Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-02-23
ALittIe sermon.

of the beautiful lessons which all shout
, learn was taught in such natural, sin
pie way, that none could forget it.
was bleak, snowy day, the train Wa
late, ladies room dark and smoky, an
the dozen women, old and young, VIII
sat waiting impatiently, all looked eros
low spirited or stupid. Just then fol
Torn old woman, shaking with the palsy
came in with basket of little wares 70
sale, and went about mutely oiferin
them to the sitters. Nobody bought any
thing and the poor old soul stood blink
ing at the door minute as if reluctan
to go out in the bitter storm again. Sh
turned presently and poked about tn
room as if trying to find something, an,
then lady in black, who lay as if asleel
Cd sofa, opened her eyes, saw the OLE
woman, and asked in kind tone, "Hav,
you lost anything, ma'am?"
No, dear, N locking for the heat
ing place, to have warm fore | go GU
again. My eyes are poor, and | don
seem to find the furnace nowhere"
Here it is" and the lady led her t,
the steam radiator, placed chair anC
showed her how to warm her feet.
"Well now amt that nice ?" said tn,
old woman spreading her ragged mittenl
to dry. "Thank 'ee dear; this is proper
comfortable, amt il? I'm most frozt
to-day, bein' lame and aching; and mo-
selling much made me sort of down heart
ed"
The lady smiled, went to the counter
bought a cup of tea and some sort o
food, carried it herself to the old woman
and said, as respectfully and kindly as il
the poor old soul had been dressed il
silk and fur, Won't you have cup o
hot tea? It's very comforting such q
day as this"
"Sakes alive do they give tea at this
depot ?" cried the old lady in an limo
cent surprise, that made a smile go round
the room, touching, the glummest face
like streak of sunshine. Well, now
this is just lovely" added the old lady
slipping away with a relish. THAT does
warm my heart"
While she refreshed herself telling hel
story meanwhile, the lady looked over
the 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 a sweet face she had, though l con,
sidered her rather plain before. I felt
dreadfully ashamed of myself that had
grimly shaken my head when the basket
was offered to me and as l saw look
OF interest, sympathy and kindness come
into faces around me, I did wish that |
had been the magician that called it out.
1t was only kind word and friendly
act; but somehow it frightened that din
gy room wonderfully. 1t changed the
faces of dozen women, and l think it
touched dozen hearts, for saw many
eyes follow the plain, pale lady with sud-
den respect; and when the old woman
with many THANKS got up to go, several
persons beckoned to her and bought
something as though they wanted to re-
pair their negligence. There was no
gentleman present to be impressed by the
lady's kind act; so it was not done for
effect, and no possible reward could be
received for it except the thanks of a
poor old woman. But that simple little
charity was as good as sermon, and
think each traveller went on her way
better for that half hour in that dreary
station.