The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-04-15
A CUP OF WATER.

Tommy Travers was water carrier on
a railroad that went from busy city IN
to the quiet, beautiful mountain regions.
bearing crowds of city people away Tor
their; summer vacation.
Tommy's personal appearance was not
striking. Few people looked farther than
the small brown hand that dealt out cold
water to thirsty passengers. Though
Tommy expected no reward except what
the company paid him at the end OF the
month, he sometimes thought how pleas
ant it would be to s'know people, and
receive kind word or smile for his
efforts to please.
1t was on sultry July afternoon that
saw the little fellow with his honest
face. The cars were filled to overflow
ing with passengers for the mountains !:
ard what with the dust and heat and
cinders pouring in clouds through the
windows, and the frequent stopping OF
the heavily loaded train, they were a
very noisy, disconnected set of people.
Tommy thought, as he heard the little
boys and girls, nicely dressed and well
cared for, fretting and making themselves
and every body in hearing uncomfortable,
that he should.6be very willing to endure
the dust and heat if he was going to stay
in the fresh, pure air Of the mountains all
summer; and, feeling just little discon,
tented with his lot, he carclessly spiiieo
, the contents Of glass OF water on the
dress Of a lady he was serving.
A sharp reproof caused him to hastcI
on rapidly: but, as he was leaving thu
car, a forlorn little object i'll the corner
. met his eve. A grimy, i'll dressed littl'
| figure it was, curled up in the corne'
' seat, with two small fists trying to wip
: away the tears that were making ciac'
{ valley railroads on either cheek.
0 Tom $ heart-a good large one, by tn
i way--was touched at the sight OF tn
!. bows distress, and he said to himself
a without knowing why: Heres chanc
0 to pay off for that old woman who scold
ed me.
In a moment he had filled a glass full
!. cool water. and, reaching it out to tn
o child, shouted in CHEEKY tone:
4 '.Look here, little one, don't you wal
this!'
4 The tears ran off the track, and prett
4 soon stopped coming on the boys cheel
: the brown fists were drawn aside, and
4 pair Of bright eyes took sharp look
- the newcomer. The survey was cvidcn
e ly satisfactory, for Toms invitation WI
= accepted, and little Sam drained the gla
a in twinkling.
,e "Why. what place you've got, youn
e. ster !" said the company's water carrie
r ..Sun shining right in, and the blind uE
IN just wait bit until some one gets Q.
" the next station, and we'll go to the shad
10 side. Our folks don't mean these sea
in f,r nice little boys like you. Where
ne you going
IT Sam couldn't help liking the kin
er hearted fellow, and he was natural
pleased to be called nice little boy,
no Tom was soon in possession Of his stor
- As the train stopped at the static
a. Tom hurried his charge along to shat
= seat. and drew from his shabby pocket
4. illustrated almanac, and said:
There. YOU can look at the pictur
till come back with something nice
T.. {. and he smackcd his lips With relish.
- Little Sam looked up inquIringly; b
= Tom only nodded and was of.
!, aBcen riding all day without anythi
! to eat unused Tommy on the platfol
Of the car. "Just wait till we get
Pine Crossing!' and be uttered sat
fed whistle.
At Pine Crossing lived nice old far
I'D er. who often had tossed fine yellow .
r.. pies to the little water-boy. a. the tr'
nd stopped for moment; but to-day
ag was little afraid. But no! there sto
the man with basket Of luscious fru
zee and Tommy caught one, two, three. b
Ee dozen, before the cars moved away.
Tom could hardly keep from laugh
ed aloud in his joy to sec Sam devour the
As pies with such eagerness that there co,
les be no doubt about his appetite, and
nd sight was most delightful one TO tn
uld Of the passengers who had watched
put boys, and that WAS good many. s.
wn the lady who had reprcved Tom ior
careIessness, smiled kindly It him VI
be went mp the CIR With his vateF-can.
ran But the boy cared little whether
- kaaSuA6 The hlA4e