Nevada County picayune., 1886-07-14
A GIRLS CHIVALRY.

tern. city. Two or three warm days had been followed by sleet and weather bitterly cold. Every thing was radiant in the vivid sun. shine, as though powdered with diamond dust, and the trees were great crystals; but the glassy rime on the sidewalks and crossings was very treacherous, and many an un- wary foot-fall brought dire disaster. Avis Morton, on her way to her daily work, after many narrow escapes reached a street car in saf, ty. She had the good for tune to secure the last vacant seat, and, smiling and warm in her plain comfortable clothes, she sat watch ing her fellow passengers. At the next crossing the car stopped, and a shabby little old woman fell on the steps, and was assisted by the conductor, with rough good na- ture, on to the platform. Weak and dizzy from her fall, she enter ed the car trembling in every limb, and with pitiful, appealing look on her, wrinkled little face. There | were q half-dOzen or more men and boys in the car, but not one of them saw her; of course not, they were all absorbed in their mornin. papers.
 But Avis saw her, and in an in. stant she sprang up and led the old lady gently to her place, With a grateful look into the girls frank compassionate eyes, she murmur- ed tremalously:
 You are very kind, child, very kind to a poor old woman"
 "I ought to be madam; l am young and strong, and it would shame me 10 keep my seat while you were standing" was the chiv. alrous reply.
 Several gentlemen arose and of- fercd their seats to Avis; but no, s'le would not accept one of them. They thus acknowledged that this fair, 1.-the young girl, had put stig- ma upon each of them.
 After riding three or four blocks the old lady wished to alight.
 "It is go slippery, l am afraid you will fall," said Avis, as she arose to leave the car.
 "it can't be helped, child; it can't be helped. but 1 sm grateful for your kindness .'
 1 The aged voice WAS very tremu. louS, and went straight to Avis heart. She hcsitated only mo mcnt-every penny of tho three dollars a week she got for clerk ing in the great downtown store counted in the petty sum she and her mother could scrape for thelr living, and she would be dock ed if she were late-but it was only for a moment. The old lady needed somebody to assist her, and the next moment she was on the plat form, saying:
 "I will see you safely across"
 Very carefully aud kindly she assisted the shabby, uncertain lit tie figure winch ciung so to hcr across the glassy street.
 "Oh, child if had knownit was so bad, would have never come out but l must go on. Oh, dear!"
 "How far have you to so?" ask ed Avis.
 1.-Two blocks down this street, l think"
 II will go with you," said Avis quietly.
 Tn little while Avis had her protege safely at her destination.
 "Now. child" said the little wo- man, at the door of her destination "tell me your name, and where you live. 1 never want to forget the blessed girl who saved poor old me from breaking my bOues."
 Avis told her, and then added:
 II am only a poor girl, and shall have to make my own living, and I may be glad when am like you to have some one remember me; but it's nothing at all, ma'am," she added; with light laugh, "tor l should have had the blues all day if had let you go by yourself.'
 After making Avis write her name and address on a card, she said:
 "Good-bye, child; l can give you only an old woman's blessing"
 "I am very grateful for it," re- piled Avis reverently. "Good.