The story is told of an old Southern slave who had refused his freedom and lived with his master for as long as he needed him. Through the years he had carefully saved up money enough to buy a railroad ticket back to Georgia, when his master should need him no longer. One morning, as the Georgia train was pulling out of Washington, the old Negro came rushing down the platform and barely caught the last car. His shoes were covered with dust, and his appearance showed signs of a long journey. Going from one end of the car to the other, he found no empty seat, so he stood up against the door, wearily shifting from one foot to the other. A young man saw he was weary and courteously gave up his seat.

     Very soon the conductor came along, calling loudly, “Tickets! Tickets!” As he reached a lady in the seat behind the ex-slave, she said, “Oh, sir! I have no ticket, but you must not put me off. Last year,” she went on, “the doctors said my husband had Tuberculosis, and that his only chance of recovery was to go South. So we sold some things and got money enough to send him to Georgia. Yesterday I got a telegram saying he was dying; and Oh! I must go to him, but I have no money. Please don’t put me off.”

The conductor was touched, but told her, “Rules are rules, ma'am. Your story touches me deeply, but if I do not put you off, I will lose my job.” The old Negro looked up and said, “I speck, Conductor, you will have to put me off.” The conductor spoke gruffly, “What do you mean? This woman has some excuse, but you ~ if it were not for the time, I would stop the train and put you off on the roadside! See that you get off at the next stop!”

     “Yes, sir.” weakly said the tired old man.

     As the train slowed down, he pulled his Georgia ticket out of his pocket, bought with the savings of years. When the train stopped he rose up, stepped to the lady’s seat, and gently said, “Here’s your ticket to Georgia, ma’am,” and going down the steps of the car, started on his long journey to Georgia ~ touched by the spirit of true sacrifice.

From The Gospel Herald