The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1884-08-30
A Cup Of Tea.

A Cup Of Tea.
~Sitting in station the other dav I
had little sermon preached in the way
I like, and I'll report it for your benefit,
because it taught one of the lessons that
we all should learn, and taught it in
such simple, natural way that no one
could forget it:
1T was bleak, snowy day, the train
was late, the ladies' room dark and
smoky, and the dozen women, old and
young, who sat waiting patiently, all
looked cross, low-spirited, or stupid. I
felt all three, and thought, as looked
around, that my fellow beings were q
very unamiable, uninteresting set.
Just then forlorn old woman, shak-
ing with palsy, came in with q basket of
ware and went about, mutely Offering
them to the sitters. Nobody bought
anything, and the poor old soul stood
blinking at the door o minute, as if re-
luctant to so 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 Fam p
No, dear; I'm looking for the
heating place to warm me 'afore I
goes out agin. My eyes is poor, and
I don't seem to find the furnace no.
where's
"'Here it is and the Lady led her to
the radiator, placed 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 it I'm almost
frozen to-day, being lame and wimbly,
and not selling much makes me down
hearted
"The lady smiled, went to the coun-
ter, bought a cup of tea and some kind
of food, carried it herself to the old
woman, and said, Us 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 comfort
ing day like this
Sakes alive! do they give tea at
this depot ? cried the old woman in q
tone Of innocent surprise that made a
smile go round the room, touching the
gloomiest face like q streak of sum
shine. Well. now, this is just lovely
added the old lady, slipping away with
a 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 basket,
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 o sweet face she had,
though I had considered it rather plain
before. I felt dreadfully ashamed of
myself that I had grimjy shaken my
head when the basket was offered me:
and. as I saw the look of interest and
sympathy and kindness come into the
faces around me, did wish that I was
the magician to call it out. Itwas only
. kind word and friendly act, but some
how it frightened the dingy room won
derfully. It changed the faces of q
dozen women, and think it touched
. dozen hearts, for I saw many eyes
follow the plain, pale lady with sud
den respect. And when the old woman
got up to 90, several persons beck
oned to her and bought something,
as if they wanted to repair negligence.
"Old beggar women are not roman
tic; neither are cups of tea, boot laces,
and colored soap. There were no GEN.
tlemen present to be impressed with
the hdy's kind act, so it wasn't done
for effect and no possible reward could
be received for it except the ungram-
matical thanks of a ragged old woman.
But that simple little charity was as
good as sermon to those who saw it.
and I think each traveller went on her
way better for that half-hour in the
dreary station. I can testify that one
of them did, and nothing but the empti-
ness of her purse prevented her from
comforting the cookies of the heart of
every forlorn old woman she met for q
week after. LOUISA IT, Alcott.