Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-25

/ the furrowed face, we're noticed by the
stylish lady as the gray head bowed upon
| the toil-marked hand. She wanted to hear
her story; to help her.
Excuse me-John in trouble?"
mo. no-I'm in trouble. Trouble my
old heart never thought to see."
1.-The train does not come for some
time. Here, rest your head upon my
cloak
'You are kind. II my own was so /
shouldn't be in trouble tonight"
"What is your troubles Maybe l can
help you."
s.Tt's hard to tell it to strangers, but my
old heart is too full to keep it back.
When was left widow with the three
children | thought it was more than l
could bear; but it wasn't bad as this"
The stranger waited till she recovered
her voice to go on.
Il had only the cottage and my willing
hands. | toiled early and late all the
years till John could help me. Then we
kept the girls at school. John and me.
They were married not long ago. Mar
ried rich as the world goes. John sold
the cottage, sent me to the city to live
with them and he went west to begin for
himself He SAID we had provided for
the girls and they would provide for me
now"
Her voice choked with emotion. The
stranger waited in silence.
If went to them in the city. | went to
Mary's first. She lived in great house.
with servants to wait on her; house
many times larger than the little cottage
but l soon found there wasn't room
enough for me-"
The tears stood in the lines on her
cheeks. The ticket agent came out soft
", stirred the fire and went back. After
a pause she continued:
81 went to Martha's-went with a pain
In my heart never felt before. | was
willing to do anything so as not to be a
| burden. But that wasn't it. | found they
were ashamed of nv bent old body and
my withered face-ashamed of my rough,
wrinkled hands - made so toiling for
| thenl.-"
The tears came thick and fast now
The strangers hand rested caressingly on
the gray head.
"At last they told me must live in
boarding house and they'd keep me there.
| couldn't say anything back. My heart
was too full of pain. | wrote to John
what they were going to do. He wrote
right back, long, kind letter for ME to
come right to him. l always had home
while he had roof, he said. To come
right there and stay as long as l lived.
That his mother should never 90 out to
strangers. So I'm going to John. He's
got only his rough hands and his great
warm heart-but there's room for his old
mother-God bless--him."
The stranger brushed tear from her
fair cheek and awaited the conclusion.
"Some day when I'm gone where rn
never trouble them again, Mary and Mar
tina will think of it all. Some day when
the hands that toiled for them are folded
and still; when the eyes that watched
over them through many weary night
are closed forever; when the little old
body, bent with the burden it bore tor
them, is put away where it can never
shame them"
The agent drew his hand quickly before
his eyes, and went out, as if to look for
the train. The strangers jewelled fin
gers stroked the gray locks, while the
tears of sorrow and tears of sympathy fell
together. The weary heart was unbur-
dened. Soothed by touch of sympathy
the troubled soul yielded to the longing
for rest, and she fell asleep. -Philadelphia
Times.