| Making the Most of Life |
Chapter 18 |
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One kind deed often inspires many kindnesses. Here is a story from a newspaper of the other day, which illustrates this. A little newsboy entered a car on the elevated railway train, and slipping into a cross seat, was soon asleep. Presently two young ladies came in, and took seats opposite to him. The child’s feet were bare, his clothes were ragged, and his face was pinched, and drawn, showing marks of hunger and suffering. The young ladies noticed him, and, seeing that his cheek rested against the hard window sill, one of them arose, and quietly raising his head, slipped her muff under it for a pillow.
The kind act was observed, and now marks its influence. An old gentleman in the next seat, without a word, held out a sliver quarter to the young lady, nodding toward the boy. After a moment’s hesitation, she took it, and as she did so, another man handed her a dime, a woman across the aisle held out some pennies, and almost before the young woman realized what she was doing, she was taking a collection for the poor boy. Thus from the one little act there had gone out a wave of influence touching the hearts of two score people, and leading each of them to do something.
Common life is full of just such illustrations of the influence of kindly deeds. Every good life leaves in the world a twofold ministry, that of the things it does directly to bless others, and that of the silent influence it exerts, through which others are made better, or are inspired to do like good things.
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