Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-24
Christianity In a Car.

II was one OF those duh, cold, east windy
4 days. Of which we have had 50 many this
year, and most people looked cross. think
they felt cross, too. The cars left Boston
full of uncomfortable men and women, who
would have scattered discomfort in every
town on the road, IL they had been left TO
their own devices yet very little thing
shade them comparatively amiable.
Just as we were well started, the sun shone
out in subdued aud watery manner, bright
enough 10 annoy those in range Of its beams,
not bright enough TO give much pleasure
there was hasty slammng down Of blinds.
and much impatient fumbling with the
catches, which did not move readily; aud
the cross people grew more cross.
pretty, young girl sat between me aud
the window, who appeared to understand the
puzzle, and found no difficulty with her
blind. In the seat before us a discouraged
looking, middle-aged man was working de
iectedly at his, with an expression that said,
" That's always the way everything is
against me. | know it won't come down,
but it's very uncomfortable" The pretty
girl modestly pressed finger on the right
place. and the Blind began to fall. lie looked
around with dul! eyes, which frightened as
he saw the good will in hers she looked so
glad to he Of service that he evidently began
to doubt whether the whole world was against
him, and his Thank you came in a much
heartier tone than was common with him
a pleasant smile passed over his face as he
subsided into his seat, and that soured, dis
appointed look was almost driven away.
BY this time the young man in front had
reached over his wife and found the perverse
fastening it did not yield, and he grew i'm
patient his face Redeemed, and he pushed
with all his strength but all was in vain,
till his neighbor, who apparently expected
10 offer favor as little as to receive one,
rose and showed him the secret. The young
man gave careless nod Of thanks, his wife
looked relieved, and that matter was nr-
ranged.
In the seat before them weary woman
had hesitated to disturb her sleeping child
by moving to touch the blind hnt as the
slant rays grew more annoying, she gently
reached up to the catch and found that it
would not move readily. Evidently she was
used to discomfort, and used TO bearing il
brayely; not willing to wake the little one,
she gently sheltered herself as much as pos
sible, and tried to think of something pleas
ant The man behind her was not in the
habit of showing attention to women, unless
they were young and pretty he would never
have thought Of helping her, if he had not
felt the convenience Of being himself helped
"a it was, he dropped the blind hurriedly,
and buried himself in his paper too quickly
to see the grateful glance that thanked him.
lie lost something really fine, for that
woman was, obviously, one who appreciated
service for itself aud for its meanings, and
her look showed that the whole day had
been frightened for her by the little kindness
BY this time almost every one in the car
! had noticed h~-r the favor going around
and had felt frightened and refreshed by
noticing it. The spirit of the girl who wa.
unselfshly glad TO serve another, the true
spirit of Christianity, in however small a
thing it may appear, diffused itself among
the cross, wearied people they looked to
see il they could make their neighbors more
comtortsblei they put up packages, opened
or shut windows, began to think of some.
thing besides themselves, and they reached
their homes feeling much more aniable than
when they started. think the smile Of God
rested on that girl, and hope that some of
us found lesson in the little incident that
will be good FOR us. Perhaps it will be good
for you who read, .-Sunddy-!Schooi Tunes.