Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-10-04
A FRIEND INDEED.
How Thadl1eray Put Himself Out for
Sick Friend.

The Million: AS, toward the end of
October, a little over thirty years ago.
the night train of the Chemin du Fer
du NOrd was about to leave the station
at Paris an English gentleman got
into a firSt-class compartment, and
slowing away his small yaliSe, took his
seat in one of the vacant corners. He
noticed that on the seat opposite to
him was gentleman who appeared to
be i'll. His face was deathly pale; he
was breathing very hard, and he ap-
peared to be in great pain.
Are you i'll, sir? Can | be of any
assistance to your the gentleman
asked.
II ann very ill.," the sufferer replied
family. Il am subject to a painful
malady, and feeling an attack coming
On while in Switzerland, l resolved to
go home-to England. 1t generally
gives me Il weeks warning but l feel
[ shall not reach Calais alive"
But you must not go on, my dear
Sir" said his fellow-travcler, feelingly
Il am a perfect stranger in Paris [
have come right through from Geneva,
and do not know a word of French"
replied the sick man, almost in a state
Of collapse.
at will never do for you to4trs.veI in
that state. Come let NE help you out
before the train starts
The kindly gentleman was not a mo-
ment too soon But by the kindly aid
Of a porter he got the sufferer out Of
the train, placed him gently in q cab,
and had him just quilted, and where
he knew the sick man would receive
every attention. Caring for him on the
way with all the tenderness of a
woman, he bade him cheer up, for he
knew physician who was one of the
highest authorities on the particular
disease from which he was suffering.
All the night the gentleman was eX-
ceedingly i'll, nor did he improve much
the next day. The following morning
relative Of the sufferer's-WhO had
been telegraphed fOr-arrived, and the
kindhearted gentleman who had put
off his journey to England, thrown
away his railway fare and spent two
nights and day almost constantly by
the sick mans side, handed over the
sufferer to the care Of his friend.
Then, and not till then, did this
his interrupted journey.
Going into the patients room in the
evening to bid him goodbye, he said:
81 must now wish you farewell, as |
have important business in London. l
wish you a hearty godSpeed toward re-
covery.'
The sick man was still extremely III
and not able to do any more than
press his benefactor's hand and
whisper a few words of gratitude
The relative of the patient, however
who was no other than his sister, fol.
lowed the gentleman out Of the room
and said:
"You have done me the honor to tell
me to whom I and my brother owe so
signal an act of kindness as that
which you have shown 70 an utter
stranger. Had you not so generously
and so disinterestedly taken compass
sion on him, I fear his relatives and
friends would never have again seen
I'LL dIIhe. LII IuduhIuS yOu AGAIN IOI
your kindness, therefore, l shodld like
to know to whom we are so much in
debted. Besides, you forfeited the cost
Of your railway ticket. If you will al
low me to reimburse you the amount"
do not mention it," said the gentle
man; st is of no consequence"
you will at least do me the pleasure
Of permitting US to know your name"
neutrality-suspicious. etao etao etathr
Certainly. will give you my card"
With these words the gentleman took
out his card case and handed the lady
his card She read upon it the name,
civilian Makepeace Thackeray."
It was some weeks before the invalid
was we'll enough to resume his jour-
ney; but after his return to England
one of the first visits he paid was to
call upon the great novelist, in COM
pany with his sister, to thank him per-
'sonally for the great kindness he had
shown him when, as he believed, he
should have died but for his timely as
sistance.