A *Touching* Scene

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 19, 1908

A Touching Scene

THE writer remembers being on a railroad train several years ago, when directly in front of him sat a kindly looking, snowy-haired old man, evidently unaccustomed to traveling, and as manifestly in his “second childhood.” He was very talkative, and he told me all about the journey he was taking.

“I’m going to Iowa to see my son, Jimmy, and my daughter, Nellie. Just think! I ain’t seen either of them children for most six years, and if they ain’t tickled to see me, I’ll be mistaken. An’ the train seems to fairly drag. I get so impatient every time it stops at a station! Wish it’d keep right on an’ never stop until we get to —; that’s where Jimmy and Nellie live.”

He began gathering up his belongings when we were still an hour’s ride from his destination.

“I want to get ready to git right off when we stop,” he said. “Jimmy and Nellie will both be at the depot to meet me, although they live nine miles out in the country, and there ain’t no need o’ them comin’. But they’ll be there—you see if they ain’t.”

When we reached —, the excited old man started to leave the car in eager haste. But the train had not come to a standstill when a great bearded giant of a man, fully fifty years of age, hurried into the car.

“Jimmy!” called out the old man, eagerly. “Here I am, Jimmy.”

“Father!” cried the son, and he took the little old man right into his arms and hugged him, while the tears stood in the eyes of both.

A stout, plainly clad, middle-aged woman appeared at the car door and cried out, “Father!”

Then she turned and called to some one on the platform: “Here he is! Here is father!”

“Nellie, my girl!” said the old man.

The son and daughter both had an arm around the father as he left the car. On the platform were seven or eight grandchildren from five to twenty years of age.

“Here’s your gran’pa!” said Nellie, joyfully, and a great hugging and kissing time ensued.

Of course the passengers in the car and the bystanders on the platform smiled; but I think the most of them agreed with a lady on the car who said: “It’s a beautiful sight to see an old man loved and revered by his children and grandchildren, and I only wish such exhibitions of affection were more common.”—Selected.