The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-02-25


weariness. and placing her bundle on
the floor shifted the baby to her lap to
relieve her tired arms. 1 was called
away to attend to other passengers and
| returning held out my hand for the
mothers fare. The little girl was hold
| ing out her poor worn little shoes
toward the fire.
"It's dood and warm here she said
with face all smiles and dimples as /
stopped beside her.
That's right, get all warmed
through said patting her on the
head, then turned to the mother again.
She had shifted the baby to her left
knee and was carefully searching her
pocket; troubled, anxious expression
came over her face, then one of alarm
followed.
az had ten cent piece in my pock-
et-book,' she said looking up, but I
can't find it; I'm sure l put it here;
I'm afraid and her lips trembled and
her eyes began to fill with tears. Pm
afraid I've lost it,
Her distress was so evidently gen
uine l could not believe she was play
ing off as so many had done before,
and 1 said pleasantly: Look again,
madam, you will probably find it
somewhere, and 1 turned, catching
the eyes of the president watching me
sharply.
The woman turned her pocket in
side out, got up and shook her dress,
then looked carefully over the floor, as
did several who sat near her. l stop
ped the car to help on and off several
passengers, then came back to the
woman. She looked greatly troubled,
and l could see only restrained her
tears by great effort.
81 cannot find it, she said looking
up at me with trembling lips, I saved
it out on purpose for this ride, and
put it in my pocket-book just as l
started. but it's gone, and must have
lost it."
What was I to doP The woman
seemed honest enough, yet had seen
others equally so who proved to be i'm
posters; then there were the sharp
eyes of the president upon me, and If
l faltered in my duty off would go nv
head, with no chance of the promotion
l was hoping for.
"'The rules are to put off all who do
not pay l managed to say with as
sumed frmness, while all the time I
felt as if would like to pitch the pres
ident off neck and heels instead of the
woman. I'm sorry, madam. but the
rules must be obeyed.' I know it. I
know it.. she said piteously, but if you
would let me ride up could pay you
when come back; shall have money
then,' pointing to her bundle of work
to prove her statement; It's such a
long way, and I'm so tired she
pleaded, and there was the chubby,
dimpled face of the little girl smiling
up at me all the time.
II felt as if / would like to kick nv
self as turned away; if only dared
appeal to the president, but no! none
of the men were supposed to know
him, and felt as if his cold eyes were
piercing me through and through as if
he delighted in the test was passing
through.
'"Hang the old rascal said to my
| self, I'll have to put the woman off,
but Tll slip quarter into Puss' hand
so they can pay their fare on the next
car
'srm sorry, madam tried to say
firmly, but the sad, pleading look al
most broke me down, the rules must
| UG OUONSu, duu 1GdClCu W pun
the bell rope; but in an instant the
have before spoken, caught my arm.
"'No, nor she cried with flushed
cheeks and indignant eyes, and before
her purse into the woman's lap and
passed quickly out of the car. A per-
feet shower of coin-several dollars, at
least, fell rafting down. part falling
on the floor. I stopped to pick it up,
when the elder lady dropped several
more pieces into the woman's lap and
followed her companion. The poor
woman looked up, dumb with amaze
ment, then covering the money with
one hand, dropped her face on the
baby's head and sobbed so she shook
from head to foot. The little girl, see
ing her mothers distress, crept up
close beside her and with her little
arms about her neck, and her cheek
nestled against hers, tried to comfort
her.
Don't kwy, mamma she pleaded
Tll be so dood, don't kwy.'
Il don't believe there was dry eye
in the car; the women didn't hesitate
to carry their handkerchiefs to their
eyes, but the men looked out of the
windows, drew their hats down oyel
their eyes, and some blew their nose:
vigorously, the president giving the
strongest blast of all. As for myself
1 just rung in fare out of my owr
pocket, and went out on the platform
thankful that it was a cold day coulC
use my handkerchief freely.
"At the next street the president got
out, and as he passed the little girl ht
stopped and patted her rosy cheeks
with some pleasant word. and slipped
something into her hand. A momen
later, when 1 had occasion to pas
through the car again, the little pus
held out her chubby hand, 'Seer sh'
cried, with her pretty face fairly
radiant with delight, o see my bright
new pennyr looked; it was fiv'
dollar gold piece.
''The mother noticed it for the frs
time.
"'Where did you get it?' she asket
in astonishment.
"'E big man div it to me- the littl,
one answered.
40 sir, do you know who it was?
the mother said, appealing to me. 81
must be a mistake
"'Not bit of it. answered, almos
as delighted as the child, herself, i
was the president of this road; h'
could give her thousand such pieces
and never feel it,
My friends little Elsie had been sit