The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-04
PAINT. BOOK coNTEsTANTs.
HE Hal. a II ),

It was hot, dusty day, when two or
three passengers entered a train on the 4
Northwestern Road at Bridgewat ter.
Among them was a stylishly dressed
young man, who wore a stiff white hat;
patent leather shoes, the neatest OF cuffs
and the, shinest OF stand-up collars.
He carried a cane. and carefully brushed
the dust from the seat In front Of mo
before he sat down. just across the aisle
opposite him sat a tired woman. holding
a baby j never saw In my life a more
discoura ged, wornout. despairirg look
than that on the mothers face. The
/ baby was too sick even to cry 1t lay
moaning and gasping In Its mothers lap.
while the dust and ctnders flew In at the
doors and windows. J'he5hcnt and dust
made travelling. even fol, strong men. ri-
sbea rablc. had put down the stylish
young man In front Of me as asspecimen
of the dude family. and was making
mental calcula ton on the probable ex-
Sistence Of brains under the new hat when.
to my establishment. he leaned over the
aisle and said to the woman: MADAME.
canI be OF any assistance to you? Just
let me hold your baby a while. You !.
look so tired 'sl thank YOU, SIR
she said TREMENDOUSLY am tired. and i
her lips quivcred II think the baby viii
come TO me" said The young man, with
a smile. rs n
Poor thing. It's too sick to ma Ike any.
objection. Il will hol dit carefully while
YOU lie down and rest a while. Have you
come far?#l 5$i 4
From the Black Ellls.",%>4 a
What? BY sta geG.. Yes but the
baby was well when ] started. ] am
OH my way 10 friends in the East, aly-
my nd--ny--, All. yes. see.
sec." continued the young man In n sym,
pathetic tone. as he glanced mt The lit
of cuelpc The little travelling hat. BY!
this time he had taken the baby and was
holding 1t III his arms.
Now you can lie down and rest W
tie. Have you far TO go?''
ITO Georgia" replied the woman. al
most wilma sob she YEARLY Arranged
a shawl over q vaisc ard prepared .lir
down In the seat.
'Ah, yes; see. i see: ana yo', hate
not money enough to go into a sleeping
car: have you. ma dame?'
( The poor woman hlushed family and
put one hand over, her face, while re
tears dropped between her Worn ling ~.
looked out Of the window and a mist
came over, my eyes, while 4 changed M
calculation OF the young mans m1n.al
ability. He looked thoughif,lly and ten-
derry. down at the baby, and In "a she I
while tho mother was aseeh The NO
man sitting lii front of me who had heaNl
-as much OF the converse ton as Shad,
came and offered 10 relieve the young
man OF his charge
81 am ashamed OF myself for not Of
ferng TO take the baby from the .mothrr
before. Poor little thing! Ut Is asl . 81
$50 It is. ! Will surrender It % YOU
now. win u cheerful sn!ie. 5
At this point tile train stopped at q
station and the young man rose IN his
seat. took off his hat and said IN a. clear,
earnest voice: Ladies' and gentlemen.
that We have been brought syup In
Christian land and have Christian moth.
ers and fathers This poor woman.
pointing to the sleeping mother. has;
came all tho way from the Black Ills
and is going to Georgia. Her husband
is dead. I. and her baby is Ill She hasn't
money enough to travel In a sleeping cal,
and is all tired out and discourage
What will YOU no about 1t"
DO" cried a big man down near. the
water cooler. rising excitedly Do
Take ZIP a collection, Vt he American citl.
zens last resort In distress. III give S.
The effect was cleptricalf The hat We
rnund. and the way silver dollars and
quarters and ten cent pieces ra tied ~
1t would have done any true heart good,
] wish I could describe the look on the
wonlan's face when she a woke and the
money given to her. She tried to thank
MS all. and failed, She broke dowp COM
,pletely But we didn't need airy thanks
There was a sleeping car on the rain
md the young man saw the mother and
child transferred to It q t once, did not
hear what she said to him when he left.
hut 1t must have been hearty Cod
bless you,
Selected by CASSIE iIls,kah.
Gordonsville, Va,