A young lady, who was a cripple, shared her seat with me, but her face
was so mild and sweet I soon forgot the crutch at her side. She told me
she was called home by the sudden illness of a brother, who was not
expected to live, and whom she had not seen since in January last.
Poor girl! I could truly sympathize with her through my own experience:
I parted with a darling sister on her fifteenth birthday, and three
months after her lifeless form was brought home to me without one word
of warning, and I fully realized what it would be to receive word of my
young brother, whom I had not seen since in January, being seriously
ill. When her station was reached, the brakeman very kindly helped her
off and my pleasant company was gone with my most earnest wishes that
she might find her brother better.
The sun was very bright and warm, and to watch the country hurt my
eyes, so I gave my attention to the passengers. Before me sat a perfect
snapper of a miss, so cross looking, and just the reverse in expression
from her who had sat with me. Another lady was very richly dressed, but
that was her most attractive feature; yet she was shown much attention
by a number. Another was a mother with two sweet children, but so cold
and dignified, I wondered she did not freeze the love of her little
ones. Such people are as good as an arctic wave, and I enjoy them just
as much. In the rear of the coach were a party of emigrants that look
as though they had just crossed the briny wave. They are the first
foreigners I have yet met with in the cars, and they go to join a
settlement of their own countrymen. Foreigners locate as closely
together as possible.
I was just beginning to grow lonely when an elderly gentlemen whom I
had noticed looking at me quite earnestly, came to me and asked:
"Are you not going to Wymore, Miss?"
"Yes, sir."
"To Mr. Fulton's?"
"Why, yes. You know my friends then?"
"Yes, and it was your resemblance to one of the girls, that I knew
where you were going."
No one had ever before told me that I favored this cousin in looks, but
then there are just as many different eyes in this world as there are
different people.
"I met Miss Emma at the depot a few days ago, and she was disappointed
at the non-arrival of a cousin, and I knew at first glance that you was
the one she had expected."
"You know where they live then?"
"Yes, and if there is no one at the train to meet you, I will see you
to the house."
With this kind offer, Mr. Burch, one of Wymore's bankers went back to
his seat. As I had supposed, my friends had grown tired meeting me when
I didn't come, as I had written to them I would be there the previous
week. But Mr. Burch kindly took one of my satchels, and left me at my
Uncle's door.
"Bless me! here is Pet at last!" and dear Aunt Jane's arms are around
me, and scolding me for disappointing them so often.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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