Middletown transcript., 1892-12-15
81 KNOW HOW YoU FEEL.

III dues hot seem much 10 tell, bul
when it happened it created pro.
found sensation among the thirty ol
forty people who were massed together
IN street car, each one thinking only
ot his own discomfort.
Move up there forward, will YEP"
The car had suddenl. stopped, with
jolt that pitched every one who was
standing toward the front door, and
the recoil had blocked up the entrance
frnm the rear platform. The conduc-
tor imperiously repeated the order in a
lioarse voice. At the same time he
showed into the car a man on crntches.
Men and women suilenly moved up to
make pla:e for he lame man, but no
one offered him seat.
The Car started again. II was soon
apparent IIIill il MS difficult tor the
cripple 10 support himself by the swing
Ing strap and preserve his equilibrium
on his crulches. Every person seated
looked the other way.
A little later the conductor en-
tered the car for The fares. When he
came To the cripple the man was evil
denily suffering from The Inconvenience
or his position. He did not seem a
poor man. Fl is face Was thin, and he
was pale, and looked poorer in health
than in p' cket; but he was not elegant
enough to al,ash the conductor, who
became impatient while the cripple
fumhletl for his change.
= Hurry up with your fare, or get
of said the condu tor, harshly.
= declare, | haven't cent |
didn't know it when | got on" said
the cripple, mildly. 8 will send it 10
you. Won't that do2''
None of that game with me Pay
or get off Quick, now %
The suffering man fiushes, his hands
trembled, and he turned to leave the
car. The passengers watched him
coldly; not one offered TO help. The
conductor rang the bell viciously for
thu Car to stop.
A boy had been watching this scene
with the greatest interest. He was
not prepossessing boy. His clothes
had never been made for him; they
hung on him loISely and w-re not
clean; but he had the alert, bright ex-
preston so often seen ON the faces OF
street Arabs. He started toward the
cripple when the conductor rang the
bell, and it Was evident that he, too,
was lame. The Car grated to stand
still.
" Now hurry up p said the cOnduc-
tor.
The cripple raised his eyes in en-
treaty. swung his crutcheS into posi- |
tinn, and painfully moved to leave the |
car. His eyes were filled with tears OF
pain and modification. Most Of the
passengers looked out Of The window.
Oh, the calluusness of a crowd
Nav, don't get out!" piped up
thin voice. Il know how yer feel.
mister, guess l can lend yer five
cents.n
The child paid the mans fare, and
the wo unfurtunai rs stood side by side
in sympathetic silence.
A buzz went over that car, and
many cheek bent, hoping to blush
unseen. No one likes to be sha!ned
into decenc ~ by neMsboy.
There have bepn many definitions of
e gentleman; some think he is the
flower of high birth, or of weilIl, nr
Df college educaliom, or It liberal Train
ing. These may constitute he cio hes
Df gentleman but they are not hi>
flesh
IL know how You feel" In these
i've words lies the secret of that sym
pathy and courtesy which make the
gentleman.
The cri pie child gave away most of
he few cents he had To save anolher's
Jain He understood it. He was a
yent leman before whom Chesterfield
night lift his hat.
Attention and intention will find
is plenty of opportunity to do as
much.
Cardinal Newman says: "1t is
Ilways demiliun Of gentleman 10
aystfrat he never inhicts pain; ne is
ender toward The basnful, gentle to-
ward lie distant. and merciful toward
he absurd. y Youths Companion.