The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-11-20
A Pathetic Incident.

One morning last spring the Wrlter
CHANGED TO be ON one Of the suburban
trains running into Jersey CITY. The seat
ia front was occupied by colored wo-
man and her child, lad Of about ten
years cf age. The little fellow seemed
very Ill, and his mother was tenderly So
licitons for his comfort.
Bits of their conversation came TO my
ears. From them learned that George.
as she called the little lad, was patient
at the Consumptives' Hospital in New
York. He had been home on short
visit, and his mother was taking him
back TO that institution.
AN when yer come home agin, Geor-
gle" heard her say, Awe'II have Bennie
come in, an have some bananas an figs,
an have good time"
20, nanny, won't it be nice? lac an-
swered, in weak voice, but with thrill
Of expeetant JOY.
Il spec | won't have to stay much
longer at the hosDittle, he broke of
with Mt OF coughing.
The mother gave him a drink Of water
and some simple remedy she had at
hand. could not forbear watching and
listening, the two seemed 50 happy in
themselves, 50 oblivious Of the rest Of the
passengers
20, nanny" said the boy at length,
AJim's eyes'li jest stick ont when he sees
dem grapes I've got for him Deg don't
git none like them at de hospittle"
81 reekin dey will, /" smilingly answer
ed the mother. "An mex time come
to see yer, l bring yer some O. de bigges'
o'inges dey is in New York"
20. msmmyT he exclaimed delighted
y. ~Great big yaller ones, big as dat? p
measuring circle with his thin little
haI.ds.
@Bigger'n dat she answered, and they
both laughed.
Then they laid plans about going into
the country, and the good times they
would have, fragments Of which heard.
"An' l shan't cough dar, shill mann
my ?1 he asked.
~No,s she answered, with assurance.
@De country ar an de green grass hel's
an all datll make yer all right in no
time"
Il wish we were goin' now he said,
longingly, san wouldn't cough no mo,
ner have no awful achin' tween my
shoulders"
"Yes," said the mother, anxiously
"but yer feel better now sence yer went
to de hospittle, don't yer Geolgie ?"
"Yes, nanny" he answered, Il reck-
in" and he ended with another fit Of
coughing.
With anxious solicitude the mother
again applied the restoratives, tendeTIy
supporting the boyish head on her arm.
~Nsv' mind, George" t" she said, cheerful
ly, @y'oint coughed but twice this morn
ing"
No, nanny" weakly, and then in a
little while again heard them planning
for the boy to go TO the country. ~An'I
kin go fishin' and hunt for squir's, like
Tom Green did last summer" George
said.
Two seats in front. on the ether side Of
the car, was another pair that attracted
my attention 1t was two attractive
young ladies, fashionably dressed, who
were going to New York for a days
shopping, fancied, from their talk and
manner.
They laughed and chatted pleasantly,
as if no thought Of care or sickness ever
came into their minis.
Butterflies Of fashion" 1 said to my
self, and INDUCED in mental picture Of
their idle, self-centered lives, and thought
what a contrast they presented TO the
people in front of me.
Asif in refutation Of nv hasty judg-
ment, one of the young ladies at that
momen. turned her head and saw the
colored woman and her child She smil-
ed and bowed, said something to her
companion, then rose, crossed the aisle.
and with polite "may sit here few
minutes p took the seat beside me.
She then entered into conversation
with the motherand George. from which
/ learned that the negro woman was her
mothers laundress- She inquired with
kindly interest about the little lads
cough, and how he liked the hospital
and as the train rolled into Jersey City,
saw her slip haIfdoIlar into the boys
hand, saying:
Buy something nice for yourself and
your little friends at the hospital"
A few minutes more and we we're at
the station, and a hurrying, jostling
crowd was pouring through the gaieways
to the ferry boats.
Suddenly nay attention was attracted
by cry of alarm behind me. turned
and saw the eolored woman supporting
poor little George in her arms, while a
crimson tide Of blood flowed from his
lips.
Ny butterfly of fashion, hope to
be forgiven for the hasty judgment-was
at her side the next instant, helpful and
sympathetic.
They laid the little lad on settee, but
nothing could be done to check that fatal
heInorrhage.
1t had all happened 50 suddenly and
Unexpectedly. Many persons with SYM
pathetic kindness were ready to help, did
they but know what to do. But il was
the young lady who sat beside me and
talked with the woman and poor little
lad, who losened his clothing and wiped
the blood-stains from his mouth with her
Own dainty handkerchief And when
the doctor, who had been summoned,
made his examination Of the still form
and gravely pronounced, The child is
dead it was she who held the weeping
mothers hand and soothed and e4lmed
her grief, her own eyes moist from pity.
She said to her friend, with sweet in
sissence, %You 20 on to the city. must
remain with poor Martha
Her ready tact and svfnuathx seemed