Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-01-07
A PLEASING INCIDENT.

Sitting in a station the other day,
had little sermon preached in the
way like; and will 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 for
get it.
1t was a bleak, snowy day, the
train was late, the ladies' room was
dark and smoky, and the dozen wo-
men, old and young, who sat waiting
impatiently, all looked cross, low
spirited or stupid. | felt all three;
and thought, as | looked around,
that my fellow-beings were Il very
unamiable, uninteresting set. Just
then a forlorn old woman, shaking
with palsy, came in with basket of
wares and went about offering them
to the sitters. Nobody bought any
thing, and the poor old soul stood
blinking at the door minute, as If
reluctant to 90 out into the bitter
storm again. She turned presently,
and poked about the room. as if try
ing to find something; and then q
pale lady in black, who lay as if
asleep on the sofa, opened her eyes,
and saw the old woman, and instant
ly asked, in a kind tone if she had
lost anything.
mo, dear, I'm looking for the
heater to warm before l go out again.
My eyes is poor, and | do not seem
to find the furnace nowhere.
''Here it is," and the lady led her
to the steam radiator, placed char
and showed her how to warm her
feet.
"Well, now amt that nice y said
the old woman, spreading her ragged
mittens to dry. ''Thanky, dear, this
is proper comfortable amt it? I'm
almost frozen to-day, being lame and
wimbly, and not selling much makes
me down-hearted. 4"
The lady smiled, went to the coun-
ter, bought cup of tea and some
sort of food, carried it herself to the
, old woman, and, as respectfully and
, kindly as if the poor woman had
been dressed in silk and fur: '.Won't
you have cup of tea? It's very com
Portable day like this
| "Sakes alive. do they give tea al
: this depot?" cried the old lady, in 6
5 tone of innocent surprise that made 6
Z smile 90 round the room, touching
the glumiest face like streak of sun
shine. 'Well. now, this is jes
lovely" added the old lady, slipping
, away with relish. ''Thls does warn
t the cookies of my heart p
n "While she refreshed herself, tel
b ling her story meanwhile, the lad,
t looked over the poor little wares il
/ the basket, bought soap and pins
d shoe strings and tape, and cheerec
: the old soul by paying well for them
!. s'As | watched her doing this
J, tho't what a sweet face she had
V though | had considered her plain be
: fore. / felt dreadfully ashamed o
e myself that | had grimly shaken N.
u head when the basket was offered t
|. me, and as I saw the look of interest
o sympathy and kindness come into tn
: dismal faces all around me, / di
IS wish that l was the magician TO ca
Il it out. 1t was only kind word an
u a friendly act, but somehow it bright
2. ened the dingy room wonderfully
d 1t changed the faces of dozen VIC
l. men, and / think it touched doze
1T hearts, for | saw many eyes folio
t the plain, pale lady, with sudden rt
spect; and when the old woman &C
id up to go, several persons beckoned t
v her and bought something, as if the
e. wanted to repair first negligence
IN Lucy N. 4Alcot.