South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-10-31
THEINTELLIGENCER
FRIDAY. OCTOBER 81. 1890.
Warming the Cookies of Her
Heart.

Sitting in a station the other day
bad little sermon preached IN tue
way | liked; and I'll report it fol
your benefit. because IL taught one o.
the lessons which we all should learn
and told il in such q natural, sin pie
way that no one could forget il. II
was n bleak, snowy day the train
was late, the ladies' room dark am
smoky; and the dozen women. ole
and young, who sat impat'ently, al
looked cross, low spirited, or stupid
I ie.t all three, and thought, as
looked around, that nv fellow be
ings were very unamiab'e. unintcr-
cs'irg set.
Just then q fcrlorn old woman
shaking with palsy, Came in with 8
basket OF wares for sale, and went
ABOUT mu ely offering them to the
sit;ers. Nobody bought anything
and the poor old soci stood blinking a,
he door a minute. as If reluctant to go
out 10 the bitter storm again. She
turned presently. and poked about
the room. as if trying to find some
thing and than pa'e ady in black,
whollay as If asleep or q sofa, o, ened
her eyes, ssw the old woman. and in.
stanily asked in a kind tone, Have
you lost anything. ma'am 2
No, d, ar. I'n looking for The
hea ing place, to have a warm fore
go out again. My eyes are poor,
and don't seem to fnd the furnace
howheres.'
Here it is and the lady led heI
TO the seam radiator, placed chair,
and so we'd her how to warm her
fesx
Well now, aiu't that NIGEL said
The cd woman, spreading her ragged
mittens to dry. 'lhanky. dear this
is pro- er comic tale, ain'tit? I'm
, ,zos. fsozer to-day, being lame ard
~imb'y; and not selling much makes
me kind or down-hearie1.'
The lady smiled. went TO the coun.
ter. bought q cup OF tea and some
sort Of food, Carried il herself to the
old woman, and sail as respectfully
aud kindly as if the poor womaa had
been dressed in silk and fur:
Wont you have cup of tea2 It's
very comforting such day as thisP'
'Sakes alivel do they give tea 10
this depot2' cried the Old lady, in Q
tone OF innocent surprise that made o
suile go round the room, touching
the glummiest face like a streak OF
sunshine. well. now, this is jest
lovely added the old lady, slipping
away with relish. This does warm
the cookies OF my heart 7
While she refreshed herself, telling
her story meanwhile. the lady looked
over the poor little wares in the bas-
ket, bought soap and pins, shoe
strings and tape, and cheered the old
soul by paying WILL for them.
AS I watched her doing this,
thought what a sweet face she has
though I'd considered her rather plsir
before. i felt dreaifulIy ashamed o.
myself that had grimly shaken my
head when the basket was offered tc
NE; and as | saw the look Of interest
sympathy, aud kindliness, come into
the dismal faces all around me, de
wish that bad been the magi ian tc
call it out. 1t was only kind word
and friendly act, but somehow il
frightened that dingy room wonder
fully. It changed the faces OF d, z,
en- women, and think it touched 9
doz' q hearts, for / saw many eyes
follow the plain, pale lady with sudden
respect and when the old woman
got up TO go, several persons beckon
ed to her ard bought something. st
IL they wanted 10 repair their frs
negligence.
Old beggsr'women are not roman
tic; neither are cups OF tea boot
lacers, and colored soap. There were
no gentlemen present to be impressed
with tina lady's kind Get, SO il wasn'l
done for effect, and no possible re-
ward could be received for IL except
the ungrammatical thanks OF q rag.
ged old woman. But that simple
little charity was as good as . sermon
to those who saw IL, and think each
traveller went on her way better foI
that hall hour In the dreary station
| can testify that one OF them did
and nothing but the emptiness oil
her purse prevented her from com
forting the Cookies Of The heart OF
every foTloTn old woman she met FOR
1 - NJ