Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-11-29
a Pleasing Incident.

Sitting in station the other day,
had a little sermon preached in the
way like; and I'll report it for your
benefit, because it taught one of the
lessons which we all should learn, and
taught it in such natural, simple way
that no one could forget it.
ut was a bleak, snowy day; the
train was late; the ladies' room dark
and smoky, and the dozen women, old
and young, who sat waiting impatient
ly, all looked cross, low-spirited or
stupid. | felt all three; and thought,
as l looked around, that my fellow
beings were a very unamiable, uninter-
esting set.
"Just then a forlorn old woman,
shaking with palsy, came in with a
basket Of wares and went about mute
ly offering them to the sitters. No
body bought anything, and the poor
old soul stood blinking at the door a
minute, as if reluctant to go out into
the bitter storm again. She turned
presently, and poked about the room,
as if trying to find something; and
then a pale lady in black, who lay as
if asleep on a sofa, opened her eyes, and
saw the old woman, and instantly
asked, in a kind tone, Have you lost
anything, ma'am?"
"'No, dear, I'm looking for the heat
in place to have warm fore l goes
out again. My eyes is poor, and L
don't seem to find the furnace no.
where's
"Here it is and the lady led her
to the steam radiator, placed a chair
and showed her how to warm her feet
"Well, now, amt that nice! said
the old woman, spreading her ragged
mittens to dry. 'Thanky, dear, this is
proper comfortable, amt it2 I'm al
most frozen to-day, being lame and
wimbly; and not selling much makes
me down-hearted.'
1.-The lady smiled, went to the
counter, bought cup of tea and some
sort of food, carried it herself to the
old woman, and said, as respectfully
and kindly as if the poor woman had
been dressed in silk and fur: Wont
you have a cup of teap It's very
comforting day like this
"'Sakes alive! do they give tea at
this depot?' cried the old lady, in a
tone of innocent surprise that made a
smile go round the room, touching
the glummest face like streak of
sunshine. We'll, now, this is jest
lovely added the old lady, slipping
away with a relish This does warm
the cookies of my hearth
"WhiIe 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.
Gas l watched her doing this, |
thought what a sweet face she had,
though had considered her rather
plain before felt dreadfully ashamed
of myself that | had grimly shaken
my head when the basket was offered
to me, and as | saw the look Of inter
est, sympathy and kindness come into
the dismal faces all around me, did
wish that ! was the magician to call il
out. 1t was only kind word and a
friendly act, but somehow it bright
ened that dingy room wonderfully. 1t
changed the faces of a dozen women,
and | think 1t touched a dozen
hearts, for saw many eyes follow the
plain, pale lady, with sudden respect;
and when the old woman got up to go,
several persons beckoned to heT and
bought something, as if they wanted
to repair their first negligence.-LouiSa
II. Alcott.