The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-04-30
GuaerspH gatettigeHter,
an Incident.

an Incident.
It was a hot. dusty day when two or
three passengers entered the;train on the
Iowa Division of the Chicago and North
western Road at Bridgewater. Among
them vas stylishly.dressed young man
who wore stiff white hat, patent.leather
shoes, the neatest of cuffs 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
tired woman, holding sick baby. |
never saw in my life more discouraged,
worn.out, despairing look than that on
the mothers face. The baby was too
sick even to: cry. It lay moaning and
gasping in It's mothers lap, while the
dust and cinders few in at the open doors
and windows. The heat and dust made
travelling, even for strong men, unbear-
able. = -.
Ihad put down the stylish young man
in front of me as a specimen Of the dude
family, and was making mental calcu-
lation on the probable existence of brains
under the new hat, when, to my aston
ishment he leaned over the ailse, and
said to the woman: Madam, can I be
Of any assistance to- you? Just let me
hold your baby awhile. You look SO
very tired" &s .zv /.
The woman seemed much surprised,
though the request WAS made in the po-
,litest and most delicate manner.
s.o, thank you,. sir" said she, ,:tremu-
lously: "I am tired" and her lips quiy-
cred.
"I think the baby will come to me-"
said the young: man., with q smile.
"Poor thingl It's too sick TO- make any
objection. I will hold it carefully, mad
am, while you lie down and rest awhile.
Have you come far Pr
,aFrom: the. Black Hills."'
"What! by stage?"
s Yes; but the baby was we'll when I
started. I am on my way to friends in
the East. MY, my husband my.
"Ah, yes; Isee, I see !" continued the
young man in sympathetic tone, as he
glanced at the bit of Grape in the little
travelling hat. By this time he had
taken the baby and.was holding it in his
arms.
"Now you can lie down and rest q lit.
tie. Have you far, to go ~
q "To Connecticut" replied the woman,
almost with; "a sob, as she YEARLY arranged
q shawl over valise, and prepared to lie
down in the seat.
"Ah, yes, I see And you haven't
money enough to 60 in sleepies. car,
have you, madam ?" The poor woman
tbluahed family, and put one hand over
her face, whilesbe tears dropped between
her worn fingers.
I looked out of the window, and mist
came over my eyes, while I changed my
calculation Of the young mans mental
ability. He looked thoughtfully snd
tenderly down at the baby, and in. q
short tims the mother was fast asleep. q.
The woman sitting, across the aisle
from me, who heard as much Of the con.
versation as I had, came and offered to,
relieve the young man Of bis charge. II
am ashamed Of myself for not offering to
take the baby from the mother before.
Poor little thing It's asleep.'
$50 it is. I'll surrender it to you
now" with cheerful smile.
) At this point the train stopped at "a
station, and the young man rose in his.
seat, took off his bat, and said in a clear,
earnest voice: "Ladies and gentlemen,
here is an opportunity for each one of us
to show that ne have been brought up in
Christian land, and have Christian
fathers and mothers. This poor woman, :"
pointingsat the sleeping mother, "has
come all the way to Connecticut. Her
husband is dead, and her baby is ill.
She hasn't money enough to travel in a
sleeping>car, and is all tired out and dis
couraged; what will you do about it?"
"Dopscried big man down near the
water:cooler, / rising s1citedly. aDol
takeiup atcollection-the American citi-
zen's last resort in Distress I'll give So"
The effect was electrical. The hat
went around, and the way the silver dol.
lars and quarters and ten-cent pieces rat.
tied in it would have done any true heart
good. :.
I wish.I could describe the look on the
woman's face when she iawoke, and the
money was given to her. She tried to
thank US all and failed; she broke down
completely. But we didn't need any
thanks. f:yt|.s
There was s!eepiDg.car on the train,
and the young, man saw the mother aud
child transferred to it at once. I did not
hear what she said to him when he left
her, built must have been a hearty "God
bless you"
More than one of US in that car took q
little lesson to himself, and I learned