A Little Sermon

At a railroad station, not long ago, one of the beautiful lcssons which all ghould learn was taught in such a natural, sil ripio way, Üxat none could forget it. It was a bleak, snowy day ; the tram was late, the ladies' room dark and smoky, and the dozen women, old and young, who sat waiting impatiently, all looked cross, low spiritüd, or stupid. J uet then a forlorn woman, shaking with the palsy, came in with a basket of little wares for sale, and went about mutely offcring thora to the sittors. Nobody bought anjthing, and the poor old soul stood blinkhii; at the door a minute, as if reluctant to go out into tho bitter storm agaiu. Sho turned presently, and poked about tho room as it' trying to find something, and then a palo lady in black, who lay as if asleep on a sofa, oponed her eyes, saw the old woman, and instfintly asked in a kind tone, " Have you lost anything, ma'am 'r " " No, dear. I'm looking for the heati'i' place, to have a warm 'for I go out ag'in. My eyes are poor, and I dou't seem to find the furnace nowhere." " Hero it is ; " and the lady led hor to tho steam radiator, pi reed a chair, and showed her how to warm her feet. " Well, now, aint thatnicoV" said the old woman, spreading her ragged mittens to dry. " Thankee, dear ; this is proper comfortable, ain't it 'r1 I'm most froze, to-day, bein' lame and aching ; and not selling muoh mido me sort of downhearted." The lady smilcd, went to the counter, bought a cup of tea and some sort of food, Camed it herself to the old woman, and said as rctpectfully and kindly as if the ! poot soul had benn dressed in silk and fur, " Won't you havo a cup of hot tea 'i It'n very comforting such a day as this." " Sakes alive '. Do they givo toa at this depot ? cried tho old lady in a tone of innocent surprise, that mado a smile go round the room, touching the glunimest face like a streak of sunshinc. " Woll, now, this is jnst lovoly," addod the old lady, sipping away with a ïelish. " That does warm niy heart." While she was refreshing herself, telling her story meanwhile, tho lady looked over the poor little ware in tho basket, bought soup, pins and shoe-strings, and cheered the old soul by paying well for thein. As I watch. 1 her doing this I thought what a sweet faoe she had, though JL'd cmsidered it ratb plain beforo. I feit druadfully ashamed f myself that I had grimly .slinken mj il when the basket w:is offercd to me : and, as I saw a look of interest, syiupail.y and kindness come into the faces around me, I did wish tlnit I had been tho magician to cali it out. It was only a kind word and a friendly act ; but somohow it brightcned that dingy room wordefully. 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 persona beckoned to her ond bought ■omething, as if tliey wantod to repair their negïigenoe There were no centiemen present to be improssed by the lady's kind act ; so it was nos dono tor effect, and no powible reward could be receivod for it, except the thanks of a poor old woman. But that simple littlo charity was as good as a sermón, and I ttiink eitch travolor wout on hr wey bctter lor that-half uour in