The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-16
HE WAS ALWAYS KIND.
THE SIMPLE STORY OF A MN VINO
AIMED TO Re Pheasant.
4 Gentleman Whose Memory IL Revered,
although He Did Nothing But Spread
sunshine Wherever He Travelled.

Inc oJner Cay there died in little mort
shore suburb man whose memory
would bold back for moment from tn
eternal silence. Others far greater than h
nave Joined the pale phantoms of the dea,
within the past few weeks, but doubt /
one has entered the audience chamber o
the great King OF Kings with better chanc,
OF recognition. He was not man of splen
did intellect, indeed ! doubt il within hi
simple brain was ever formed solitar,
conception higher than the faithful full
hllment OF duty. He worked daily fol
the bread that only comes by honest toll
and was always at his post until a stronger
than he met him by the way and bade
him step out OF line.
For eight years it has been my almost
daily privilege 10 take the same train 20
town with this man Of whom write and
through these eight years ! can trUthfully
say | have never heard one cross or com
planning word from his lips nor seen an ac-
ton that was not kind, considerable and
courteous How is that for a record' Do
you not really think such one is better
than almost any other you could choose,
He never meddled with politics, that inky
pool wherein men smirch their reputa-
tons and their souls. he did not concern
himself about anything but his own affairs
and had no higher aim in life than to be
kind. We used 10 smile q little once in
awhile at the almost exaggerated courtesy
OF his manner, and yet, now that he has
gone, we look through tears toward the
place he once occupied and miss him sadly.
There was never morning in blooming
hot b.. 4 4
spray Of the seasons special blossom in
his hand. In spring it was a violet OF two
grouped with golden buttercups or the
starry dandelion; in summer it was wild
roses tied together with feathery grass, and
later on il WAS always goldenrod and pur
pie asters that he carried We were won't
20 look upon him as sort of peripatotic
dial Of the year. BY the flower he carried
we knew what floral hour had struck He
had an artists soul and was wont to choose
the sunrise and the sunset side of the train
that he might mark the gl0ries Of the sky.
lie painted a little now and then, and |
have II sketch hanging upon my wall that
he gave me with which | would not part
for money. So excessive was his politeness
and 50 unusual its manifestation that he
always rode bareheaded on the train.
! could as soon imagine John the Baptist
playing poker as think Of my little gentle
man as an eXpectorator Hewould far SOON
er have been shot than knowingly have an
noyed the veriest stranger. lie was never
offensive any more than Gods sunshine is,
or the robin, or the welcome spring rain.
He was never Obtrusiye, and yet was al
ways ready with IA smile or a cheerful word
] doubt il he knew much about books, and
yet ne Carried with him higher charm
than is attained bymeTe culture. Too much
learning sometimes makes the heart "spcn- /
didly null and Jelly DUH" To be truly low !
able one must retain something of the sim /
plicity and humility Of Ignorance.
One Of the peculiarites Of my friend was |
his remembrance OF the absent Ior many |
year the train by which we came to town /
was an accommodation train and stopped at
every station OF course wegot to know al
most everybody on the road, and comrade-
ship in many instances developed into
friendship 1t CHANGED within the past few
months that the railroad company thought
best 10 change our easy going train into
flyer" 50 that we dashed through the
smaller suburban stations and left their
platforms dusky with the friends we should
know no more as travelling companions. Not
many Of Us gave a second thought TO the
eyerance OF such an ephemeral tie We
glanced out Of window, laughed little and
speedily forgot. Not so with the man Of
whom write. For months, up to the very
asst day OF hls'riding on the train, he never
neglected 70 raise his window "A trifie or 20
o the rear platform and wave a greeting to
he comrades from whom a 'sulen corpora
ion" had ruthlessly separated him. lie
ever forgot.
Up TO the last morning Of his boarding
he train he never forgot to pass pleasant {
Tord with the brakeman or venture a shy |
leasantry with the conductor Indeed it
1ould be difficult 10 imagine an employee
o crusty as not TO melt a little under the (
lfuence Of his genial manner.
We noticed for one or two cold mornings {
! succession that his place was vacant on {
be train. and it proved how much he was :
, all of US that not single passenger {
.iled 10 inquire the reason of his absence. {
o storm had ever been too severe, no snow {
20 deep, no cold too keen TO keep the old r
from his place. BY that token G
e knew he must be ILL.,
only cold" said somebody who knew. !
nd 80 we hoped to see him again as usual /
hen the triflng ailment should have run !
S course But the mere cold" worked !
it'll deathly touch and quickly chilled I
10 pulses of a noble heart. Only a day !
two ago they laid all that was mortal 7
this pleasant gentleman, of whom the !
Inside world knew nothing, in the grave. /
he peculiar essence Of that lovable per- )
nality escaped the bondage of the tomb !
Id is working out its deathless Grand J
meWhere. All that is left to us is a >
emory as fair as May morning and a +
odel it well behooyes us To shape our J
VI lives after Is
1t will matter little TO you or to me with y
II mediocre powers what may be said of X
r achievements after we are gone. Even ].
ough we may WELD a ready pen or an !
lists brush, WOO the muse or charm with /
r beauty, all that will be forgotten in /
'rld 50 full of scribbers and daubers and !
sers as this. Buff somebody shall stand /,
our coffin and say. She was so good to /
:. =" "She comforted me-" "She lent me J
lping hand" or even, "She was so pleas =
t." we shall not have lived i'll vain.- J.
nber in Chicago Herald. l.