The Shasta courier., 1872-09-14
NUMBER 25.
ONLY A CUP OF COFFEE.

away in the distance rose the mountains,
bare and brown. Close by the railroad
track. stood the rough station buildings,
and two or three adobe huts where refresh
ments were offered to travellers Tie ex-
press had thuadered by an hour before,
and now the third class came leisurely up
and stopped. Out stepped the passengers,
intent upon breakfast. One family had
brought their provisions with them, max
ing tea aad coffee as they wante,lit, ,on he
Car. Bur most Of the company were men
who did not know much about helping
themselves. One slender lad Harry Min
turn, sat in seat at the other end OF the car
until all around him had gone ouf then
taking out his purse, he carefully counted
its scanfy contents. Ii had taken weeks
of saving to get enough to buy the ticket
for the East. and his margin was small
when that WAS done.
Bread and butter this morning." he
said Us he joined the crowd outside. A
few steps Oft he saw mudest little shanty.
which seemed to have nobody near it
That's the place for my money"
thought Harry Entering, delightful
OuUT vi COuco STtcC u ulm ouSt tue
smell seemed to warm hi#,, and his hand
in his pocket felt fhe bits longingly. Alas!
he knew just how far they would 90. aud
just how nany meals they would buy and
Harry hal learned that it is safe never to
spend your last penny, and honorable to
scrinp and save. and even appear mean, so
that you do not get in debt. The jolly
young fellows who sang songs and told
stories 10 the cars would have lent him
money. car, less whether it was ever paid.
But Harry would as soon have begged ss
borrowed
An old woman sat knitting IN char
by the stove She gave the lad char
. aud asked him what he would have
Two slices of bread and butter, if yon
please"
"Nothing else ?"
"That's all" said Harry. The great
round Of corned beef and cold mutton wer"
not for him
"Looks hungry poor boy !" ,aid the
wou,an to herself: Somewhere near the
size of III; Jim"
She cut two generous slices from her
large loaf and put plenty of butter on them.
Over her glasses. How aud then, she watch
ed the appetite with which he ate.
"Rather dry, now, isn't t?'
%, no" said Harry, IL never tasted
anything better"
Wont you take cup of coffeewith it !?
Do"
"Mads H." said Harry. "I've three
thousand miles to go, and just enough for
bread this morning, but not enough for
coffee. I'll thank you for some water"
"Boy" said widow, 81 have boy
off at sea someahere near your age, and
some day, on h,s way t. me, be may have
to 20 on short rations. Now you be my
jim this morning, and have yuur bresl-
fast"
l wish y could have seen the big blue
and white cup INT, which she poured the
yellow cream. and stirred the sugar, aDd
flied up with toaming cutfee. | " sh yOs
could have seen Horny d ink it. aud then,
VIII, n she wouldn't take bi from his
stor just put has arm aroundsher- neck
aud. say:
well, mother, if yoI won't take any
lninS else, you uust ieV We Kiss you IT.
JIM"
1t rumped the cap border little, but
it did the old lady good, and the hands
from the road coming a luomrut, after,
found her more happier and cheery- tha.
usual
The fields are there yet, glitteri.g with
a!kali the brown adobe hut> ; the unpaint-
ed shanty, and the bare rugged cliffs IN the
distance. Old mother Motley still makes
her bread aud coffee for the Railway folks,
and waits tor Jim to come in soine day
Harry, westward bound again, with 'busi-
ness before him aud funds iu his pocket,
is intending to stop at that station to take
love token to that eood old heart tina.
gave him in his need what seemed like
nectar, though it was only cup OF coffe"