The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-03-18
A Railway Lesson.

|
three passengers entered the train on the
Iowa Division of the Chicago and North
western Road at Bridgewater. Among
them was stylishly dressed young man,
who wore stiff white hat, patent leather
shoes, tho neatest of cuffs, and shiniest of
stand-up collars. He carried cane, and
carefully brushed the dust from the seat
in front of me before he sat down. Just
across the aisle, opposite him, sat tired
woman, holding sick baby. I never
saw on any face more discouraged,
worn.out, despairing look than that on
the mothers face. The baby was too sick
even to cry. Itlay moaning and gasping
in its mothers lap, while the dust and
cinders flew in at the open doors and
windows. The heat and the dust made
travelling. even for strong men, almost
unbearable,
had put down the stylish young man
in front of me as 3 specimen of the dude
family, and was making mental calcu-
iaton on the probable existence of brain
under the new hat, when, to my aston
ishment, he leaned over the aisle and said
to the woman:
Madam, can I be of any assistance to
you? Just let me hold your baby a
while. You look very tired"
The woman seemed much surprised,
though the request was made in the po-
litest aud most delicate manner.
20, thank you, sir !" she said, trem
ulously. 81 am tired.'
II think the baby will come to me-"
said the young mau, with q smile.
"Poor thing, it's too sick to make any
objection. I vii! hold it carefully,
madam, while you lie down and rest a
while. Have you come far ?"
"From the Black Hills"
"What! By stagc?"
"Yes, but the baby was we'll when 1
started. / am on my way home to
friends in the East. My husband
my"
"Ab, yes, l see, 1 see!" continued the
young man in sympathetic tone, as he
glanced at the bit of Grape in the little
travelling hat. By this time he had
taken the baby, and was holding ait in
his arms.
"Now you can lie down aud rest lit
tie. Have you far to go?"
"To Connecticut" replied the woman
with sob, as she wearily arranged a
shawl over valise and prepared to lie
down in the seat.
"Ah, yes, see! And you haven't
money enough to 60 in sleeping car,
have you, madam ?" The poor woman
blushed family and put one hand over
her face, while the tears dropped between
her worn fingers.
I looked out of the window, and a
mist came over my eyes, while l changed
my calculation of the young mans men,
tai ability. He looked thoughtfully and
tenderly down at the baby, and in short
time the mother was fast asleep.
a woman sitting across the aisle from
me, who had heard as much of the con-
versation as had, came and offered to
relieve the young man of his charge. 81
am ashamed of myself for not Offering to
take the baby from the mother before.
Poor little thing Its asleep"
$50 is. I'll surrender it toyou now,"
with cheerful SMILEY.
At this point the train stopped at a
station, and the young man rose in his
seat, took off his hat, and said in clear,
earnest voice:
"Ladies and gentlemen, here is an
opportunity for each one of US to show
that we have been brought up in Chris
tian land, and have had Christian fathers
and mothers. This poor woman" point
ing to the sleeping mother,) "has come
all the way from the Black Hills, aud is
on her way to Connecticut. Her hus.
band is dead, and her baby i'll. She
hasn't money enough to travel in sleep
ing-car, and is all tired out and discour,
aged. What will you do about it ?"
"Do !" cried a big man down near
the water cooler, rising excitedly, "Take
up col ection-the American citizens
last resort in distress I'll give S."
The effect electrical. The hat went
around, and the way the silver dollars,
and quarters, and ten cent pieces ratified
in it, would have done any true heart
good.
wish l could describe the look on the
woman's face when she awoke, and the
money was given to her. She tried to
thank us all, and failed she broke down
completely. But we didn't need any
thanks.
There was sleeping. car on the train,
and the young man saw the mother and
child transferred to it at once. did not
hear what she said to him when he left
her, but it must have been hearty "God
bless you !'
More than one of us in that car took
that little lesson to himself, and | learn
cd that even stylish as well as poor
clothes may cover noble heart.-C0m.
panion.
SuperstitionS.