it is easy to see
and they are people who know the
world and its ways their clothes are all
that clothes should be, which is saying a
| great deal /; and in all the tones of their
voicesis that indefnable something which
marks the society man or woman but /
have rarely heard in so short time SO
many heartless and ill-natured words as
have proceeded out of their mouths in
the last twenty-four hours. Their little
child is angelic, and it is hard to feel that
it would not be doing God service to
steal him away from such parents. Six
years more in their atmosphere will
make him as hard and selfish as they,
and if all the days of his life were to be
like to-day, it would not take one year to
finish the work.
Just before we reached Chicopee there
came through the car an Irish boy whose
left arm had been amputated at the
shoulder; he handed to the passengers a
printed card, on which it was stated that
he lost his arm by an accident on this
railroad, and was deserving object of
charity. 1t is always good study to
watch the different receptions which such
appeals as his meets with in the cars. l
have learned to foretell, with almost
miraculous accuracy, who will and who
will not give | know the exact outline
of the man who fumbles in both pockets
and evidently gives great deal more
than he ought, and the careworn dowdy
woman who asks great many questions,
all the while lingering her miserable lit
tie portmonaie, and finally giving small
bit of currency with a sigh which know
is heartfelt, because she cannot afford a
lquarter. know the look of the well-to-
do Pharisees, who never give anything
and the poor souls who beg know it too,
for. | observe that they are sure to hurry
past them and stop before the shabby
people. When the one-armed boy gave
his card to my opposite neighbor, the
dear little boy jumped off the seat in his
excitement, and stood between his fathers
knees, saying, "Oh papa, let me give him
something" Did it hurt you very
much to have your arm off? Did gun
do it ?" he said turning to the boy, and
taking hold of the poor one hand. The
father, l think was softened by his little
sons appeal; but he passed the card over
to his wife, who pushed it away with an
impatient gesture, saying: " / do think it
| is abominable to allow such people in the
cars. / don't approve of encouraging it
at all"
The boys cheeks flushed and he walked
on hastily. He looked half starved and
he told me afterwards that his father
could earn only two dollars day, which
was "very little" he said, " to keep sew
en- people on" / have no doubt that he
was really weak from want of food. The
dear little child looked grieved and ready
to cry, but listened with a perplexed air
while his mother went on to say that it
was Of no use to encourage such idleness
there were plenty of things he could do
with one hand. 1t was his right hand
too, and there was no excuse for his beg
ging."
Still the tender blue eyes followed the
poor boy down the aisle, and his face
frightened when he saw people giving
money to him. Near the door sat coarse
untidy Irish woman with three children.
The eldest had an enormous slice of gin
gerbread of the basest sort, which she
was eating with great relish. Of course
the boy never thought of presenting his
lpetition to this group, but as he passed
the woman leaned forward and whispered
to the little girl, who looked up instantly