Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-18
w. c. T. u. COLUMN.

The name of Mary A. Woodbridge is
well known among the women of this
land She may be called fair represen
tative of the women who are leading in
moral reforms. Let the following illus
tration prove the metal of which such
women are made, and their ability tc
maintain their womanhood, by whatever
circumstances they may be surrounded,
the story Is from the pen of her friend,
Mrs S. f. Grubb
Mrs. Woodbridge had an engagement to
speak before the NJ. f. Conference, when
in session in C. In order to meet
that engagement she was Obliged to take
the train to a small station, mere stop
ping point, and from there depend on a
private conveyance for the twenty miles
yet to be travelled When she showed her
ticket to the conductor he hesitated, and
then said, Il think you would better not
stop there. The train does not reach the
place until about midnight There is no
station, and it is probable there will be no
one there. -
But Mrs. Woodbridge replied that she
must stop as she could reach c. in no
other way and is was absolutely iInpos-
siblc for her to break her engagement.
The young man seemed troubled but went
on. He afterward returned and said to
her that unless there was some one at the
train who could take care of her, he could
not consent to leaving her. With in
domitable courage our Mary replied, . l
must stop When the station was
reached man with lantern was seen,
and the conductor GLADLY halted him and
asked him to take the lady to the hotel :"
The man replied, however that he was
going on business to the next town and
it was impossible for him to stay.
Then, said the conductor, II will wait
my train and take her at least part of
the way myself He explained to her
that the only house where she could stay
was more than half a mile away, but that
he could take her to where he thought
she would be safe They proceeded for
about quarter of a mile, then giving
her his lantern he charged her to hold it
low, to walk in the ditch (dug for a rail
road} which she was on no account to
leave
She saw from his manner that he had
some special cause for anxiety and this
added to her feeling of loneliness and
even alarm. He told her as he left her
to be sure and let him know of her jour
ney and giving her his address he babe
her good bye
Mrs Woodbridge told me that she had
never known SO long journey as that
was Qittle more than quarter of a mile)
but she talked to the Lord and felt His
arms about her. Finally she reached a
small house and knocked on the door,
A man answered her and told her the
tavern was farther on but to her great re-
lief "A woman's voice came from an inner
room. like one addressing a tired child
and trying TO comfort it. Never mind.
my husband will go with you; will take
good care of you. Never mind
The man accompanied her few rods
further and stopped at rough building
called by way of custom. 1.-THE hotel .
They were here admitted By man who
asked Mrs. Woodbridge to take chair by
the stove. She mentioned that she had a
trunk where the train stopped, and he said
Immediately. Then we must go down
and get it, She protested that it would
do in the morning, but he called his son
and said they must get it now. They