Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-04-27

How Some queer People Got On Good
Terms over Ke.

Terms over IL.
IL was the day express 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 there were commercial
travellers with their canvas valises beside
them; there were merchants, lawyers,
farmers glancing over their note books,
reading the papers, dozing; there was a
richly dressed, supercilious looking
woman, who, with her child and maid,
sat a 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-
entity at each other.
The train, with a shrek and a 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 general outcry of an
r.
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 unnoticed. The
other women complained more or less
loudly. For a few minutes, every face
was clouded, and the car was filed with
babel of angry voices. Presently
somebody noticed the mother crying
over her child, and spoke to her.
"Oh, my babyi" she sobbed. at is
sick, and / hoped to get home in an
hour! / think it is dying!"
There was a startled silence. Then an
elderly gentleman at the back of the car
came forward. Il am physician, he
said. @Let me see the child"
1t was dangerously ill, and in need of
active treatment. The naughty woman
who had hitherto held herself aloof was
the first to speak she had box of mus
tard plasters in her satchel. and she tore
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 a bottle
of laudanum, for which the doctor ex-
pressed wish, and even the poor drunk
ard 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 a 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 q
sweet sleep. But before that time the
passengers in the car had all become its
nurses and kinsfolk. When it was out
of danger, and lying calmly in it:
mothers arms, they went out to the
grassy bank by the side of the river, anc
inprovised picnic.
Some of the men had found farm
house mile or two away, and brought
bread and ham; few of the other pas
sengers opened their satchels and pro
duced some dainty morseL The Jew haC
| potted chicken; Presbyterian minister
oranges; farmer passing had cheese
There was but a little of each article a
it was handed around, but there wa
abundance of good will. They talked
told stories, and one or two who hac
good voices sang.
When, late in the evening, the engin,
| puffed and whistled, and the conducto
shouted, "All aboardln a company o
friendly companions crowded into tn,
car, and when they parted, few hour
later, it was with many hearty hand
shakes and general exchange of goo,
wishes
What good, kindly folks they al
werei" said the grateful little mother
@But / believe if it had not been for m,
sick baby they would never have foun,
each other outl"
We are apt to forget that pain an'
sickness are keys to unlock the hearts o
men toward each other. The happy
prosperous man rarely knows Of tn
depth of tenderness which lies in hi
brothers bosom, ready to meet his call o
need.