The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-10-29
A Touching Story.

b
On Saturday, September 4th, late in the after
noon, respectfully man, about thirty
years ofagc, carrying a.heavy corpet,sack, came
to The residence of Mr. Nathan Grafton, Rear
Forest Hill, and asked pefmission to stayyuhtil
morning He was'foot-sore, weary and suffer
ing for want offood HIS candid and intelligent
answers to Mr.. Graftou's questions made it
evident that he WAS no ordinary tramp Mr.
Grafton accordingly invited him to come in
and provided for his wants lis story and
subsequent death are touching incidents, and
impress in striking manner the divine aipiunc.
tion of hospitality to strangers r.
His name was George p. Bailey He was
farmer, whose home was near Gordon, Alabama
His family, like may others in the South were,
impoverished ny the war; but By patient
industry he had accumulated small amount of
money, which with sum raised by the sale of
some of his effects amounted TO $500 With
this capital he intended to engage in store keep
ing in small way With that object he went
to New York. toipurchase goods The VERY, duy
he arrived there his pocket book, containing
all his money, except three dollars, was stolen
He did not know asoul in all that great city,
and his condition was so furlorn that he was
almost berefteoi reason.
Remembering the name of firm i'm PhladcI-
pbia with whom he had had some business deal
ings through letters, he invested his remaining
three dollars in II railroad ticket TO that city,
He found the firm and introduced himself
His reception was cordial, but us soon as he
began TO talk of his misfortune and solicit their
influence to get work of some kind, business
engagements became so pressing that they had
no more time 10 talk 10 him. His last hope
was thus taken away. He was penniless, in
strange city, sixteen hundred miles from home
wife and friends. With carpet sack in hand he
started to walk in the direction Of Alabama
Eight miles from Philadelphia he got work on
turnpike, ut low wages and in company so
| rough that he was unable to endure it any
| longer than week. In that time lie saved
| enough to pay his fare TO lIavre de Grace. From
thence he walked to Mr.. Graftons, a distance
oftwenty miles.
The next morning, after warmly thanking
MIR. Grafton, he was about to resume his jour.
| nGy, but at Mr.. Grafons invitation he remained
| unit! Monday, to rest. Mr. Grafton, having
| become greatly interested in the stranger,
raised, with the assistance of humane neigh
bors, sum of money sufficient, as Mr.. Bailey
| said, to carry him to Savannah, Ga, from whence
he thought he could get a pass over arailroad
nearly to his home. Through the kindness of
Messrs. Norris, Latham d Co., of No. "a South
Calvert street, Baltimore, passage by sea was
secured for him at half price to Savannah. The
remainder of the amount raised by Mr.. Grafton
was handed to him. His gratitude and joy at
the prospect of getting home again were I'M
| bounded Failing to secure a pass at Savannah
| he travelled by rail as far as his money would
| carry MIN, ana lnCn started 10 walk nome lie
arrived at Spring Creek, Decatur county, Ca,
about dark, hot and wet With perspiration, hay
| ing walked Al miles that day The stream was,
too deep to wade, and he was obliged to swiM
across This chilled him through and caused his
death Walking on he reached the house of Mr..
John G. Amber, 40 miles from his home. Here
he was taken in and Hospitality provided for
He went to bed without eating supper, and at
midnight was taken very sick. lie became
| delirous and called in distressing tones for his
wife to come to him. A physician was summoned
and his wife was sent for. In an interval of
consciousness he told his sad story, and spoke
| in terms of deepest gratitude of the kindness of
! Mr. Grafton and Of Messrs. Norris, Latham ~
| Co. When his wife arrived he was again dclr-
| ious, but he recognized her voice and his wan
dering senses returned. Their meeting is de-
scrbed as hcartrending. Everything possible
was done for his relief, but his exposure and
anxiety to reach his home proved to be more
than he could endure. Before his death he beg
gcd that letter might be written to Mr.. Graf
ton, thanking him for his kindness and telling
him of his fate. The ritter of the letter states
that Mr.. Bailey was a yirtuous, sober and in
dustrious young man, and was greatly respect
ed by his ncighbors.
| Mr.. Grafton and others who were kind to the
| stranger have the satisfac ton of knowing that
their charity was bestowed upon q worthy
| object