The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-08-27
A Pleasing Incident.


Sitting in a station the other day, l
had little sermon preached in the way
l like; and I'll report it for your benefit,
because it taught one of the lessons
which we all should learn, and taught it
in such natural, simple way, that no
one could forget it. II was a bleak,
snowy day; the train was late; the la
dies room dark and smoky; and the
dozen women, old and young, who sat
waiting impatiently, all looked cross,
low-spirited, or stupid. / felt all three;
and thought, as looked around that my
fellow-beings were very unamiable, UNI
interesting set.
Just then forlorn old woman, shaking
with palsy, came in with basket full of
wares for sale, and went about mutely
bought anything, and the poor old soul
stood blinking at the door a minute, as
if reluctant to 60 out into the bitter
storm again. She turned presently, and
poked about the room, as if trying to
find something; and then a pale lady in
black, who lay as e asleep on sofa,
opened her eyes, saw the old woman, and
instantly asked, in kind tone, "Have
you lost anything, ma'amY
"No, dea.. I'm looking for the heat
in place, to have warm fore ] goes out
again. My eyes is poor, and don't
seem to find the furnace nowhercs."
"Here it is" and the lcdy led her to
the steam radiator, place. a chair, and
showed her how to warm her feet.
"Well, now amt that nice!" said the
old woman, cpreading her ragged mittens
to dry, "Thanky, Gear; this is proper
comfortable, amt it? Pm most 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 crp of tea and some sort of
food, carried i herself to the old woman,
and said, as respectfully and kindly as if
the poor woman had laen dressed in silk
and flu won't you have cup of hot
tea? Us very comforting such day as
this"
"Sakes alive! do they give tea to this
depot?" cried the old lady, in tone of
innocent surprise that made smile go
rount. the room, touching the gloomiest
face like a streal; of sunshine. "Well,
now, this is jest lovely" added the old
lady, sippinT away with a relish. "This
does warm the cookies of nv heart ~
While she refreshed herself telliry her
story meanwhile, the lady looked over
the poor little wares / the basket bought
soap and pins. shoe-strings and tape and
cheered tie Old soul by paying we'll for
them.
AS l watched herdOing this, thought
what a sweet face she had, though I'd
considered her plain before. l felt dread
fully ashamed of myself, nat l had
grimiy shaken my head when the basket
WIS offered to me; and as / Jaw the look
of interes' sympathy, and kindness
come into the dismal faces eli around me
did wish that | had been The magician
to call it out - was only kind word
and a friendly act, but somehow it
frightened that dingy room wonderfully.
1t changed t, e faces of dozen women,
and / think j. touched dozen hearts,
for / saw MANY eyes follow the plain,
pale lady wit, sudden respect; and when
the OLD woman got up to 20, several per-
sons beckOned 10 her, ant bought some
thing, as j: thew wanted to repair their
/ first negligence.
Old beggar-women are not romantic
neither are cops 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
ragged old woman. But that simple
little charity was as good as a sermon to
those who saw it, and think each trGv-
eler vent on her way better Cor that hall
hour 4 the Greary station. l can testify
that one of them did, and nothing but
the EN- )tiness of her purse prevented hel
from co lforting the cookies of the
heart of every Iorlorn old woman she
met for week after.-Louisa N. AtcOH