BLESS HIS HEART.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3630, 1 March 1883, Page 4

BLESS HIS HEART.

In a very elegant palace car entered a weary-faced, poorly-dressed woman with three little children, one a babe in her arms. A look of joy crept into her face as she settled down into one of the luxurious chairs, but it was soon dispelled as she wa.s asked rudely to " start her boot." A smile of amusement Avas seen on several faces as the frightened group hurried out to enter one of the conunon cars. Upon one young face, however, there was a look which shamed the countenance of the others. "Aunty," said the boy to the lady beside him, " I am going to carry my basket of fruit and this box of sandwiches to the poor woman in the next car. You are willing", of course I, He spoke eagerly, but she answered--• "Don't be foolish, dear; you may need them yourself, and perhaps the woman is an impostor." "No, I'll not need them," he answered, decidedly, but in a, very low tone. "You know I had a hearty breakfast, -aid don't need a lunch. The woman looked hungry, auntie, and so tired, too, with those three little babies clinging to her. I'll be back in a minute, auntie; I know mother wouldn't like it if I didn't speak a kind word to the least of these when 1 meet them." The worldly aunt brushed a tear from her eye after the boy left her, and said, audibly, " Just like his dear mother." About five minutes later, as the lady passed the mother and the three children, she saw a pretty sight—the family feasting, as perhaps they had never done before. The dainty sandwiches were eagerly eaten, the fruit basket stood open.

The eldest child, with her mouth filled with bread and butter, said ""Was the pretty boy an angel, mamma!'"

"No," answered the mother, and a grateful look brightened her faded eyes, "but he is doing angel's work, bless his dear heart!' . And we, too, said "Bless his dear heart 1"