Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-06-04
A Pleasing Incident.

hsA - AAhtAS ~AafSa HaNeS1~N A&@ tiS
/ like; and III report 1t for your bene.
fit, because it taught one Of the lessons
which we all should learn, and taught
it il such a natural, simple way that no
one could forget it. II was black,
snowy day; the train was late; the la
dies room dark aud smoky; and the doz.
en- women, old and young, who sat wal.
ting lmpa!ientiy, all locked cross, low.
spirited, or stupid. / felt all three; and
thought, as 1 looked around, that my
fellow-beings were a very unamiable,
uninterestlng set. ai
Just then a forlorn old woman, shaking
with palsy, came in with basket of
wares for sale, and went about mutely
offering them 10 sitters. Nobody bought
any thing, and the poor old soul stood
blinking at the door a minute. as if re-
luctant to 90 out into the bitter storm
again. She turned pleasantly, and
poked about the room, as if trying to
find something; and then pale lady in
black, who lay as if asleep on a sofa,
opened her eyes, saw the old woman,
and instantly asked, in a kind tone,'
have you lost anything ma'am"
No, my dear. I'm looking for the
heatln' place, to have a warm fore
goes out again. My eyes are poor and
don't seem 10 fad the furnace no.
where's"
"Here it is," and the lady led her to
the steam radiator, placed chair, and
showed her how to warm her feet.
"Well, now, amt that nice!" said
the old woman, spreading her ragged
mittons to dry. "Thanky, dear; this is
proper comfortable, amt it9 I'm most
froze to-day, being lame and wimbly,
and not selling much makes me kind Of
downhearted.'
The lady smiled, went to the counter,
bought cup Of tea and some sort Of
food, carried it herself to the old wo-
man, and said, as respectfully and kind.
ly as if the poor woman had dressed in
silk and fur, 'wil you have a cup of teas
It's very comforting ssch day as .hls.'
'Sakes alive! do they give tea at this
depot cried the old lady, IN a tone of
innocent surprise that made smile go
round the room, touching the glummest
face like streak Of sunshine. "Well,
now, this is just lovely" added the lady,
slipping away with 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 bas-
ket, bought soap and pins shoe-strings
and tape, and cheered!the old soul by
paying well for them.
As I watched her doing this,I thought
what sweet face she had, though /
had not considered her rather plain face
before. felt dreadfully ashamed Of
myself that l had grimly shaken my
head when the basket was offered to
me ;and as I saw the look Of interest,
sympathy and kindness come into the
dismal faces all around me, 1 did wish
that had been the magician to call II
out. 1t was only a kind word and a
friendly act. but somehew frightened
that dlngy room wonderfully. 1t chan
ged the faces Of dozen women, aud
think 1t touched q dozen hearts, for [
saw many eyes follow the plain, pale
lady with sudden respect; and when the
old woman got up to go, several per-
sons beckoned to her and bought some
thing, as If they wanted to repair their
negligence.
Old beggar women are not romantic (;
neither are cups OF tea, ooot-laces' ana
colored soap. There were no gentle
men present to be impressed with the
lady's kind act, SO it wasn't done Tor
effect; aud no possible reward could be
received for it except the ungrlmma''-
cal thanks Of a ragged old woman, but
that simple little charity was as good
as sermon to those who saw it,aand l
think each traveller went on her way
better for that half.hour in the dreary
station. Il can testify that one Of them
did, and nothing but the emptiness oi
her purse prevented her from comfort
ing the cookies Of the heart OF every
ior.orn old woman she met for week
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