In traveling we often meet with persons of different nationalities and
languages; we also meet with incidents of various character, some
sorrowful, others, joyful and instructive. One of the latter character
I witnessed recently while traveling upon the cars. The train was going
west and the time was evening. At a station a little girl about eight
years old came aboard, carrying a budget under her arm. She then commenced
an eager scrutiny of faces, but all were strange to her. She appeared
weary, and placing her budget for a pillow, she prepared to try and
secure a little sleep. Soon the conductor came along collecting tickets
and fare. Observing him she asked him if she might lie there. The
gentlemanly conductor replied that she might, and then kindly asked for
her ticket. She informed him that she had none, when the following
conversation ensued. Said the conductor:

"Where are you going?"

"I am going to heaven," she answered.

"Who pays your fare?" he asked again.

She then said, "Mister, does this railroad lead to heaven, and does Jesus
travel on it?"

"I think not," he answered, "Why did you think so?"

[Illustration]

"Why sir, before my ma died she used to sing to me of a heavenly railroad,
and you looked so nice and kind that I thought this was the road. My ma