Daily Republican., 1886-03-31

i "Sitting In a station the other day
n had little sermon preached In the
way I like and I'll report it for your
benefit, because IL taught one of the
lessons which we all should learn, and
taught 1t In such a natural, simple way
that no one could forget 1t.
" 1t was bleak, snowy day; the
train was late the ladies' room dark
and smoky, and the dozen VIC omen, old
and young, who sat waiting impa-
tiently, all looked cross, low spirited
or stupid. Ifelt all three, and thought,
as looked around, that my fellow
beings were a very unamiable, unin-
|teresting set.
"Just then, 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 anything; and the poor
old soul stood blinking at the door a
minute, as if reluctant to go out into
the bitter storm again. She TUNED
presently, and poked about the room,
as if trying TO find something; and
then pale lady in black, who lay as
If asleep on a sofa, opened her eyes
and saw the old woman, and instant
ly asked, in kind tone, Have you
;lost anything, ma'am?'
mo, dear, Pm looking for the heatin'
place to have warm fore goes out
again. My eyes is poor, and don't
seem to find the furnace nowheres.'
Here it u.s. And the lady led her
to the steam radiator, placed chair,
and showed her how to warm her
feet.
"'Well, now, amt that nicep 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 cup of tea and some sort
of food, carried it herself to the old
woman, and said as respectfully and
kindly as if the poor woman had been
dressed in silk and fur: wont you
have cup of tea? It's very comfort
ing day like this
'Sakes alivei do they give tea al
this depot?" cried the old lady in tone
of innocent surprise that made a smile
go round the room, touching the glum-
NEST face like o streak of sunshine.
We'll, now, this is jest lovely added
the old lady, slipping away with a
relish. This does warm the cookies
of my HEARTH
while she refreshed herself, telling
her story meanwhile, the lady looked
over the poor little wares in the basket,
bought soap and pins, shoestrings and
tape, and cheered the old soul by pay
! ing well for them.
AS l watched her doing this, |
thought what q sweet face she had,
though | had considered her rather
plain before. l felt dreadfulF ashamed
Of myself that had grimly shaken
my head when the basket was offered
me; and as / saw the look of interest,
lsympathy and kindness come into the
dismal faces all around me, did wish
that was the magician to call it out
1t was only kind word and friend
ly act, but somehow it frightened that
dingy room wonderfully. 1t changed
the faces OF a dozen women, and
think it touched dozen hearts; for
saw many eyes follow the plain, pale
lady with sudden respect. And whcr
the old woman got up to go, severa
persons beckoned to her and bough
something, as if they wanted to repair
their first negligence.
"Old beggar women are not roman
tic; neither are cups of tea, boot lacei
and colored soap. There were no gen
Element present to be impressed will
, the lady's kind act, so it wasn't done
for effect; and no possible reward eoulG
be received for 1t except the ingram
NAUTICAL thanks of ragged old wo
man. But that simple little charity
was as good as sermon to those who
saw it, and think each traveller went
on her way better for that half hour
in the dreary station. l 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 forlorn old woman she
met for week after"