A CUP OF COLD WATER.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1510, 9 March 1882, Page 3

A CUP OF COLD WATER.

It was night at the Michigan Central Station in Detroit— late, dark, silent night, and only a few dim lights broke the gloom into dense shadows, that weie more fearful than utter darkness, and no traveller Mas so unfortunate as to be compelled to linger in the dreary place. At least that was the impression the vast silence gave, but there were two travellers who, when no trains were coming or going, waited in the depot tlnough the chill morning hour. One man was a man who had come by the latest train, and whom the conductor helped into the depot, and who through weariness, had fallen aslep on the cushion. -He was ticketed through, and his destination was the grave ; no one needed to glance at him twice to see that he had almost reached the end of his last journey. The other passenger was on the road to ruin ; he, too, had nearly arrived at the terminus ; at least his pallid, sin-marked face, and ill-assorted ragged clothos, seemed to indicate that he had nearly touched the foot of the ladder ; the world had taken his measure and named him " tramp," but he had wrought his own ruin ; low and evil as he was, he never blamed anyone but himself. This man had been watching the sleeper for a long time, and noted his weakness, lnsr espectablc appearance, and that he had a watch-chain at his vest pocket and a respectable satchel under his head ; and he crept near, nearer, with the one horrible thought uppermost — he would rob the dying man ! He had no fear of the act. He hugged the baseness of it to his soul But he did fear that some one would come in and inteirupt his project. If the man moved ? Why a turn of the wrist at his throat would settle him. He did not move. The tramp took the scatchel and the watch simultaneously and was ready to ily, but the sick man merely groaned faintly as Ids head dropped on the cushion. In the face of actual dcatli he slept as quietly as a child on its mother's breast. As the tramp looked with greedy eyes at the watch to note its commercial value he started and shivered as if an official hand had been laid on his shoulder, stared wildly at the face of the sick man and back to the watch, which with open case, lay in his hand ; then he muttered something that had the name of "flod" in it, and instantly it was back in the pocket of the sick man, and the satchel was under his head again. What had he seen ? The picture of a captain in the Southern army, wealing the Confederate uniform. A face that resembled that of the man -who, when he lay dying of thirst, and was about to be transfixed by a rebel bayonet, gave him a draught of spiing water, and setting him on his own hoise tinned him to the North and &aid : " When you meet a vanquished man spaie him, as I have spared you." And he had laised his blue cap in the air and swore to remember. Now they had met again ! An hour later a carriage diove in haiate to the depot, and fiifat of all a child came running in. She looked at the tramp a moment and hesitated, then fiuug herself on the prostiate man. " Giandpa, dear grandpa 1 ! wake up. We've come to take you home." A gentleman and lady hurried in. " Father," said the lady, kneeling by him, " we misled the time, but hcie we are now. Do wake up." The tramp was fanning him with his dip ; a certain dignity was in his face and manner as he did so. The sick man opened his eyes smiled feebly and said ; ' ' Give — me— a — drink — of — water." The tramp brought the Welter and knelt as he lifted the helpless head and placed the water to the cold lips. When lie laid him back theic was a smile sealed upon them, and the lady and the little gill sobbed aloud. The tiamp rose to his feet but his cringing manner Avas gone. " The battle is most over," he &aid ftently. "He told me to remember and 1 did. I would have died for him." He luib done better ; he has lived for him, and men touch their hats to him now, who tlnec months ago would haA'e spumed him from their dooi&. _ Eomance, do you say ? No, my dear .sir, it is reality ! JJtlroit Fne 2'icn>.