Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-04-21
One al Heart.

IL is no unusual thing to hear mer
speak OF the eastern and western sec
tions of our land as IL they were sep
arate in interest and character. DIFF
ference OF surroundings undoubtedly
creates in minor matters diversities OF
interests; but while loyal responses to
the unspoken needs Of the helpless and
forlorn come alike from east and west,
the heart OF the American people can
not be really divided.
From papers published on opposite
sides OF the continent, says The Evan
gel, we take two instances that show
that American nature is essentially the
same, whether found upon the eastern
seaboard or In the FAR away stretches
OF the western land.
Not very long ago there was seen
passing through the streets OF Tacoma
II man going riverward. In his arms
he bore "A tiny coffin, and by his side
walked woman whose eyes rested OF
tSH dpOh JllC
He, poor man, saw nothing OF the
way by which he came. Tears blinded
his eyes and IA great pain tugged at his
heart, for in the tiny coffin lay the only
child of the two who were so mani.
testify strangers in strange land.
They had meant to make it a home for
them and their little one. Now they
were alone. Behind followed friend
with a rough pine box in which to be.
stow the coffin. That was all.
But as the little cortege moved on
the evident sorrow and poverty of the
couple attracted the attention of men
who were passing, and one and another
stopped in sympathy with the pitful
little group. Then someone asked,
"Have they here no friends to show
them sympathy" And In quick re-
Spouse man stepped forward and
joined the little procession. Another
and another was prompted TO do the
same, till, as if urged by one common
impulse, they came from shop and sa.
loon and Office, these men whose hearts
responded TO that mute appeal for
brotherly kindness in the time of sor.
row.
BY the time the wharf was reached
a crowd of kindly sympathizers had
gathered, and tender hands placed the
coffin in its pine box preparatory to
sending it off by the Willana boat.
At the very last lad, who had just
landed quantity of sweet smelling
flowers for sale on the streets, show
cred wealth of white lilies and for
get-me-nots above the baby's breast.
The mother looked her thanks, but
the appreciation of the father found
voice, and be cried:
Il am in the land of strangers, yet
am surrounded by friendsW
From that very prosaic quarter, a
New York Sixth avenue elevated rail
road car, comes the other instance OF
mans sympathy for the weak among
his kind. A little newsboy had got in
at Park Place, and, slipping into one
of the cross seats, had fallen asleep.
Later on two girls took seats oppo-
site the child, and noticed his bare feet
and the hat that had fallen off. Pres
emily the younger of the girls, with a
sudden womanly impulse, leaned over
and placed her muff under the little
fellows cheek that he might sleep
more restfully.
An old gentlemen in the next seat
smiled at the act, and without saying
word held out quarter of a dollar,
with a nod toward the boy The girl
hesitated moment and then received
it. The next man as silently offered a
dime, a woman across the aisle held out
some pennies, and before she knew ii
the young girl, with flaming cheeks,
had taken money from every passenger
at that end of the car.
She quietly slipped the money into
the sleeping boys pocket, and when
twenty-third street was reached re-
moved her muff from under his head
so gently as not to waken him and
went out, including all the passengers
in a pretty little inclination of the
head that seemed full of thanks and
the acknowledgement OF common
feeling of sympathy for the poor.