The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-07-18
JUST ONE LITTLE BABY.
1T CAPTURED A WHOLE CAR
LOAD OF PEOPLE.
An Incident OF She Rail That Illustrates
the Bent OF Human Nature to
IN Extreme Nicety-sim-
pie. but Full OF Points.

pie. but Full OF PointA
II was the day express train on one
Of the great trunk lines OF the railway
In the middle states, illed as usual
with through passengers says the
Youths Companion. 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;" there
were commercial travellers with their
canvas valises beside them; there were
merchants. lawyers. farmers glancing
over their potebooks reading the
papers, DOING; there was q richly
dressed. supercilious-looking woman,
who, with her child and maid, Eat
little apart from the rest; there were
chattering. giddy schoolgirls. an old
negro '.aunty, T" and asleep at the back
OF the car bloated, shabby old man,
smelling of whisky. These people,
gathered out Of all classes had no
intercourse; they looked askance and
indifferently at each other.
The train, with shrek and jar,
came to q full stop in the midst Of the
mountains. For few minutes the
passengers sat undisturbed, with the
calm faith OF the American in the
power OF officials to set all things
right As the train continued station
airy. however. one man after another
went out
They returned with tidings that a
bridge had given way. and thn tSs
train would be detached for twelve Sc
fifteen hours.
There was general cutlery of an
noyance and vexation. It 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 un-
noticed. The other women began to
complain more or less loudly. For
few minutes every face was clouded. and
the car was filled with babel Of angry
voices. Presently somebody noticed
the mother crying over her child and
spoke to her.
..Oh. my baby!' she sobbed. 1T is
sick, and / hoped to get home in an
hour. think it is dying!"
There was startled silence. Then
an elderly gentleman at the back of
the car came forward. II am a physi-
cian" he said. LET me see the
child"
1t was dangerously i'll and In need Of
active treatment The naughty wo-
man who had hitherto held herself aloof
was the first TO speak; she had box
OF mustard plasters in her satchel, and
she tore up her fine handkerchief for
bandages. The old negro woman. went
quietly out kindled fire by the road
side, 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 bot
tie of laudanum. for which the doctor
expressed a wish. and even the poor
drunkard at the back OF the car urged
his flask of brandy on the mother as
being "a first-rate medicine ma'am."
He looked at the child for minute and
turned away. I'm a poor loafer. he
said. "but kin feel for the baby as
much as any of you"
In the course of three or four hours
the child was relieved and fell into
sweet sleep. But before that time the
passengers in the car had all become
its nurses and kinsfolk. When 1t was
out of danger and lying calmly in its
mothers arms they went out to the
grassy bank by the side of the river
and improvised a picnic.
Some of the men had found farm
house mile or two away and brought
some bread and ham; a few of the
other passengers opened their satchels
and produced some dainty morsel. The
Jew had potted chicken; a Presbyterian
minister, oranges; a farmer passing
had cheese. There was but little OF
each article as it was handed around.
but there was abundance OF good will.
They talked. told stories. and one or
two who had good voices sang.
When. late in the evening, the en-
CINE pulled and whistled. and the con-
pany Of friendly companions crowded
into the car, and when they parted a
few hours later 1t was with many hearty
handshakes and general exchange Of
good wishes.
What good, kindly folks they all
were!" said the grateful little mother.
But believe II 1t had not been for
my sick baby they would never have
found each other out"
We are apt to forget that pain and
sickness are keys to unlock the hearts
OF men toward each other. The hap
py. prosperous man rarely knows Of
the depth Of tenderness which lies in
his brothers bosom ready to meet his
call of need.