Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-07-21
A BITTER LESSON.
BY MRS. EMILY TuoRNToN-


more would be steaming from the depot,
whan.two young ladies entered, seeking
seats. one was Il very swcct-looking
girl, not beautiful, yet far from h,mely /;
the other, whom she resembled enough
to call them sisters, possessed a charm
ing face perfect features, liquid. blue
eyes and waving, golden hair. Hers
was beauty that would Immediately
riveti attention. Both were under twen-
ty three.
"There, Mabel" said the plainest-
looking one, 81 see just two seats, one
in front of the other, SO we can talk when
we like"
Yes; and just see who occupies each!
One a horrid old countryman, and the
other negro. No! won't sit by him,
Elsie-he is too shabby" She continued,
"a, her sister offered to sit by the negro.
leaving the other seat vacant Nor
Shall YOU sit there, either See here,
man," she continued, addressing the col
orcd person "suppo>e you sit BY this
farmer and allow two ladies to keep to
gpthc ?'
"Of course" said the individual nd
dressed +; " it NAUSEA is willm', is"
Change seats, certainly, Caesar; |
am glad there is room for you here" re-
turned the so-callel countrVmm.
Without II word of thanks, Mis, Ma
bel tossed her head di,dainiuly, and
passed to the seat by the window, while
Elsie looked lack kindly, and said to tho
negro:
I" thank you very much, but am sor-
ry to have disturbed you ?"
mabel, how could you speak so to
strangers p she added, in low tone to
her sister as the cars moved ON " felt
sorry for them both, for. they heard all
you said"
d" ! don't care if they did Who were
they, pray one Il darkey, and the other
rough old customer from the back
woods, " returned the beauty.
DO speak lower. He is not old,
neither is he rough. He has the finest
and most expressive eyes ever saw, and
though not iashlonaUly dressed, ] know
he is Il true gentleman !" replied Elsie,
softly.
" How do you know that, pray ?' ask
ed the other, impatiently, as she turned
her head and stared boldly Mt the person
behind His eyes ale good enough,
but his clothes must have been made by
Noah'- tailor. Where You see the gen.
Hemltn, cannot think"
In the kind manner in VIII Itch he
spoke to the negro. He has feeling
heart, and a low, sweet voice"
"Since you admire him so much, I
will draw you his picture" returned
Mabel, taking pencil and some paper
from her travelling satchel | will des-
cribe my portrait as it progresses, for his
benefit, for | hope he hears. First, II
great, thcli-sku!lcd, boorish clowns
head is to be drawn; long, dangling,
black hair, mustache, and moppy, thick
beard"
80, please stop, sister, he does hear,
and sees also, / fear !"
a. am glad Of it Perhaps will give
him the picture when finish it. Collar
turned down, dog cared style; coat, all
rusty and out Of date years ago hut-O,
Elsie, did you see that great, broad
bimmod straw heqd-protcctor rcpo,ing
on bis knee See, | have it here exactly.
am only sorry that cannot see his
feet, but presume lhey are as long as
the moral law, and dccked in cowhide
boots, SO | will pat them in as a finish"
While thus this unladylike beauty
chattcd and amused herselfat the expense
OF another, the cars had been speeding
onward at a very rapid rate. Through
meadows oflong, green grass, over bridg-
es spanning running, ripping streams,
then whirling into rocky chasms, and
through grand old woods, the train thun-
dcrcd on.
But suddenly strange jar.thrilled ev-
cry passengcr-then tnump, thump-a
fearful cra-h-with shrieIis and groans,
flying -plntars, and broken glass, pro-
claimed an accident to the Inflated train.
A broken rail had thrown il from the
track, down steep cmbankmcut, and
now crushed, helpless sufferers took The
place of the smiling, needless travellers
that Il few moments before filled the
seats. The ear containing the parties
we have already introduced was dread
fl wreck. Fortunately the person Ma
bel had styled "a boorish clown" and
the negro, escaped unhurt, while the sis
ter, were both wcdged BY heavy tinbcrs
to their places, and were also wounded.
80, help me, quick ~ screamed Ma
bel, as she saw the two men stand up un-
harmed. 81 am fast and hurt and viii
be burned up, foI | smell smoke, save
me- do, kind sir %
~ win try to aid you both" returned
the stranger. Here, Caesar, help me-"
he continued, grasping the heavy plank
that lay across their ieet. With all their
strength they pulled, bat the effort was
in vain.
Both tried then to draw away the girls
from their dreadful position, after hav-
ing dashed out the window that ,hey
might escape tbcrefrom. Strongly they
pulled, the negro Mabel, the stranger
Elsie.
go, pull me out first, both Of you !"
shrieked Mabel, frantically. 81 must
not die, mamma and papa would mourn
me SO ! Oh, save me first, please ~
Yes" murmured Elsie, with lips