Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-06-13

How Some Queer People Got On Good
Tersno Oyer II.

Term Over 1t.
1t was the day eX press train on one Of
the great trunk lines of railway in the
Middle States, filled as usual with through
passengers. They sat for the most part
silent, each absorbed in his own thoughts.
There were two great railway magnates,
ON their way to New York to consult
about deal" tn ere were commercial
travellers with their canvas valises beside
them; there were merchants, lawyers,
farmers glancing over their note books,
reading the papers, doing; there was a
richly dressed, supercilious looking
woman, who, with her child and maid,
sat little apart from the rest; there
were chattering, giddy school girls, an
old negro "aunty," and asleep at the
back of the car bloated, shabby old
man smelling of whisky. These people,
gathered out of all classes, had no inter-
course; they,looked askance and inditfer-
emily at each other.
The train, with shrek and jar,
came to full stop in the midst of the
mountains. For few minutes the pas
sengers sat undisturbed, with the calm
faith of the American in the power of
officials to set all things right. AS the
train continued stationary, however, one
man after another went out.
They returned with tidings that a
bridge had given away, and that the
train would be detained for twelve or
fifteen hours.
There was a general outcry of an
noyance and vexation. 1t was near
noon; every one wanted luncheon. Each
man insisted that his business was urgent
and could not be delayed. One little
woman in the corner, with baby in
her arms, began to weep hnnoticed. The
other women COL ,jlained more or less
loudly. For few minutes, every face
was clouded, and the car was filled with
u babel of angry voices. Presently
somebody noticed the mother crying
over her child, and spoke to her.
"Oh, my babyl" she sobbed. 1t is
sick, and l hoped to get home in an
hour! think it is dying!"
There was a startled silence. Then al
elderly gentleman at the back of the cal
came forward, Il am physician, " he
said. "Let me see the child.
1t was dangerously i'll, and in need o.
active treatment. The naughty woman
who had hitherto held herself aloof wa
the first to speak; she had box of mus
tard plasters in her satchel. and she tori
up her fine handkerchiefs for bandages
The old negro woman quietly went out
kindled fire on the roadside, and heated
some water to give the child hot bath
/, One woman knelt and chafed its feet
: another made bed for it with shawls
The porter brought pillows; Hebrew
drummer produced from his bag bottl
of laudanum, for which the doctor eX
pressed wish, and even the poor drunk
ard at the back of the car urged hi
flask of brandy on the mother, as bein
"a first rate medicine, ma'am. II
looked at the child for minute an
turned away. "Pm a poor loafer, h
4; said, "but kin feel for the baby as niue
s as any of you"
In the course of three or four hour
0 the child was relieved, and fell into
/; sweet sleep. But before that time til
passengers in the car had all become il
nurses and kinsfolk. When it was OF
y of danger, and lying calmly in i
: mothers arms, they went out to I'll
- grassy bank by the side of the river, an
improvised a picnic.
Some of the men had found farm
house a mile or two away, and brougl
/ bread and ham; few of the other pa
~ sengers opened their satchels and pr
duced some dainty morsel. The Jew ha
), potted chicken; Presbyterian ministe
oranges; farmer passing had chees
r. There was but little of each article
t; it was handed around, but there WI
t. abundance of good will. They talke
. told stories, and one or two who ha
r good voices sang.
4 When, late in the evening, the engil
+. pulled and whistled, and the conduct
shouted, "All aboard" a company
r. friendly companions crowded into Il
ID car, and when they parted, few hou
~ later, it was with many hearty han
shakes and a general exchange of got
- wishes.
what good, kindly folks they I
"a were!" said the grateful little motht
=: "But / believe if it had not been for n
sick baby they would never have foul
v; each other out!"
n, We are apt to forget that pain a
u, sickness are keys to unlock the hearts
men toward each other. The hapr
in prosperous man rarely knows of t
r; depth of tenderness which lies in
w. brothers bosom, ready to meet his call
mood