Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-04-18
Only a Cup of Coffee.


Fields and fields sparkled like snow
in the sun. Away in the distance rose
the mountains, bare and brown, their
tops lost in the clouds. Close by the
railroad track stood the rough station
buildings and two or three adobe huts
where refreshments were offered to
travellers. The express had thundered
past an hour before, and now the third
class came leisurely up and stopped.
Out stepped the passengers, intent upon
breakfast. One family, father, mother,
and children, had brought their provi-
sions with them, and made their tea
and coffee as they wanted it on the
stove in the car. But most of the COM
pany were men, and did not know much
about helping themselves. One slender
lad, Harry Minturn, sat in his seat at
the other end of the car until all
around him had gone out; then taking
out his purse, he carefully counted its
scanty contents. 1t had taken weeks
of saving to get enough TO buy the
ticket for the East, and his margin was
small when that was done.
said, whistling, as he joined the throng
outside. A few steps off he saw very
modest little shanty, which seemed to
have nobody near it.
"That's the place for my money"
thought Harry. Entering, delightful
odor of coffee greeted him. How good
it was Just the smell seemed to warm
him, and his hand in his pocket felt
the few "bits" longingly. Alas ! he
knew just how far they would go, and
how many meals they would buy, and
Harry had learned that it is safe never
to spend your last penny, and honora-
BILE to scrimp and save, and even ap-
pear mean, go that you do not go in
debt. The jolly young fellows who told
stories and sang songs in the cars would
have lent him money, careless whether
it was ever paid, but Harry would as
soon have begged as borrowed.
An old woman was sitting knitting
by the stove. She gave the lad a chair,
and asked what he would have.
"Two slices of bread and butter,
ma'am, if you please"
" Nothing else ?'
"That's all" said Harry. The great
round of corned beef and the cold
mutton were not for him.
woman to herself. "Somewhere near
the size of my Jim"
She cut two generous slices from her
large, firm loaf, and put plenty of but
ter on them. Over her glasses now and
then she watched the appetite with
which he ate.
I" Rather dry, now, isn't it ?'
"Ohl mop said Harry. 81 never
tasted anything better"
" "Won't you take cup of coffee with
it? Dol" ,..-..sy e..-
thousand miles 10 go, and just enough
money to take me there. Home is at
the other end. I've enough for bread
this morning, but not enough for cot
fee. I'll thank you for some water"
boy" replied the widow, 81 have a
lad off at sea, somewhere near your age,
and some day on his way to me, he
may have to 60 on short rations. Now,
you'll be my Jim tits morning, and
have your breakfast"
wish you could have seen the big
blue and white cup into which she
poured the yellow cream, and stirred
the sweet brown sugar, and filled up
with the foaming coffee. l wish you
could have seen Harry drink it, and
then, when she wouldn't take a "bit ,"
from his store, just put his arms around
her neck, and say:
"Well, mother, II you won't take
anything else. you mustlet me kiss you
Tor JIM" t
1t rumpled the cap border little,
but it did the old lady good. and the
hands from the road coming in a
moment after found her more chip
per and CHEEKY than usual.
The fields are there yet, glittering
with alkaIi; the brown adobe huts, the
unpainted shanty, and the bare rugged
cliffs in the distance. Old Mother NAL
10y still makes her bread and her coffee
for the railway folks, and waits for Jim
to come in some day. Harry, west
ward-bound again, with business before
him and funds in his pocket, is mean
ing to stop at that station to take a
love token TO the good old heart that
gave him in his need what seemed like
nectar, though it was only cup oi
coffee.