The Portland daily press., 1899-08-26
A KIND.HEARTED WOMAN.


(w. E. Curtis In Chicago Record.)
a knew good woman once-God never
made better-who on her journey
through life was always trying to be
helpful; always slooking out to lend a
hand to her fellow-wayfarer and to make
the rough path smoother aud sasier for
them. She was never so happy as when
she vas making some sacrifice or serving
some other person, sharing her strength
with the weak, or her plenty with the
poor, and sometimes she oyerdid 1t. For
the purpose Ct Identification VIII call
her Mrs. Jones.
While travelling between Utica and Al
bany one day a blind man was led into
the car and plscsd in the seat behind her.
Here was chance for good Samaritan,
and she seized 1t before any ybody else got
ahead Of her. She saw that he was COM
fortatly seated, she opened her lunch bas-
ket ana offered him something to eat, she
looked at bis ticket to see that It was right
and did everything elss she could think
OF to show her interest In a fellow being
50 sffi iettd. He vas feIrg TO Little
Falls. and every time the train stopped he
-
had reached his destination, and whenver
he heard somebody passing through the
aifle he vtuid Hek row far it was to
Little Falls. Mrs. Jones was alert and
answered every question and assured him
that she would see TO his perfect safety.
She urged him TO be comfortable and
contented and promised to let him know
when his journey was endsd.
Wien the train slowed up and brake
man yelled Little Rock Falls" she
pushed aside several offiuious persons
who offered to assist her, and, taking the
blind man by the hand led him cut 10 Il q
platform and delivered him to some
friends who had come to the station to
meet him. After she had tade him good
by and returned TO the car che noticed ia
the seat he had occupied well-worn
fatcfei: she seized 1t Instantly. rushed
10 the door ard threw IL OF toward her
mind friend on the platform with as
much force as she could exert, sores min 2
ut tie top OF her voice:
" Yon forgot your satchel"
Then she returned and took her seat In
The car with the consciousness of having
performed Christian duty.
Pretty soon rather rouQ h-luoking por-
kon. who had neglected to shave that
morning and ohewed tobacco, came Rack
from the smoking car and began to look
around curiously and In an anxious way.
Noticing that Mrs. Jones was watching
him he looked at her inqi.iringiy and then
asked:-
Madam. havs you see satchel that
was left In that seatph
Yes, she replied. promptly, "It te-
ionged TO blind man and threw it out
to bim at Little Falls.
"1 he h-i you did - exclaimed the
unshaven citizen. Whereupon Mira. Jones,
perceiying that the friendly interest In
the blind man had possibly caused come
inC0p q a n q tn nna he haa To-
blazing eyes and was addicted TO the
tobacco habit began to apologize. The
stranger listened with an exrrsesion on
his face as II he regret ed that murder
was out OF style, and when Mrs. Jones
had completed her somewhat incoherent
explanation he remarkea:
Madam, permit me to advise you here
after TO mind your own blank business,
and let blind men and other folks grip
sacks alone. / am going to Utica to ut
tend court today and that satchel con-
tanned all the documentary evidence Ia q
case that involves many thous nds OF
dollars. have got 1t continued twice on
various pretexts, but II l go into court
today and tell the judge that / can't go
on teoause lunatio has thrown my grip
at blindman he'll give me the laugh
and my clients will DO robbed. And you
are TO blame for 1t.
Mrs Jones protested, apologized and
shed tears, and when the conductor came
back and sent telegram to the station
agent at Little Falls to find the Rag and
send 1t to Utica by the next train she
took cut her poekethook md cff,rsd 10
pay all thes expenses. She even offer d
o leave the train md go back to Little
Falls herself bring the bag TO Ut.ca. 81
was eager, anxious to do something to
repair the damage and aid the lawyer In
saving his case. He settled down in his
SCAT. chewed his tobacco calmly and lot
her do all the 1dgeting. When she reachtd d
home and told the story to her daug htfr
she s3lemnIy promised that she would
never try to help blind man again.