Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-05-11
True Charity.

Sitting in a station the other day,
had a little sermon preached to me in
the way 1 like; and I'll report it for
YOUR benefit, because it taught me one
of the beautiful lessons which We
should learn, and taught it in such a
natural. simple way, that noORe could
FORGET it. 1t was bleak, snowy day,
the ladies' room dark and smoky ana
the dozen women all looked cross low
spirited, or stupid. l felt all three;
and thought, as l looked around, that
nv fellow-beings were very unamla-
BILE and uninteresting set.
Just then a fOrlorn old woman,
shaking with palsy, came in with a
basket of little wares for sale, and
went about mutely offering them to
the sitters. Nobody boughtanything,
and the poor old soul stood blinking
aft the door a minute, as if reluctant
TO 90 out in the bitter storm again.
She turned presently and pOked about
the room as if trying TO find some
thing: and then pale lady in black,
who Law as if asleep on sofa, opened
J her ewes, saw the old woman, and in
stantiy asked. in kind tone, "Have
YOU lost anything, ma'am?"
"No, dear, I am looking for the
heatin' place, to have warm fore
goes out again. My eyes is poor, and
/ 7 don't seem to find the furnace no
where"
"Here it is,u and the lady led her
to the steam radiator, placed chair,
and showed her how to warm her feet.
HWell. now, amt that nice?" said
the old woman, spreading her ragged
mittens to dry.
"Thanky, dear, this IS proper com
Portable aint it? I'm most frozen 10,
day, being lame and vimble; and no'
sellin' much, makes me sort O. down
hearted"
The lady smiled, went to the coun
ter, bought a cup of tea, and some sor
of food, carried it herself to the OLE
woman; and said, as respectfully an'
kindly as if the poor soul had beeI
dressed in silk and fur: won't yol
have a cup of hot tea? It's very com
Portable such day as this"
''Sakes alive! Do they give tea a
this depot ?r cried the old lady, in
tone ofinnocent surprise, that made
smile 90 round the room, touching thu
glummest face like a stream of sun
shine. "Well, now, this is just love
IN - added the poor creature, slipping
awav with a relish. "This does warn
the cookies of my heart"
While she refreshed herself, telling
her story meanwhile, the lady looked
over the poor little wares and pins
shoe-strings and tape, and cheered th'
old soul by paying well for them.
AsI watched her doing this, | thot
what a sweet face she had, though IL
considered her plain before. | fel
dreadfully ashamed OF myself that
had grimly shaken my head when tn.
basket was offered to me; and, as
saw a look of interest, sympathy anC
kindness come into the dismal lace
all around me, 1 did wish had th'
magician to call it out. 1t was only
kind word and a friendly act; bu
somehow it frightened that dingy
room wonderfully. 1t changed thu
face Of a dozen women; and L thint
touched a dozen hearts, for L saw
many ewes follow the plain, pale lad!
with sudden respect; and when th'
woman with many thanks, got up t
90. several persons beckOned to he
and bought something, as if they
wished to repair the first negligence
Old beggar-women are not roman
tic; neither are cups of tea, boot-lae
ings, or colored soap; there was M
gentleman present to be impressed by
the lady's Kind act soft wasn't done
for effect, and no possible reward eoulC
be received for it except the ungram
matical thanks of a ragged old woman
But a simple little charity was as gooC
as n sermon to those who saw it; anC
think each traveller went on her way
better for the half hour in the drear1
station. l can testify that one OF then
did; and nothing but the emptiness o
her purse prevented her from com
forting the cookies of the heart" o
every forlorn old woman she met 10
week after.