Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-31
EFFECT OF ONE SICK BABY.
1t Brought Many Strange Travelling Com
panions Nearer to Each Other.

1t was the day express train on one
of the great trunk lines of the railway
in the middle states, filed 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 rail-
way ma9nates 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 notebooks, reading the
papers, doing; there was a richly
dressed supercilious-looking woman,
who. with her child and maid sat lit
tie apart from the rest; there were
chattering, giddy schoolgirls, 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 in
tercOurse; they looked askance and in
differently at each other.
The train, with a shrek and a lar,
came to "a 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 stationary, how
ever, one man after another went out.
They returned with tidngs that
bridge had given way. and that the
train would be detained for twelve or
fifteen hours.
There was general cutlery 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
a baby in her arms, began to weep un-
noticed. The other women complained
more or less loudly. For a few min
utes every face was clouded and the
car was filled with a babel of angry
voices. Presently somebody noticed
the mother crying over her child and
spoke to her.
"Oh, my babyw she sobbed. ut is
sick, and | hoped to get homo in an
hour. l think it is dyingr'
There was a startled silence. Then
an elderly gentleman at the back of
the car came forward. Il am a
physician" he said. Let me see the
child"
1t was dangerously i'll and in need of
active treatment. The naughty woman
who had hitherto held herself aloof was
the first TO speak; she had q box of
mustard pasters in her satchel, and she
tore up her fine handkerchief for band
ages. The old negro woman went
quietly out kindled fire by the road
side, and heated some water to give
the child a hot bath.
One woman knclt and chafed its feet;
another made bed for it with shawls.
The porter brought pillows; Il Hebrew
drummer produced from MS bag a bot
tie of laudannm, for which the doctor
expressed wish, and even the poor
drunkard at the back of the car urged
his flask of brandy on the mother as
being "a tirSt-rate medicine, ma am"
He looked at the child for a minute
and turned away. I'm 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 a
sweet sleep. But before that time the
passengers in the car had all become
it's nurses and kinsfolk. When it 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 picnic.
Some of the men had found a farm
house Il mile or two away and brought
some bread and ham; few of the
other passengers opened their satchels
and produced some dainty morsel. The
Jew had ported chicken; a Presbyterian
minister oranges; n farmer passing
had cheese. There was but little of
each article as it was handed around,
out there was abundance of good will.
They talked, told stories. and one or
two who had good voices sang.
When, late 10 the evening, the engine
puffed and whistled and the conductor
shouted 'All aboard" Il company of
friendly companions crowded into the
car. and when they parted few hours
later it was with many hearty haad-
shakes and a general exchange of good
wishes.
What good, kindly folks they all
were" said the grateful little mother.
but | believe if it had not been for
my sick baby they would never have
| found each other outM
We are apt to forget that pain and
sickness are keys to unlock the hearts
of men toward each other. The happy
| prosperous man rarely knows of the
| depth of tenderness which lies in his
brothers bosom ready TO meet his call
of need.