Huntsville gazette., 1885-08-29
A TOUCH OF NATURE.
Timely Generosity Which Taught
q Great Moral Lesson.


locks visible beneath the deep bonnet
could hardly be called less than half
gray. A faded shawl covered her mar
row shoulders, and this. with calico
dress even more faded, completed her
humble attire.
Her steps were slow, but not hesitat-
ing, and Judging altogether from her
outward appearance, one would scarce
ly conclude her aged outline was due
to years. Still there was about her a
worn look that caught the eye Of Jim
Carroll, and held it.
We may say, and without fear of
contradiction from one who knew him,
that in all Missouri there were few
larger-hearted men than this same Jim
Carroll But it was also true that in
all that region there were not many
who could be less charitable to their
enemies, or, when injured, longer hold
resentment.
Carroll was a single man. He looked
young for his years, for although he
was but four wears short of fifty, one
would hardly take him to be forty.
He had fought bravely during the
war, and was bitter politician after
the service. After leaving the army,
he had divided his time about equally
between locating long lines of railroad
in the far West, and shorter ones
nearer home.
Just now he was on his way to pre-
liminary survey, which he, with others,
was making near by. His assistants
had preceded him few rods, and he
was hurrying to overtake them, when
the woman took his attention.
The spot he was passing, and in
which she stood, was small inclosed
opening in the pines, which served the
purpose of a country burying- ground.
Perhaps two dozen graves were in it,
some neglected, some with bright flow-
ers profusely growing above them.
while others-a few only-were marked
with stones. These were all of a
humble pattern, and near one of the
plainest was the woman. a-f5
The grave by which she stood, and
the one which the stone marked was a
long one, moss-grown, and until very
recently neglected Close beside it
was little grave, and just beyond it
another, not so small as the second,
nor nearly as large as the first.
The woman had evidently been there
some time, for little handfuls of weeds
were lying between the graves and
along the path near them. Besides,
small handful of bright wild flowers
lay evenly along the center of the earth.
Just now she seemed busy rolling
two common stones to the heads of
the unmarked graves. One she had al
ready placed in position, or nearly so,
and was now working at the other,
which was apparently too heavy for
her. When Carroll saw this, he at
once laid down his transit and stepped
up to the fence.
.'Can help you any, MADAME" he
asked, putting his hands on the top
rail.
The woman started as he spoke and
turned half-frightened face towards
him.
II thought may be could help you
with the stone," he continued. Il am
sorry if startled you"
Excuse me, SIR" she replied. II
thought I was alone, but if you can
help me. shall be greatly obliged.
though would not wish to trouble
you"
Nothing could give me more pleas
ure, madam" and with this the warm
hearted man came up to the grave,
and with ease tipped the stone on one
edge as the head Of it.
"What were you going to do with
those?" he asked, pointing to some
smaller ones, evidently freshly taken
out of the ground. This he asked
partly from desire to further assist
her, and partly from an underlined
something that made him wish to
know more of the humble graves and
their mourner. ...--s
Thank you. sir. but if hasten, I
think l shall have time. wished to
lay them along the grass. so if I never
came again, twill show the palmer
where they are. Perhaps 'twould do
no harm, sir, but it seems hard to have
them stepped upon.
If your time be short allow me to