Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-09-05
AN INCIDENT.

or three passengers entered a train on
the Division of the Chicago y North
western Road at Bridgewater. Among
them was a stylishlydressed young
man who wore stiff white hat, pat
ent-leather shoes, the neaUest OF CUTS
and shiniest of stand up collars. He
carried a cane, and carefully brushed
the dust from the seat in front of me
before he sat down.
Just across the aisle, opposite him,
sat a tired woman holding a sick ba-
by. never saw in my life a more
discouraged, worn-out, despairing
look than that on the mothers face.
The baby was too sick even to cry.
1t lay moaning and gasping in its
mothers lap, while the dust and Gin
ders flew in at the open doors and
windows. The heat and dust made
travelling, even for strong men, un-
bearable.
| had put down the stylish young
man in front of me as specimen OF
the dude family, and was making
mental calculation on the probable
existence of brains under the new hat,
when to my astonishment he leaned
over the aisle and said to the woman:
Madam, can / be of any assistance
to you? Just let me hold your baby
awhile. You look so very tired. -
The woman seemed much surprised'
though the request was made in the
politest and most delicate manner.
"Oh, thank you, sir, said she, trem-
ulously. II ain tired and her lips
quivered.
Il 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 l
started. am on my way to friends
in the East. My-my husband
my"
'Ah, yes, see, l seer' continued
the young man in sympathetic tone,
as he glanced at the bit of crepe in
the little travelling hat By this time
he had taken the baby and was hold
ing it in his arms.
Now you can lie down and rest a
little. Have you far to go2"
"To Connecticut, replied the wo'
man, almost with a sob, as she weari-
ly arranged a shawl over a valise and
prepared to lie down in the seat.
''Ah, yes, see! And you have not
money enough to go into a sleeping
car, have you, madam?
The poor woman blushed family,
and put one hand over her face, while
the tears dropped between her worn
fingers.
looked out of the window, and
mist came over my eyes, while now
changed my calculation of the young
mans mental ability. He looked ten
derly and thoughtfully down at the
baby, and in 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 of
fered to relieve the young man of his
charge. Il 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 a cheerful smile.
At this point the train stopped at a
station, and the young man rose in
his seat, took of his hat, and said in
a clear, 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 Christian fathers and moth
ers. This poor woman" pointing to
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 in a sleeping
car, and is all tired out and discour-
aged; what will you do about itf'
Dor cried big man down near
the water-cooler. DO! take up a col
lection-the American citizens last re-
sort in distress. I'll give s."
The effect was electrical. The hat
went around, and the way silver dol
lars 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 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
lesson to himself, and learned that
even stylish as we'll as poor clothes
may cover a noble heart.
Old Gentleman (from head of the
stairs at a late hour)-Clara, think