The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-06-02
A Gentleman.


youths Companion.I
IL was little country station, where was
waiting for train, that first saw John.
a wagon drove up containing three per
sOns an old lady, young man, and the
driver. 1t stopped beside the platform, and
the young man sprang out and helped the
old lady to alight. He did it with such
gentleness that my attention was attracted
to him. Few young men, 1 fear, would have
treated an old woman with as much cour-
tesy as he manifested. l liked his face as
soon as 1 saw it fairly. 1t was true, honest
face. "A born gentleman" seemed to be
written on it.
"Ill drive down town, ma am" the driver
said. ''Mebbe l won't be back till after the
train goes, but you won't mind waitin', l
s'pose, s'long Johns here?'
"Oh no. was the quick reply. II don't
want to go home till Johns gone"
Then John drew her arm through his, and
helped her into the waiting room. He did
it in proud way, that sand palmer than
words, This mother of mine is the best wO-
man in the world to me. / am glad to be
her servant" l could not keep back a
pleased smile to observe his gentle courtesy
to his old mother, and he saw it, and gave
me CHEEKY little nod, as if he knew what l
was thinking about, and was glad 10 know |
apI roved her conduct.
He got his mother a seat by the window,
and made a pillow for her head out of his
Il ONSICOdls anu COdAtu 1tT 10 ledu dSdlnSL IT,
though she kept protesting that she wasn't
| the least bit tired. Nevertheless she leaned
| her wTinkled cheek against the overcoat pill
| low in a way that seemed to say she liked to
| touch 1t, because it was something belonging
| to John.
He sat down beside her, and took one of
her hands in his In a tender, caressing way.
No knight of old could have been more
courteous to his ladvlove. They talked
| together in low tones
did not care to hear what they said. 1t
was pleasure enough to watch their faces. |
read the whole story in them. He was her
baby" He was working in the city, and
had been on a visit to mother. Now he was
going back. He was such an old fashioned
sort of young man that he loved mother,
and wasn't ashamed to let any and every
body know it; and she-she thought her
John just the dearest, best boy in all the
world.
He seemed to anticipate her slightest want
or wish. He brought her a glass of
water from the spring, close by the
station, though she told him not to take
so much trouble on her account. He didn't
think it trouble; it was a pleasure to HIM
TO wait on her. He pulled down the blind
to keep the sun on. Of her face, and stood
over her in a lover-like way, and stroked her
white hair softly, while her eyes scarcely left
his face.
Presently two young women came in.
They nodded to John and his mother, and
began gay chat by the door, looking over
at him occasionally as if expecting he
would Join them. He spoke to them now
and then when he looked that way, but my
loyal knight was not going to forsake his
mother.
Presently we heard the whistle OF the
coming tram. | was going one way, John
another, but wished our ways had been the
same, for ] wanted to talk with that young
who was in love with his mother, and man
wasn't ashamed of it.
I've got to let you 60, suppose" Johns
mother said, when her lip quiyered and the
tears she brayely tried to keep back would
come in spite of everything Dear, good
Johnp' She drew his head down upon her
breast where it had lam in babyhood, and
put her arms about his neck and kissed him.
Don't think ! worry about you" she
said, for don't. / know / can trust my
boy, It's lonesome without you, but it's all
right, or 1t wouldn't have been so. He
knowss John, and Pm glad, so glad, that you
believe that. If it wasn't for thinking that,
John, Il should worry. Write every week
dear, for you know mother thinks getting a
letter from you is the next thing to a visit.
God bless you, Johni" and the trembling
lips pressed another kiss on his cheeks.
Johns lip quivered, and tears fell on the
wrinkled face uplifted to his with such a look
of love in il that it was glOrifsd for me.
YES, I'll write every week. he said.
And II you're sick or there's anything the
matter, let me know at once. Remember
| that, mother. If | am needed, I'll come at
any time. But I'll have to 60, or lose the
| train. Goodby mother"
She covered her face with her withefed
hand, and cried softly until the train had
rumbled out of hearing.
That's good boy of yours, ma'am said,
coming and standing beside her. knew that
nothing would please her more than to have
stranger say that.
Yes, he's a true son." she said. with
mother-love shining through her tears. "A
true son, / wish there were more in the
world like him."
with such proud, loving look in her eyes,
that it made me think OF some OF Murillos
pictures of happy mOJher-boo
John comes TO see me every three months,
and stays week, each time" she said. The
months seem so long, and the week so short.
I'd like to have him with me all the time,
but he's bound to work his way up, and I'm
not going to be selfish enough to keep him
| from doing il. He'd like to take me TO the
city to live with him, but couldn't breathe
there, it seems to me. I've promised TO
come down and visit him at Christmas. He's
coming up after me. I'd rather have him
here, but he's so set his mind on it that
suppose I'll have to go, to please him. He's
| going to take me to church to hear some of
] the great preachers, and do you know?
really think he'll be proud to do it. It's
| good, isn't it. to think that young man
| ike John isn't ashamed OF his old mother?
1 know young men who wouldn't think Of
| taking their mothers to church, but my John
| isn't that kind. He's so thoughtful. Why
| there isn't week that he doesn't send me
| something he thinks I'd like to eat. / don't
believe be spends dollar for himself, but he
, lays ont two for me.
''Once, when he was at home, / said some
| thing about wishing could see some OF the
| pinks j used to have N the garden. / always
| loved pinks. What does John do, when he
gets back to the city, but hunt up some Of
the posies and send them to me- l cried over
| them,-I couldn't help it-but such tears as
mine were, do the heart good. / kept the
pinks fresh for days and days, and then
put them in the Bible John sent me for o