Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1890-07-03
An Incident.

! saying. Ieace, he still.
An Incident.
] 1t was hct, dusty day, when two
or three passengers entered the train
on the Iowa Division of the Chicago
! X Northwestern Road Nt Bridewater.
Among them was Il stXIishly dressed
young man WHO wore.a stiff white
hat, patent leather shoes, the neatest
! Of cuffs and Shiniest Of stand-up
collars. He carried a cane, and
carefully brushed the dust from the
seat in front Cf me before he sat
down.
! Just across the aisle, opposite him,
sat Il tired woman, holding Il sick
baby. ! never saw in my life i
more discouraged, WORKOUT, des-
pairing look than thAtOn the mothers
face. The baby was too sick even
to cry. 1t lay moaning and gasping
in its mothers lap, while the dust
iiind cinders flew in at the open doors
and windows. The heat and dust
made travelling, even for strong
men, unbearable.
I had put down the stylish young
man in front Of me as i specimen Of
the dude family, and Was making L
mental calculation on the probable
existence Of brains under the new
hat. when, to my establishment, he
leaned over the aisle, and said to the
woman:
:" Madam, can I he Of any assist
ance to you? Just let me hold your
baby awhile. You look 81 very
tired"
The woman seemed much sur
prised, though the request was made
in the politest and most delicate
manner.
"Oh, thank you, SIR" said she,
TREMENDOUSLY. a. am tire,l," land her
SSstss tHniyered; .a.~ ,...,.,,
me-" said the young man with Il
smile. " Poor thing! lr'S too sick
to make any objection. will hold
it carefully, madam, while you lie
down and rest awhile. Have you
come tar"'
. "From the Black lIillS."
What. by stage"
"Ncs; hut tho baby was we'll
when T started. ! am ~ my way
to friends in the Fast. My, my
hushand-my-"
All, yes, sec, Sec" continued
the young man in y sympathetic
tone, as he glanced ii the bit of
Grape in the little travelling hat.
BY this time he had taken the baby
and was holding il in hiS arms.
Now You can lie down and rest
Il little. Have y"u far To go
"To Connecticut" replied HE W"-
man, almost with sob. ~ -h'
YEARLY arranged Il shawl over Il VA
liSe, and prepared To liz down III the
scat.
An, Yes, sec. And yoT haven ;
money enough to 60 in a -ircplnT
:ar, have YOU, madam" The poor
woman bluShcd family, and pat one
nand over her face, while tn" tears
dropped between her worn iin@crS.
I looked out of the window and Il
mist came over my eyes, while !
changed my calculation Of the young
mans mental ability. He locke"
thOughttuIly and tcndrrly down ut
the baby. and in Il short time III"
mother was fast asleep.
The woman sitting. acro-I tho aisle
from me, who heard as much Of th"
conversation Il. ! had, camr and
offered to relieve the young man Of
his charge. :" am ashamed Of my
self for not offering to take the baby
from the mother before. Poor lit
tie thing. It's asleep"
80 it *. I'll surrender it to- you
now" with 4 cheerful smile.
~ this point the train stopped at
a station, and the young man rose
in his seat, took off his hat, and said
in . clcar, earnest voice.
"Ladies and gentlemen, here is
an opportunity for each one of us to
show that we have been brought up
in a Christian land, and have Chris
tian 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 i'll. She hasn't
money enough TO travel I'M sleeping
car, and is all tired out and dis.
couraged. What will you do about
it >"
"Do - cried 4 big man down near
the water cooler, rising eNcitedly.
" Do. take up collection-thc
American citizens last resort in
distress. I'll give 81"
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.
I wish l 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 a sleeping-car on the
train, and the young man saw the
mother and child transferred to it at
once. did not hear what she said
to him when he left her, but it must
have been a hearty" God bless YOU"
More than one Of Us in that car
took q little lesson to himself, and l
learned that even stylish. as we'll as