The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-11-27
A Pleasing Incident.

hchsihS
Sitting in the station the other day, 1
had 4 little sermon preached to me in
the way l like /; and I'll report it for
your benefit, because it taught me one
of the lessons we should all learn, and
taught it in such a natural, simple way,
that 20 one could forget it. 1t was a
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. Ifelt allthree !;
and thought, as 1 looked around, that
my feliow-beings were a very unamia-
bic. uuinteresting set.
Just then n forlorn old woman, shak-
ing with palsy, came in with a basket of
wares for sale, and went about mutely
Offering them to the %sitters. Nobody
bought anything, and the poor old soul
stood blinking at the door a minute, as
if reluctant to go out into the 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 al if asleep on a sofa,
opened her eyes, saw the old woman,
and instantly asked, in a kind tone,
Have you lost anything, na'am?"
"No, dear. I'm looking for a heatin'
place, to have a warm fore 1 goes ont
again. Ny eyes are poor, and I don't
seem TO find the furnace anywhere"
Here it is" and the lady led her to
the steam radiator, placed a chair,
and showed her how to warm her
feet.
We'll, now, amt that nice !" said
the old woman, spreading her ragged
mittens to dry. "Thanky, dear this
is proper comfortable, amt it? I'm
most froze to-day, bein' lame and VIM
by; and not selling much makes me
kind OF down hearted"
The lady smiled, went to the counter,
bought a cup of tea and some sort Of
food, carried it herself to the old WON
an, and said as respectfully and kindly
as if the old woman had been dressed
in silk and fur, won't you have a cup
Of kot tea? It's very comforting such
aday as this"
"Sakes alive ! do they give tea to
this depot ?" cried the old LAZY in a tone
Of innocent surprise that made a smile
go round the room, touching the glum-
NEST face like a streak of sunshine.
well, now, this is jest lovely" added
the old lady sIpping away with a 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, shoe-strings and
tape, and cheered the old soul by pay
ing well for them.
As watched her doing this, 7 thought
what a sweet face she had, though I'd
considered her rather plain before. /
felt dreadfully ashamed of myself that
L had grimly shaken my head when the
basket was offered to me and as l saw
the look of interest, sympathy and
klndlness come into the dismal faces
all around me, 1 did wish / had been
the magician to call it out. 1t was only
a kind word and a friendly act, but
somehow it frightened that dingy room
wonderfully. 1t changed the faces of a
dozen women, and l think il touched a
dozen hearts, for 1 saw many eyes fol-
low the plain, pale lady with sudden re-
-spect and when the old woman got up
to go, Several persons beckoned to her,
n bought something, as if they want
ed to repair their first negligence.
Old beggar-women are not romantic ;
neither are cups Of tea, boot-laces and
co-o-e@ soap. TLC-c wcrc % gentlemen