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Show IHI'CLMiE lOFIDEU'E. ONE OF THE UM-IMSHEII AMI rATHETIC PAGES OF LIFE'S HISTORY. A laJy was recently waiting for a train, 1n a railroad station, when a little old woman, scrupulously neat, and dressed in a faded glDgham dress and plaid shawl, hurriedly ap- E reached her. "Only think what's appencd to me. dear!" she said, impulsively, her thin lips twitching, and tears starting to her faded blue eyes. "Only think! my only darter's layin' dead in New York City, an' my son's sick with a fever in Canada, Can-ada, an I've started out to go to him. Only tlilnk of it, dear meat my time o' life, an' them two all I've got."" "Oh, I am sorry:" said the lady, her sympathy deeply touched. "Can't I do something? Have you bought your ticket?" "Yes, the minister see to that for me last night. I wouldn't ha' spoke to you, but I'm as nervous as a wileb, with fear an' trouble, an' I see your black dress, an' thinks I, 'She knows what trouble Is herself, may be.' Ain't It hard, dear, to think be may be gone afore I get there, an' her layin' dead, so far away?" "Ob, yes, yol terribly hard. But try to hope, try to think he will live.'" "Yes, au I've told 'em all them that's talked to me I'd try to be reconciled If he went afore I got there, but it's hold, luud' Tbe minister says death is beautiful, an' may be 'Us, but I'm an old woman, dear, an' I sliall live through a good many weary hours afore my turn comes, I'm afraid. I'm pretty tough; I'muigli sure I shan't die easy. An'latltrs hoped through it all they wouldn't be called to go afore me." What could bu said? Who could comfort the stricken mother, or find words to tench her patience? Still tbeetlott was trembliugly made. At length tlie train came, the bag and bandbox vv ere gathered up, and the poor woman nervously (Utered the train, hhe looked bark for one w ord more. "I shan't forgit you, dear," she called. "You've been a lwwerful sight o' comfort." And the train moved away. This is only one of the unfinished pages of life's history. Bid the w oman find her son alive, and w as she able to ketp him within reach of hir weak but loving arms? Or was she lift quite desolate by a double blow? l'erhaja the future will tell, but so far only hope whlspirsau answer. l'ouilu' Uvmpamikm. |