Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-02-15

Near to the mother Mn work and
Never will care to roam.
More of comfort from day to day,
Calm little baby with eyes of gray.
Wilful the baby with eyes Of black,
Ruling us more and more.
Sunbeams follow the storm-cloud's
track
Brighter than those before!
Heart is fonder when smiles come
back
Wilful baby with eyes OF black.
Burgess Johnson. in Harper's Maya
zine.
"INASMUCH.
They were waiting in the only strip
of shade the dirty old depot af-
forded. Father, mother and five
children; tired, hot, travel-stained,
and strangers. No one spoke to them.
They spoke to nobody. They were,
evidently, waiting for train that
would take them further on their
journey. Not one word of all that
was going on about them was in
telligble to them, and after repeat
ed efforts to make themselves un-
derstood, they were content to be
quiet, or to speak occasionally to
each other.
The busy train-master at last
found them, and after consulting a
greasy-looking strip of paper. taken
from an equally greasy-looking en-
velope, out of pocket closely re-
sembling both, which the father hand
ed him, he began explaining when
their train would arrive. The
look that greeted his kindly-given in
formation, as we'll as the inter- lpting
EXPLANATIONS and questions of the
mother, told DOC" that he was not
understood. He looked around Cor
help. He consulted his watch. He
found the stranger could read its face.
A bright thought seized him. He ran
into the office. and, producing little
alarm clock, he set the hands at the
hour the expected train would arrive,
and by means of wild gesticulations
succeeded in telling the father that
he was on the right road, and Ill lie
needed to do was to settle himself
to wait.
The group exchanged few re
marks and prepared themselves COM
Portable while they waited. The
father lighted fresh pipe and strobe
stolidly up and down. The mother
took the baby on her lap. She her.
self, looked as If she needed someone
to hold her to prevent her dropping
with exhaustion. Their clothing told
plainly that.they were from some cod
country, and the warm spring day
added to It's enervating influence 10
the untoward surroundings.
Many kindly glances were cast in
their direction by well-meanilg peo
Ele who passed them in the hurry Of
exchanging trains. Not a few won
dered how to brighten the wearisome
hours.
Several trains stood on the side.
tracks waiting for their human freight
and for the hour to strike which
meant they must move. Passengers
crowded into them singly and in
groups, some chatting gaily; others
serious-faced, with the pain of the
"Good-by" still alive under their coat
pockets.
No one noticed handsome woman,
who entered a Pullman coach, carry
ing small satchel, and large bunch
of rare flowers. Her appearance, man
ner, and dress showed her to be refined
and cultured. Seating herself near a
window, she at once took book from
her satchel and began to read with
such earnestness that she was soon
fully absorbed in it.
A commotion outside caused her to
look up at passing train. AS the
smoke cleared she caught sight of the
stranger. Seemingly taking in the sit
uation at a glance, looking around
and up and down for way to help
them, she caught sight of the beauti-
full flowers she had laid on the seat
in front of her. She had intended
them for dear ones at home. Just a
shade of regret came over her face
followed quickly by the question,
Twill these be any comfort to those
lonely ones, strangers in strange
land?" Like many another whose
heart is pure, she was building bet
ter than she knew. Her lovely flow.
ers, exotics here, were dooryard ia.
vorites in the dear homeland of the
wanderers.
She picked up her flowers, and
crossed the five railroad tracks be-
tween her car and the depot; mounted
the steps and walked quickly toward
the family.
BY this time they had seen her
and, as she neared them, wonder
seemed almost changed to fear; SO
surprised were they to see such a
beautiful lady coming toward them
Not word could she speak that they
could understand. but they could read
her heart very plainly, as she divided
five children bouquet.
Such chattering and Cabling;
such bowling and smiling, yes and
laughing, The hearty, wholesome
laughing of merry childhood-as the
lady, all smiles herself, distributed
her favors. Shaking hands with
father and mother, she. walked quiet
ly back to her seat. picked up hel
book and read on as if nothing had