Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-02-22
THE LAW OF KINDNESS.
rhe Ola woman's Railway signal.
BY ELIHU BURRITT.


The most effective working force il
the world in which we live is the law o
kindness-for it is the only moral force
I that operates with the same effect OF
mankind, beastkind, and birdkind. From
time immemorial, music has wonderfully
affected all beings, reasoning and un
reasoning, that have ears to hear. The
prettiest idea and simile of ancient lite
rature relate to Orpheus playing his Tyre
to animals listening in intoxicated 81
lence to its strains. Well, kindness is
the spontaneous music OF good will to
men and beasts; and both listen to it with
their hearts instead of their ears; and
the hearts of both are affected by il in
the same way, if not in the same degree.
| Volumes might be written filed with
beautiful illustrations of its effects upon
both The music of kindness has not
only the power to charm, but to trans
form both the savage heart of man and
beast; and on this harp the smallest
fingers in the world may play heavens s
sweetest tunes on earth.
Some time ago we read Of an incident
that will serve as an illustration of this
beautiful law, il was substantially to
this effect A poor. coarse featured
old woman lived on the line of the
Baltimore and Ohio railway, where
it passes through a wild, unpeopled
district of Western Virginia. She was
widow, with only one daughter, living
with her in a log hut, near deep, pre-
cipitous gorge crossed by railway
bridge. Here she contrived to support
themselves by raising and selling poultry
and eggs, adding berries in their season,
and other little articles for the market.
She had to make long, weary walk of
many miles to 0 town where she could
sell her basket of produce. The railway
passed by her cabin 10 this town; but the
ride would cost too much of the profits
of her small sales, so she trudged on
generally to the market on foot. The
conductor came finally TO notice her
walking by the side of the line or between
the rails, and being a good natured, be-
neyolent man, he would often give her a
ride TO and fro without charge. The ep-
ginemen were also good to the old
woman, and felt they were not wronging
the interests of the railway company by
giving her these free rides. And soon
az accident occurred that proved that
they were quite right in this view OF the
matter.
In the wild mouth ef March, the rain
descended and the mountaius sept down
their rolling roaring torrents of meited /,
snow and ice into this gorge near the old
nat, The food arose with the
darkness of the aiEbt, until she heard
the crash of the railway bridge as 1t was
swept from its abutments, and dasasf its ]
broken timbers against the craggy sides !
Of the pTsaipiee on either side. IL was
nearly midnight. The rain fell in a |
food, and the darkness was deep and /
bowling with the storm. In another tqlf
hour the express train would be due. |
What could she do to warn itageinst the I
awful destruction it was approaohingY |
She had hardly whole tallow candle in
hsr h0nse; and no light she could make
II taliOs or oil, if she had it, would live
, moment in taaf tempest Of wind and
ain. Not a moment WGs 20 be lost; and
w. thought was equal 10 the Eoment.
She cui the cord Of her only bedsteaa,
md shOuldersd the dry posts, side pieces,
nd head piece. Hsr daughter followed
Ter With their two Wooeez chairs, Up
he steep embaLkment they climbea. sud
,iled all their hoesehold furniture upon
he line. a few rods before the black,
,wful ebasm, gurGing wa ibe roar
ng food. The distant rnnsillns Of
he train came Hpon fhem just as they 7
iad fred the we'll drisd combnstibes-
me pile blazed up into the nigh. throw