The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-04-19
A Little Sermon.


At 4 railroad station, not long ago,
one of the beautiful lessons which all
should learn was taught in such natu-
raj, simple way, that none could forget
II. 1t was bleak 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.
Just then forlOrn old woman, shak-
ing. with the palsy, came in with
basket of little wares for sale, and went
about infinitely offering them to sitters.
Nobody bought anything, and the poor
old soul stood blinking at the door a
minute, as if reluctant to go out into the
bitter storm again. She turned present
ly and pOked about the room as if try
ing to find something, and then n pale
lady in black, who lay as if asleep, on a
sofa, opened her eyes and saw the old
woman, and instantly asked in kind
tone, "Have You lost anything, ma'am@'
"No, dear. Pm looking for the heat
in place, to have warm fore L go out
ag'in. My eyes are poor and I don't
seem to find the furnace nowhere"
'Here it is" and the lady led her to the
steam radiator, placed a chair and showed
her how to warm her feet.
"Well, now, amt that nice?n said the
old woman, spreading her ragged nit
tens to dry. ''Thank'ee, dear; this is
proper comfortable, amt it? Pm most
frozen to-day, bein' lame and aching;
and not selling much made me sort o
dOwn-hearted."
The lady smiled, went to the counter,
bought cup of tea and some sort of
food, carried it to the old woman and
said, as respectfully and kindly as If the
poor soul had been dressed in silk and
Iox of hot fpq >
1t is very comforting such day as
this"
"Sakes alive! Do they give tea at
this depot?" cried the old lady, in
/ tone of innocent surprise, that made
smile 90 through the room, touching
| the glummiest face like a streak of sun
shine. ''Well, now, this is just lovely,h
I added the old lady, slipping away with a
relish. "That does warm the heart.n
| While she refreshed herself, telling
her story meanwhile, the lady looked
over the poor little wares in the basket,
bought soap, pins and shOe-strings, and
cheered the old soul by paying well for
! them.
As watched her doing this thought
, what sweet face she had, though had
. considered her rather plain before.
felt dreadfully ashamed of myself that
+ had grimly shaken my head when the
: basket was offered to me; and as L saw
: a look of interest, sympathy and kind
q ness come into the faces of those around
: me, / did wish that l had been the ma
gician to call it out. 1t was only KIND
i word and friendly act, but somehow il
\ frightened that room wonderfully. i
!, changed the faces of a dozen women
|, and | think it touched dozen hearts
= for l saw many eyes follow the plain
; pale lady with sudden respect; anC
when the old woman, with many
y thanks, got up to go, several person
beckoned to her and bought something
as if they wanted to repair their negli
q gence.
There were no gentlemen present Il
= be impressed by the lady's kind acts; 81
it was not done for effect, and no posi-
!. BILE reward could be received for il ex
[, eept the thanks of poor old woman
7 But that simple little charity was a:
= good rs a sermon, and / think each
: traveller went on her way better for thai
p half-hour in the dreary statiOn.-S. s.
Worker.