The Helping Finger

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 14, 1911

The Helping Finger

THE car was not crowded, but the tired little woman who scrambled on at a busy corner had difficulty in finding room for both herself and the unwieldy paper parcel she carried, as more active passengers took possession of the empty seats. As she finally wedged herself into a space at the extreme edge, the string, none too securely tied about the parcel, slipped off, and for the next few minutes the stiff fingers were busy trying to retie the knot that seemed so unwilling to stay in place. The smile that ran along the seat did not make the task any easier.

Just as the string had slipped out of the trembling hands for the third time, a firm, neatly gloved finger was placed on the center of the refractory knot, and in a moment it was securely tied, and a bright-faced girl nodded cheerfully in acknowledgment of the awkward words of thanks, as the owner of the parcel hurriedly left the car to transfer to another line.

“Member of some Helping Hand Society, I see,” remarked an acquaintance, as the car slowed up at the next block, and the girl made ready to step off.

“No, only a Helping Finger Society, with a membership of one,” the girl laughed back. “Some cases don’t require the whole hand, and ——”

The remaining words were lost; but into more than one heart the little sermon had crept, and more than one resolve was unconsciously made to give, if not the whole, surely at least one finger, of a helping hand to make the way a little smoother for some fellow traveler.—East and West.