The morning call., 1892-06-10
=" PASS IT ON" Il"

After the close of the civil war the North
vas filed with Southern refugees, many of
them delicate women. reduced from affiuence
TO poverty aud compelled to earn living
for themselves and their families. One Of
these was a niece Of jefferson Davis,
woman Of unusual cultivation, who found
seanty and precarious subsistence by giving
an occasional lecture before a country au-
dience on Southern life. Sheltered and
shielded as she had always been, the strug-
gle with the world was hard. Women were
Just beginning to appear on the public plat
form. ana she was unknown AID friendess; !;
but she worked on, asking aid from no one.
1t was a cold, clustering January day in
1868 when, cold and shiveriDg from an
early morning drive in the rain. and with
her thin wraps dripping, Mrs. IL. entered
the Boston train at d way station. All the
seats were occupied, some with passengers
some with bags, bundles and oyeIcoats.
TTema cling from weakness and WEAKNESS,
Mrs II. supported herself against the back
OF seat as the train moved OIL
Atthat moment gentleman chanced 10
lower his newspaper and caught sight Of
the black robed woman. With a quick ex-
clamRtion he sprsng 70 his ieet removed
Yalise from the seat beside him, aud invited
her to occupy it. AS she sank down eX-
She thanked him for his kindness. and he,
turning 10 her, said;
Pardon me, madam, but are you not a
S0UtheTner"
Yes" she answered, 81 am. l suppose
You know it from MY speech; many people
have done So"
Tie accent is unmistakable," he replied,
but paIdon me again, are you not long
way from hOme?"
"a long way. indeed" she replied, AID
encouraged by his sympathetic voice and
manner, she added, i lost nv all during
the war, and As there is no money in the
SOUib, ! came North TO find means to sup
DOlt NY fatherless children"
And have you done SOP" he asked in a
kindly manner.
"Af.er a small fashion," she answered
81 have occasional engagements to speak to
country audiences on life Ia the South dur
ing and before tile war"
Did YOU speak asst nightP he asked.
Yes; in Y, - was the answer.
"And-I do not want to be imrertinent,
but / am somewhat in the sane business
myself, and / should Ike to know, that is,
if you would not mind telling NE, how much
they paid you for your lecture"
Five dollars, and the fare 30 and from
Boston" was the response.
Five dolarsr he exclaimed. "Why, I
always get one OF two hundred. and your
mine, for you can give facts, while I can
only furnish opinions"
Little as it IS" answered Mrs. H. 81 am
very glad to get it. l would talk at that rate
sveTy night during the winter"
For a while the man sat in silence; then
putting his hand in his pocket be drew out
roll of bank notes and in ahesitating man
neT said:
Il don't want to be Intrusive, but one Of
the articles OF my creed is that a woman is
entitled 10 the same pay as a man if she
does the same amount OF work. Ny price
for nights talk is $500, and that sum they
paid me last night at Z. Now, if you will
let NE divide 1t with you / snail have had
nY share and the thing will be even, don't
you see?"
After much urging and many thoughts of
her needy little ones, Mrs. Il. was per-
suaded TO put the roll in her purse, but it
Was rot until the end Of her journey that
she examined the roll and found it con-
tanned jHst 500.
Some years afterward she discovered that
Der unknown benefactOT was Wendell
Phillips and being then past the need Of
help she eSsayed TO pay back the debt.
Don't speak Of it," said MI Phillips
Il had entirely forgotten the Incident"
THAT is very probable" she replied, "but
have never forgotten it. That money, and
still mole your words Of sympathy aud en-
e0nragement, were the beginning of better
days, and / am now abundautly able 10 pay
back The money"
Pass IL on, then, my dear madam-pass
y on to some one who needs it."-Youh
Companion