Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-02-17
COMFORTING THE cookies OF
TIE HEART.
From Merry Museum for February.

.
Sitting in station the other day, I
had little sermon preached to me in the
way like; and I'll report It for your
benefit, because it taught one of the
beautiful lessons which we all should
learn, and taught it in such a natural
simple way, that no one could forget it.
1t was black, snowy day; the train was
late the ladies' room dark and smoky :;
and the dozen women, old and young,
who sat waiting impatiently, all looked
cross, low-spirited, or stupid, [ felt all
three; and thought, as | looked round,
that my feIloW-beings were very unami
able and uninteresting set
Just then, forlCrn Old woman, shak-
ing with palsy, came in with basket of
little wares for sale, and went about mute
ly offering them to the sitterS. Nobody
bought anything, and the poor old soul
stood blinkingst the door minute, as if
reluctant to 60 out into the bitter storm
again. She turned presently, and poked
alb, ut the room, as if trying to find some
thing; and then a pale lady in black.
who lay as if asleep, On sofa, opened her
eyes, saw the old woman and instantly
asked, in kind tone, "Have you lost
anything, ma'am %
"NO, dear. I'm alooking for the heat
in'place, to have warm fore [ goes out
again. Ny eyes is poor, and I don't
seem to find the furnace nowheres."
"Here it is" and the lady led her to
the steam radiator, placed chair, and
showed her how to warm her feet
"Well, now; amt that nice ?" said the
old woman, spreading her ragged mittens
to dry. ':Thanky, dear; this is proper
comfortable, amt it? I'm most froze
today, bein' lame and wimbIy; and not
sellin' much, makes me sort of downhear
ted"
TIE lady smiled, went to the counter,
bought cup of tea and some sort Of food,
carried it herself to the old woman, and
said, as respectfully and kindly as if the
poor soul had been dressed in silk and
fur, "Wou't you have a cup of hot tea
It's very comforting such a day as this"
"Sakes alive! Do they give tea to
this depot ?" cried the old lady, in tone
Of innocent surprise, that made smile go
round the room, touching the glummest
face like streak of sunshine. "Well
now, this is jest lovely" added the old
lady slipping away with a relish. This
does warm the cookies of my heart"
While she refreshed herself, telling
her story meanwhile, the lady looked
over the poor little wares in the basket,
bought soap and pins, shoe strings and
tape, and chaered the old soul by paying
we'll for them.
As [ watched her doing this, I thought
what sweet face she had, though I'd
considered her rather plain before. [ felt
dreadfully ashamed of myself, that I had
grimly shaken my head when the basket
was offered to me and, as [ saw a look
of interest, sympathy, and kindness
come into the dismal faces all round me,
I did wish that had been the magician to
call it out. 1t was only kind word and
friendly act; but somehow, it brighten.
ed that dingy room wonderfully. Il
changed the faces of dozen women
and, think it touched dozen hearts
for Isaw many eyes follow the plain, pale
lady with sudden respect; and when the
old woman, with many thanks, got up tc
go, several persons beckoned to her, anc
bought something, as if they wanted to
repair their first negligence.
Old beggar-Women are not romantic
neither are cups Of tea, boot-lacings, and
colored soap there were no gentlemen
present to be impressed by the LADY,
kind act so, it wasn't done for effect
and no possible reward could be received
for it, excepted the ungrammatical thank
of ragged old woman. But that simple
little charity was as good as a sermon t
those who saw it and think each trav
eller went on her way, better for tha
half hour in the dreary station. I cal
testify that one of them did and moth
ing but the emptiness of her purse pre-
vented her from comforting the cookie
Of the heart" of every forlorn old woma
she not for n Upak aFfpr