Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-12-21
The Drummer-A Good Christ
mas Story.
Augusta Evening News.

- III NtSON
mas Story.
Augusta Evening News.
The Evening News has more
than once paid It's respects to the
big-hearted, big Drained, hustling
class of our fellow citizens known
the world over as ''drummers," or,
more politely, yclept, commercial
tourists" This need of praise is
due them individually and as q
class, atleast those of them who
travel out of Augusta. There iC nc
class of men who have a more
varied experience, and yet a
palmer view of the different sides
of life than the drummer. Being
constantly sen the co." he sees
something new every day, and
what he observes has a tendency
to make him broad and liberal in
his views and sympathetic IN his
nature. Lee Lampkin tells the
following, which will illustrate
the doctrine the Evening News is
endeavoring to advance-the big
hearted, real charity of the average
drummer, better than all the fine
spun theories we could write about
them in a month: "On one of my
trips" says Mr.. Lampkin, 81 was
down on the Central of Georgia,
and a little incident came under
my observation that deeply i'm
pressed all who saw it. Among
the passengers in our coach were
another drummer plainly dressed
feeble old lady and several emf
grants. My brother drummer was
quite dudish in appearance and
was cracking his jokes aid having
a jolly good time, seemingly not
thinking or caring for any one but
himself. After we had changed cars
at Millen and the conductor come
to collect the tickets, the old lady
found that she had lost both her
purse and her ticket. The stern Wis
aged conductor requested money or
ticket and told her she would have
10 get off at the next station. She
broke into tears and told the con-
luctor that she was on her way to
The bedside of her son, who was
sick and perhaps dying, and she
begged him not to put her off.
The only reply she received was
that "his duty to the company
compelled him to do many un-
pleasant things, but that she would
be compelled to get off," With
hat he gave the signal for the.
rain to stop.
The poor woman cried out in
ler agony, "My boy will be dead
before l see him" !" But before the
rain came to standstill, the
ludish young drummer came for
ward and asked the cause of her
distress, and when she related her
,roubles to him he promptly
handed the conductor a baak noJe,
Ind tears filled his eyes as he said
you shall not leave this train
While I have a dollar. I have an
I'D mother who prays for me every
hight, and if I shonld fall sick, as
your son has, she would come to
ne but she like you, might happen
n the misfortune of losing her
ouroe, and I know what her dis
;ress would be-" and the careless
Ioung fellow sat down by the old
ady and beguiled her into smil-
ing and looking on the bright
side of things, and at the>next
station the passengers
saw him slip a yellow paper Into
;he hands of the operator, and
when the noxt station was reached
a messenger boy came on the train
and handed him a telegram, which
read Gall danger is past, your son
will live" He gave it to the old
lady. She read it over and over
and then wept for joy. "May God
bless your mother" said she, "and
reward you for the noble kindness
you have done me. I am a poor
woman and can not repay you
even the money you have paid out
for my fare, but I will never for
get you when I pray, and God will
reward you. I shall never cease to
thank you"
By this time the conductor, who
was so stern and relentless
wiped a tear from the
corner of his eye and said: