A LITTLE SERMON | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 8, 1881

A LITTLE SERMON.

AT a railroad station not long ago, one of the beautiful lessons which all should learn, was taught in such a natural, simple way, that none could forget it. It was a bleak, snowy day, the train was late, ladies' room dark and smoky, and the dozen women, old and young, who sat waiting impatiently, all looked cross, low-spirited, or stupid. Just then a forlorn old woman, shaking with the palsy, came in with a basket of little wares for sale, and went about mutely, offering them to the sitters. Nobody bought anything, and the poor old soul stood blinking at the door a minute, as if reluctant to go out into the storm again. She turned presently, and poked about the room as if trying to find something, and then a lady in black, who lay as if asleep on a sofa, opened her eyes, saw the old woman, and instantly asked in a kind tone, "Have you lost anything, ma'am?"

"No, dear, I'm looking for the heating place to have a warm 'fore I go out again. My eyes are poor, and I don't seem to find the furnace nowhere."

"Here it is," and the lady led her to the steam radiator, placed a chair, and showed her how to warm her feet.

"Well, now, ain't that nice?" said the old woman, spreading her ragged mittens to dry.

"Thank'ee dear; this is proper comfortable, ain't it? I'm most froze to-day, bein' lame and aching; and not selling much made me sort of down-hearted."

The lady smiled, went to the counter, bought a cup of tea and some sort of food, carried it herself to the old woman, and said, as respectfully and kindly as if the poor soul had been dressed in silk and fur, "Won't you have a cup of hot tea? It's very comforting such a day as this."

"Sakes alive! do they give tea at this depot?" cried the old lady, in an innocent surprise that made a smile go round the room, touching the glumest face like a streak of sunshine. "Well now, this is just lovely," added the old lady, sipping away with a relish. "That does warm my heart."

While she refreshed herself, telling her story meanwhile, the lady looked over the little wares

in the basket, bought soap, pins, and shoestrings; and cheered the old soul by paying well for them. As I watched her doing this I thought what a sweet face she had, though I considered her rather plain before. I felt dreadfully ashamed of myself that I had grimly shaken my head when the basket was offered to me; and as I saw a look of interest, sympathy, and kindness, come into faces around me, I did wish that I had been the magician that called it out. It was only a kind word and friendly act; but somehow it brightened that dingy room wonderfully. It changed the faces of a dozen women, and I think it touched a dozen hearts; for I saw many eyes follow the plain, pale lady with sudden respect; and when the old woman with many thanks got up to go, several persons beckoned to her, and bought something, as if they wanted to repair their negligence. There was no gentleman present to be impressed by the lady's kind act; so it was not done for effect, and no possible reward could be received for it except the thanks, of a poor old woman. But that simple little charity was as good as a sermon, and I think each traveler went on her way better for that half-hour in that dreary station.—Sel.