Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-09-04
NO. 2lo.
A PLEASING INCIDENT.

Sitting in station the other day, had
little sermon preached in the way like;
ana III report it for your benefit because
IL taught one of the lessons which we all
should learn, and taught it in such natu-
raj, simple way, that no one could forget
1t. 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. l felt all
three; and thought, as looked around,
that my fellow-beings were very una
miable, unnteresting set.
Just then forlorn old woman, shaking
with palsy. came in with basket of wares
for sale, and went about mutely offering
them to the sitters. Nobody bought any
thing, and the poor old soul stood blinking
at the door minute, as if reluctant to 60
out into the bitter storm again. She
turned presently, and poked about the
room as if trying to fiud something; and
then pale lady in black, who lay as If
asleep on a sofa, opened her eyes, saw the
old woman, and instantly asked, in q kind
tone. "Have you lost anything, ma'am?"
No, dear. I'm looking for the heatin'
place, to have a warm fore goes out
agin. My eyes is poor, and don't seem
to find the furnace nowheres."
Here it Isl" and the lady led her to the
steam radiator, placed chair, and showed
her how to warm her feet.
"Well, now amt that nice ?" said the
old woman. spreading her ragged mittens
to dry. "Thanky dear; this is proper
comfortable, amt itp I'm almost froze
to. day, bein' lame and wimbly; and not
selling much makes me kind Of down.
hearted
The lady smiled, went to the counter,
bought cup of tea and some sort of food,
carried it herself to the old woman, and
said as respectfully as if the poor woman
had been dressed in silk and fur. Wont
you have cup of hot tea ? It's very COM
torting such day as this"
"Sakes alive! Do they give tea to this
depot ?' cried the old lady in tone of in
nocent surprise, that made smile 60
round the room, touching the glummust
face like a streak OF sunshine. 'Well,
now this is jest lovely" added the old Ia
dy. slipping away with relish. "This
does warm the cookies of my heart"
While she refreshed herself, telling her
story meanwhile, the lady looked over the
poor little wares in the basket, bought
soap and pins, shoestrings and tape. and
cheered the old soul by paying well for
them
As | watched her doing this, l thought
what sweet face she had, though I'd con-
sidered her rather plain before. felt
dreadfully ashamed of myself that had
grimly shaken my head when the basket
was offered to me; and as saw the look
of interest, sympathy and kindliness come
into the dismal faces all around me, did
wish that had been the magician to call
it out. 1t was only kind word and
friendly act but somehow it frightened
that dingy room wonderfully. 1t changed
the faces of a dozen hearts, for l saw
many eyes follow the plain, pale lady with
sudden respect; and when the old woman
got up to go, several persons beckoned to
her, and bought something, as if they
wanted to repair their first negligence.
Old beggar-women are not romantic;
neither are cups of tea, boot-laces, and
colored soap; there were no gentlemen
present to be impressed with the lady's
kind act; so it wasn't done for effect, and
no possible reward could be received for
it except the ungrammatical thanks of a
ragged old woman. But the simple little
charity was as good rs sermon to those
who saw it; and think each traveller
went on her way better for that half hour
in the dreary station. can testify that
one of them did; and nothing but the emp
tiness of her purse prevented her from
comforting the cookies of the heart of
every torlorn old woman she met for u
week after IouiSn AZ AZc0f