Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-02-09

A CUP OF TEA.

a ca 4 Oh ES.
Sitting in 4 station the other day, l had
q little sermon preached in the way like;
and III report it for your benefit, because
it taught one of the lessons which we all
should learn, and taught it in such nat
ural, simple way that 10 one could forget
il.
1t was 4 bleak, snowy day; tie train
was late, the ladies' room dark and smoky;
and the dozen women, old and young, who
sat waiting impatient, all locked cross,
low spirited, or stupid. felt all three,
and thought as looked around, that my
fellow beings were a very unamiable, un-
Interesting set.
Just then lorlorn old woman, shaking
with palsy, came in with basket of wares,
and went about mutcly Offering them 10
the sitters. Nobody bought anything;
and the poor old soul stood blinking at the
door minute, rs if reluctant 10 go into
the bitter storm again. She turned pres
emily and poked about the room, as if try
ing to find something; and then a pale
lady in black, who lay as if asleep on 4
sofa, opened her. eyes, and saw tie old
woman, and instantly asked in = kind
tone. "Have you lost anything ma'am?"
NO, dear, I'm looking for the heatin'
place TO lave warm fore ! goes ont
again. Ny eyes is poor, and don't seem
m nd tho furDora nowhere -
Here it is" And the lady led her 10
the steam radiator, placed 4 chair, and
showed her how to warm her feet.
"Weli, now, ANTI that nicc"" said the
old woman, spreading her ragged mittcus
to dry. "Thanky, dear; this is proper
comfortable, amt it: Pm almost frozen
to-day, being lame and wimbly; and not
selling much makes me down-heartcd.
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 rs 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 comforting day like this"
"Sakes alive. do they give tea at this
depot ?" cried the old lady, in a tone Of in
nocent surprise that made smile 20 round
the room, touching the glummcStface like
a streak Of sunshine. "Well, now, this is
just lovely" added the lady, slipping away
with a relish "This does warm ihe cock
les of my hedrt!"
While she refreshed herself, telling her
story meanwhile, the LADY lookeJ.oycr the
Door little wares in the basket, bought
soap and pins, shoe-strings and tape, and
checred the old soul by paying well for
them.
As | watched her doing this, thought
what sweet face she had, though had
considered her rather plain before. felt
drcadfuIy ashamed Of myself that had
grimly shaken my head when the basket
was offered me; and rs saw tho look of
interest, sympathy, and kindness come
into the dismal faces all around me, did
with that was the magician to cali II out.
II was only kind word and a friendly
act but somehow ii Frightened that dingy
room wonderfully. 1t changed the faces
OF dozen women, and | think it touched
a dozen hearts; for ! saw many eyes fol-
lowed The plain, pale lady with sudden
respect. And when the old woman got
up to go, several persons beckoned to her
and bought something, AS if they wanted
to repair their first negligence.
Old beggar women are not romantic;
neither are cups Of tea, boot-laccs, and
colored soap. There were no gentlemen
present to be impressed with the lady's
kind act, so It wasn't done for effect; and
no possible reward could be received for IL
except the ungrammatical thanks Of an
oldIwomsn. Bat that simple little charity
was rs good as a sermon to those who saw
it, and think each traveller went on her
way better for that half-hour in the dreary
station. | can testify that one of them
did, and nothing but the emptiness Of her
purse prevented her from comforting
the cookies of the heart Of every forlor1
old woman she met for week after
Lowsa ". Alcot.