Huntsville gazette., 1882-01-14
- IlI-I ~ '3f79
A Cup OF Cold Water.

A Cup Of Cold Water. Il
{ 1t was night at the Michigan Central
Station in Detroit late, dark, silent
night, and only a few dim lights broke
the gloom into dense shadows. that were
more fearful than utter darkness, and no
traveller was so unfortunate as to be COM
PEELED to hnger in the dreary place .
At least that was the impression, the
vast silence gave, but there were two
travellers who, when no trains were com
ing or going, waited in the depot through
the chill morning hour. One was man
who had come by the latest train, and
whom the conductor helped into the de-
pot, and who, through WEAKNESS, had
fallen asleep on the cushion. He was
ticketed brongh, and his destination was
the slaT nooRe needed to glance at
at him twice to'see that he had almost
reached the end of his last journey. The
other passenger was on the road to ruin;
he, too, had nearly arrived at the termi-
nus; at least, his palid, sin-marked face,
and ill-assorted. ragged clothes, seemed
to Indicate that he had nearly touched
the foot of the ladder; the world had
taken his measure and named him
''tramp," but he had wrought his own
ruin; low and evil as he was he never
blamed any one but himself.
This man had been watching the
sleeper for long time, had noted his
weakness, his respectable appearance,
and that he had watch-chain at his
vest pocket and respectable satchel
under his head; and he crept near, near
er, with the one horrible thought upper
most-he would rob the dying man! He
had no fear of the act He hugged the
baseness of it to his soul. But he did
fear that some one would come in and
interrupt his project. 1.-THE man moved !?
Why, turn of the wrist at his throat
would settle him.. ~ a zs.
He did not move. The tramp took
the satchel and the watch simultaneously
and was ready to fly, but the sick man
merely groaned family as his head drop
ped on the cushion. In the face of actual
death he slept as quietly as child on its
mothers breast.
AS the tramp looked with greedy eyes
at the watch to note its commercial
value he started and shivered as if an
official hand had been laid on his
shoulder, stared wildly at the face of the
sick man and back to the watch, which,
with open case, lay in his hand; then he
muttered something that had the name
of ''God'' in it, and instantly it was back
in the pocket of the sick man, and the
satchel was under his head again.
What had he seen ?
The picture of captain in the South
ern army, wearing the Confederate uni
form. A face that resembled that of the
man who when he lay dying of thirst,
and was about to be transfixed by rebel
bayonet, gave him a draught of spring
turned him to the North and said:
"When you meet vanquished man,
spare him, as have spared YOU
And he had raised his blue cap in the
air and sworn to remember.
Now they had met again!
An hour later a carriage drove in haste
to the depot, and first of all child came
running in. She looked at the tramp
a moment and hesitated, then flung her.
self on the prostrate man.
"Grandpa, dear grandpa! wake up.
We've come to take you home.''
A gentleman and lady hurried in.
Father said the lady, kneeling by
him, 'swe missed the time, but here we
are now. Do wake up.''
The tramp was tanning him with his
cap; certain dignity was in his face
and manner as he did SO. The sick man
opened his eyes, smiled feebly, and said:
.sGive-me-a- -drink-of-water- p"
The tramp brought the water and
knelt as he lifted the helpless head and
placed the cup of water to the cold lips.
When he laid him back there was a
smile sealed upon them, and the lady
and the little girl sobbed aloud.
The tramp rose to his feet, but his
cringing manner was gone.
The battle is most over" he said
gently. 'sHe told me to remember, and
| did. / would have died for him. F.
He has done better; he has lived for
him, and men touch their hats to him
now, who three months ago would have
spurned him from their doors.
Romance, do you say? No, my dear
sir, it is reality!-DetroI Free Press.