The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-06-14
KINDNESS, EVEN TOWARD TaE
HUMBLEsT, IS NEVER LOST.

Elihu Burritt illustrates THIS maxim
with the following story:
A poor, coarse-featured old woman
lived on the line of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railway, where it passes through
wild, unpeopied district Of Western Vir>
ginia. She was widow, with Only one
daughter, living with her in log nut,
near deep precipitous gorge, crossed by
the railway bridge. Here she contrived
to support themselves by raising aud
selling poultry and eggs, adding berries
in their season, and other little articles
for the market. She had to make a
long, weary walk of many miles to q
town where she could sell her basket of
produce. The railway passed by her
cabin to this town 4; 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 ofthe line or between the rails;
aud, beinga good natured, benevolent
man, he would often give her ride to
and fro without charge. The enginemen
and brakesmen were also good to the old
woman, aud felt they we're not wronging
the interests of the railway company by
giving her these free rides. And soon
an accident occurred that proved that
they we're quite right in this view of
the matter.
10 the wild month of March, the rain
descended and the mountains sent down
their rolling, roaring torrents of melted
snow and ice iuto this gorge, near the
old woman's hut. The food arose with
the darkness of the night, until she
heard the crash of the railway bridge,
as it was swept from its abutments, and
dashed its broken timbers against the
craggy sides of the precipice on either
side. 1t was nearly midnight. The
rain fell in food, and the darkness was
deep and bowling with the storm. lu
another half hour the express train
would be due. What could she do to
warn it against the awful destruction it
was approaching? She had hardly
whole tallow candle in her house; and
no light she could make Of talow or
oil, If she had it, would live moment
iu that tempest Of wind and rain. Not
a moment was to be lost; and her
thought was equal to the moaent.-
She Gu. the cord of her only bedstcad,
aud shouldcred tine dry posts, SIDE
pieces, and head pieces. Her daughter
followed her with their two wooden
chairs. Up the steep embaukment they
climbed, and piled all their household
furniture upon the line few rods be-
fore the black, awful chasm, gurgiing
with the roaring food The distant
rumbling of the tiaiu came upon them
just as they had fired the well.dried
combustibles The pile blazed up into
the night. throwing its red, swelling.
booming light "a lolg way up the track.
Iu fifteen minutes it would begin to
waue, aud she could not revive it with
green, wet wood. The thuu !er Of the
traiu grew louder Ii was within five
miles of the fire. Would they see it in
time? They might rot put on the
brakes soon enough. Awful thought
She tore her red flannel gown from Ter
in a moment, aud, tying it to the end
of stick, ran up the track, waving it
in both hands, while her daughter
swung round her head blazing chair
post little before The lives OF hun
dred unconscious passengers hung on
the issue of the next minute. The
ground trembled at the old wonau's
feet. The great, red eye Of the engine
burst upon her as it came around a
curve Like as a huge, sharp-sighted
lion coming suddenly upon fire, it sert
forth thrilling roar that filled all the
wild heights aud ravines around. The
train was at full speed but the brakes
men wrestled at their leverage with all
the strength Of desperation.
The wheels ground along on the heat
ed rails slower aud slower, until the
engine stopped at the decayiDs FIRE. 1t
still blazed enough to show them the
beetliug edge of the black abyss into
which the train aud all its passengers
would haze plunged. aud into death
aud destruction too horrible to thiuk Of,
had it not been for the old woman's
signal. They did not stop to thank her
first for the deliverance. The conductor
kueIt down By the side Of the engine
the engine driver aud the brakemcn
came aud knelt down by MIN; all the
passengers came and kuet down by
them and there, in the expiring light
of the burnt ont pile, in the rain and
wind, they thanked God for the salvation
of their lives. All in iue the kneel-
ers and prayers sent up into the dark
heavens such a midnight voice ofthauks
giving as seldom, If ever. ascended from
the earth to Him who seeth in darkness
as we'll as in secret.
Kindness is the music Of good will to
men and on this harp the smallest
fingers iHay play heavens sweetest tuue@
On earth.
Some "uew beginner" are practis