The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-09-04
ONLY a CUP OF COFFEE.

Fields and fields sparkled like snow
1 in the sum- 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
Numbered past an hour before, and
now the third class came leisurely up
and stopped. Out stepped the pas
sengers, intent upon breakfast. One
famiIy-father, mother and children,
had brought their provisions with
them, and made their tea and coffee as
they wanted it on the stove in the
car. But most of the company 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
contents. 1t had taken weeks of saw
ing 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, whistling, as he joined the
throng outside. A few steps off he
which seemed to haYe nobody near it.
That's the place for my money
thought Harry. Entering, q delight
ful 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 honorably to scrimp save,
and even appear mean, so that you do
not 60 in debt. The jolly young fell
lows 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 stoYe. She gave tho lad
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.
Looks hungry, poor boy said the
woman to herself. Somewhere near
the size of my Jim.'
She cut two generous slices from
her large, firm loaf, and put plenty of
butter on them. Over her glasses
now and then she watched the appe-
tite with which he ate. 4s
Rather dry, now, isn't it p
FOh, mop said Harry. q never tasted
anything better r
Wont you take cup of coffee
with it?e Do .A
Madam said Harry, 4 have three
thousand miles to go and just money
enough to take me there. Home is at
the other end. I've enough for bread
this morning, but not enough for
coffee. I'll thank you for some water
Boy replied the widow, L have q
boy off at sea, somewhere near your
age, and some day on his way to me,
he may have to go on short ratiOns, |
Now you'll be my Jim this morning, |
and haYe your breakfast r
wish you could have seen the big !
blue and white cup in which ahe |
poured the yellow cream. and1stirrBd
the sweet brown sugar, ana h4ied up |
with the foaming coffee. / wish you |
could have seen Harry drink it, and !
then, when she wouldn't take bit |
from his store, just put his arms |
around her neck, and say ia
well, mother, if you won't take
anything else, you must let me kiss |
you for Jim.' E
Itrumpled the cap border little, /
but did the old lady good, and the
hands from the road coming in a
moment after. found her more chippy
and CHEEKY than usual. aa el
The fields are there yet, glittering j
with alkali; the brown adobe huts, /
the unpainted shantY, aud the bare
rugged cliffs in the distance. Old
Nj other Malloy still makes her bread
and her coffee for the railway folks,
and waits for. Jim to come in some
day. Harry, westward bound again,
with business before him and funds
in his pocket, is meaning to stop at
that station to take love token to
the good old heart that gave him in
his need what seemed like nectar,
though it was only cup of coffee.