The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-13
An Incident.

| or Cnree passengers euteFeu Tue tTdlIl
on the Iowa Division of the Chicago
and Northwestern Road at Bridgewa-
ter. Among them was a stylishly-
dressed young man who wore stiff
white hat, patent-leather shoes, the
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 in my life more discour-i
aged, worn-out, despairing look, than
that on the mothers face. The baby
was too sick even to cry. It lay moan.
ing and gasping in it's mothers lap,
while the dust and cinders flew in at
the open doors and windows. The
heat and dust made travelling, even for
strong men, unbearable.
had put down the stylish young
man in front of me as specimen Of
the dude family, and was making q
mental calculation on the probable ex-
istence of brains under the new hat,
when, to nv astonishment, he learned
over the aisle, and said to the woman:
"Madam, can be of any assistance to
|
awhile. You look 80 very tired"
The woman seemed much surprised,
though the request was made in the
politest and most delicate manner.
20, thank you, sir" said she, trem-
ulously. II am tired" and her lips
quivered. :.
II think the baby will come to me-"
said the young man, with smile.
"Poor thing! It's too sick to make
any objection. will hold it careful-
| ly, madam, while you lie down and
rest awhile. Have you come far?"
From the Black Hills"
"What! by stage?"
"Yes; but the baby was well when
started. am on my way to friends
in the East. My, my husband-my-"'
"Ah, yes, T see, I see" continued
the young man in o 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 it
in his arms.
"Now you can lie down and rest a
little. Have you far to go"
ITO Connecticut replied the wo-
man, almost with sob, rs she wearily
arranged a shawl over a valise, and
prepared to lie down in the seat.
"Ah, yes, I see! And you haven't
money enough to 60 in sleeping-car,
have you, madam?n The poor woman
blushed family, and put one hand over
her face, while the tears dropped be-
tween her worn fingers.
I looked out of the window, and q
mist came over my eyes, while
| oL. ,,,xy no Iot, lo fion Of tho vnnnO
mans mental ability. He looked
thoughtfully and tenderly down at the
baby, and in a short time the mother
was fast asleep.
The woman sitting across the aisle
from me, who heard as much of the
conversation as had, came and offer
ed to relieve the young man of his
charge. II am ashamed of myself for
not offering to take the baby from the
mother before. Poor little thing! It's
asleep"
80 it is. I'll surrender it to you
now," with cheerful smile.
At this point the train stopped at a
station, and the young man rose in his
seat, took off his hat, and said in a
clear, earnest voice; Ladies and gen.
tlemen, here is an opportunity for each
one of US to show that we have been
brought up in a Christian land, and
have Christian fathers and mothers.
This poor woman" pointing at the
sleeping mother, "has come all the
way to Connecticut. Her husband is
dead, and her baby is ill. She hasn't
money enough TO travel in a sleeping
car, and is all tired out and discourag-
ed what will you do about it ?"
"Do !" cried big man down near
the water-cooler, rising excitedly.
"Do! take up collection-the Ameri-
can citizens last resort in distress. I'll
give S5.n
The effect was 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 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. I
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
q little lesson to himself, and / learned
that even stylish, rs we'll as poor,
clothes may cover noble heart.