The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-09-29
A cHILD,s PRAYER.
One Little Touch of Nature That Made
Many Rough Men Kin.

One Little Touch of Nature That Made
Many Rough Men Kin.
We were a round dozen of the gloomiest
passengers that ever got together in a
Pullman car one warm June night coming
up from Atlanta. There were several rea-
sons for the surly dizziness, which deep
ened as the evening wore on. The weather
was clammy and uncomfortable, while to
open the windows was to invite coat OF
SCOT and shower of cinders. Moreover,
the supper had been undeniably bad.
With such conditions it was not to be
wondered at that an air of gloomy morose'
ness pervaded the car. The only party who
did not openly evince any evidence OF dis
content was group of sad faced man,
woman with subdued countenance and
tiny tot of five, apparently the daughter OF
the man and the niece of the lady. We all
knew well enough why they were so quiet.
In the baggage car was rough box, and
the little girl clutched tightly bouquet
of the same tuberoses we had seen carried
in with the coffin.
Cheerfulness did not increase as the
night grew on. Three drummers tried to
break the gloom by relating rather oil
color stories in an audible undertone. A
was confiding his misfortunes to mem
Der of congress en- route to Washington,
and giving his opinion of the land specu-
lation into which he had been drawn IN
language more expressive than elegant
and in much louder tone than clrcum'
stances justified.
Two Atlanta sports were talking over
poker game, interfering little bursts OF
profanity into their conversation, hardly
broad enough to merit reproof from the
conductor, but yet not the kind of talk de-
sirable in family circles. Presently the
porter began making up the berths, COM
mencing at the rear, where the funeral
party was ensconced. The train rumbled
on through the darkness, the hum Of dis
contented conversation filled the car and
none of the men paid the slightest atten'
ton to the white jacketed negro and his
work.
BY and by there were sounds of slight
disturbance from the back part of the car,
which caused every one to turn their eyes
thither In the middle of the aisle stood a
little fairy form clad in a snowy night
dress, her golden curls shaking over her
shoulders by the rocking of the car, while
her blue eyes were troubled and half afioat
in tears. She was saying in baby voice,
which opposition had caused to rise to its
highest pitch, distinguishable above the
rumble of the train, Papa and auntie, |
must; mamma told me to before she went
to sleep" Seeing the attention of the
other passengers drawn upon them, the fa'
Their flushed and made no further remon-
STRANGE, and the lady also drew back. The
little tot got down reverently upon her
knees by the side of the berth, clasped her
tiny hands and began:
Now lay me down to sleep,
Ipray the Lord my soul to keep,
and SO on through it all until the fina!
amen, adding God bless papa and auntie
and poor little Annie, whose mamma has
goned away"
Then, unresisting, they tucked her into
the berth. There was no more story tell
ing, no more grumbling, no more growing
that night The train rumbled on with
the sleeping mother in the baggage car
and the sleeping orphan in the Pullman