The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
GENTLE TRAVELER-By Annie Hamilton DonnelI

train shed. There was renewed excite ment and confusion. An outgoing stream of humanity met an incoming one and the two appeared inextricably tangled. Miss Sarahs longing eyes turned to fol- low the outrunning stream.
 "Bergitta! Bergitta" The mother of seven sprang to her feet. This is our traln-quick, give me the baby, Bergitta! You must get the children in lne-no, you must take Lawrence! He wakes up so slowly; it will never do to wait
 "Il line up the children" interposed Miss Sarah eagerly. She went about It in a capable way, as if she had always been accustomed to form little restless processions and marshal them to the steps of waiting trains. When they were all safely lifted up she stood back, useless little old woman again. The pleasant stir of excitement, the thrill or importance at being needed, the joy or pushing and hoisting little heavy bodies they were all past things now. But MISS Sarah refused to be lonely or old. She smiled upward at the little faces as they appeared at the car windows and waved brislly back at the mother of seven. When the long train drew away she went back to Bismarck.
 "They're gone, but there's more to come. There's most three hours left, Bismarck! Any amount O beautiful things can hap pen inside O three hours But Miss Sarah did not know it was to be one sad thing.
 From the other direction train came numbering under the big shed, starting up the echoes again. Miss Sarah straight ened for action Her morning zeal and keen relish for "traveling' had not in the least abated. She meant to make the most of the three hours that were left. And in her mind was already forming a resolve-she confided it to Bismarck-to come here twice a year,
 Before we get too old to come at all she said, "we must make the most of the time we can come Bismarck. Yes, yes, you too. Aren't you having q beautiful time? Oh, Bismarck, aren't We having q beautiful time! It will be so hard to go home.'
 But Miss Sarah did not know. She went out on the platform to watch the new train unload it's living freight-and it's tiny dead one. She saw the little box lifted carefully down, but it was only a little box to her then. Miss Sarah in her yearly travelings had never come upon this phase of travel It was the newness of it that for merciful moment kept her ignorant. Then she saw the young mother in her black clothes go hur- rying up toward the little white deal box and refuse to leave it. For an instant Miss Sarah caught sight of the stricken, wild young face. She went neerer and heard the wild worlds
 "Ne, no, I won't go! I tell you l shall stay with my baby! Do you think l would have her out here alone?'
 Miss Sarah could not hear the other voice. but she could see the other face. It was a mans, young and anguished.
 Rest? Do you think l could rest in there? She was always afraid to be left alone always stayed with her! If she was your baby would you be Willing Miss Sarah did not hear the rest of the poor, crazed speech, for her eyes were on the young mans face and she saw that it was his baby She saw him put tender forcing hands on his wife, put tngFhis own sorroWing aside till there was time for it. Miss Sarah, all the joy gone out of her day, stood gently in their way.
 My dear my dear,'-it was to the mother that she spoke-'let me stay for you You go with him and rest. Don't look at the outside O me and say she's a strange old woman-look at my heart that loves little babies so! And they never are afraid O me. My dear won't you let me stay? I'll stay right close till you come back I'll take good care O herr" The plain old face was no longer plain. The divine love of a forbidden mother for the little child she never was given transfigured it. and the dead child s mother saw.
 "She won't be afraid with me-" whis- pered Miss Sarah
 For nearly an hour she kept her watch. The rough men on the platform left her wide, clear space and spoke low when they passed. She seemed to have the little box to herself in a great silence. Sounds and sights around her made no impress on her mind. She could almost look with the eyes of Her aching pity through the little lid at the baby's face. She knew it was beautiful. She knew the little hair was soft. the little hands were round and dimnle- -nricksd- It broke