Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-11-30
A Story For
Thanksgiving.
How A Kind Hearted Travelling
Man Raised a Purse For
a Sick Woman.

"You must not forget Thanksgiving
Day" said one member OF the Office
force when speaking of copy for tn,
paper this week. But what can W.
say about it? We might write of it,
origin, its object, its history, and it,
benefit, but that would be an old stor,
that has been heard again and again
While revolving these thoughts in oul
mind, we came across little story
published by the Record of Cedar
Falls which we believe is worthy o.
repetition at this time of thanksgiving
Read it and be thankful for home,
health and happiness. Read it again
and then initiate the travelling man in
carrying cheer and comfort to some
one in need and distress. But here is
the story: ga conductor on the Him
OILS Central relates a pathetic incident
which came under his notice few
days ago. A frail little woman was
placed on the train at Dubuque. She
was ticketed to Colorado. A poorly
dressed man accompanied by two
little girls girls went with her into the
coach. One of the girls carried pill
ow which she tenderly placed in the
seat back of the emaciated form of the
little woman. An apparently gruff
gentleman with stubby mustache
sat in the seat Immediately behind the
one the woman occupied. He over
heard the conversation. The woman
was going to Colorado in hope of
getting relief from consumption. The
father was to work and save and as
soon as he could get enough ahead he
was to take the two little girls and
Join his wife and mother in Colorado.
He heard the husband express his re-
greet at not having money enough after
paying her fare and providing for her
board few weeks, to furnish her a
berth in sleeper for the long, weary
journey. The patient sufferer consol-
ed him with the thought that with the
aid of the pillow and a comforter she
had with her she could get to her
journeys end comfortably. The con-
ductor yelled sail aboard" the man
and the two girls kissed the care-worn
and emacitated face of the wife and
with tears in their eyes left the train.
The fellow who occupied the seat
just back of the woman was travel
ing man from Chicago. He was WISH
bly, touched by the sight which he had
Witnessed and after wiping tear from
his brow he passed into the smoking
car, where he met three old friends,
all of whom were also travelling men.
He was asked to join them in game
of cards, but he told them that he did
not feel like it and asked to be excused.
His friends noticed that he appeared
to be considerably downcast and they
asked him what was weighing on his
mind. He related the incident which
he had witnessed in the other car and
told his companions it was case
where he felt that some charity ought
to be extended. They each agreed
with him. Others in the smoker were
told of the circumstances and the gruff
visaged man with the stubby gray
mustache quietly moved out among
the passengers and in a short time
had a purse of S25 raised to pay for a
berth on the sleeper the entire way
and enable the poor sick woman to
take her meals in the dining car. The
woman was overcome with gratitude
at the kindly act and wept like child,
as did all the passengers who witness
ed the touching incident.
The conductor declared that among
all the pathetic incidents that he had
Witnessed in his long experience as a
railroad man none touched a more
tender spot than did the scene enacted
on that train that afternoon.