Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-02-21
A Cup of Tea.

clttlnS IN station the other uay L
had 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 a natural, sim
pie way that no one could forget
it.
1t was bleak, snowy day; the
train was late; the tablespoon dark
and smoky and the dozen women,
old and young, who sat waiting i'm
patiently, all looked cross, lowspirited,
or stupid. felt all three, and thought
as | looked around, that my fellow
beings were a very unamiable, unin-
teresting 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 any thing, and the poor
old soul stood blinking at the door a
minute, as il 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 pale lady in black, who lay as
if asleep no sofa, opened her eyes
and saw the old woman, and instantly
asked, in a kind tone.
slave you lost any thing, ma'am?"
"No, dear; am looking for the
heatin' place to have warm fore l
goes out again. My eyes is poor, and
l don't seem to find the furnace
nowheres."
"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 it:
Pm almost frozen, being lame and
wimbly; and not selling much makes
me down-hearted."
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 said, respectfully and
kindly as if the poor woman had beer
dressed in silk and furs:
wont you have cup of tea? It's
very comforting day like this"
'SSakes alive! do they give tea a
this depot?" cried the old lady in {
tone ofinnocent surprise that made
smile go round the room, touching
the glummest face like a streak o
sunshine. "Well, now, this is JUS
lovely" added the old lady, slipping
away with a relish. "This doe
warm the cookies of my heart"
While she refreshed herself, telling
her story, meanwhile, the lady LOOKED
over the poor little wares in the has
ket, bought soap and pins, shoe
strings and tape, and cheered tn,
old soul by paying well for them
AS l watched her doing this
thought what a sweet face she had
f though | had considered her rattle
plain before. | felt dreadful,
ashamed Of'myself that had griml.
shaken my head when the baske
was offered me; and as l saw the lool
, of interest, sympathy, and kindnes
come into the dismal faces all arounC
, me, did wish that was the magi
clan to call it out. 1t was only
kind word and friendly act, bu
somehow it frightened that ding,
room wonderfully. 1t changed tn
p faces of dozen women, and l thinl
it touched a dozen hearts; for / say
! many eyes follow the plain, pale lad,
: with sudden respect. And when tn
: old woman got up to go several pei
, sons beckoned to her and bough
| something, as ifthey wanted to repai
! their first negligence.
/ Old beggar-wOmen are not roman
tic: neither are cups.of tea, boot-laceS
n and colored soap. There were n
q gentlemen present to be impresse
n with the lady's kind act, so it WASH
+ done for effect; and no possible re
n ward could be received for it excel
the ungrammatical thanks ola ragge
old woman. But that simple litt
charity was good as a sermon to thos
who saw it, and l think each travelt