It was a bitter cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago.
The old man's beard was glazed by winter's frost while he waited for a
ride across the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became
numb
and stiff from the frigid north wind.
He
heard the faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves galloping along the
frozen path. Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the
bend. He let the first one pass by without an effort to get his
attention. Then another passed by, and
another. Finally, the last rider neared the spot where the old man
sat like a snow statue. As this one drew near, the old man caught
the rider's eye and said, "Sir, would you
mind giving an old man a ride to the other
side? There doesn't appear to be a passageway by foot."
Reining
his horse, the rider replied, "Sure thing. Hop aboard".
Seeing the old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground,
the horseman dismounted and helped the old man onto the
horse. The horseman took the old man
not just across the river, but onto his destination, which was just a few
miles away.
As
they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman's curiosity caused
him to inquire, "Sir, I noticed that you let several other riders pass
by without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and
you immediately asked me for a ride.
I'm curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask
the last rider. What if I had refused and left you there?"
The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse, looked the rider straight in the eyes, and replied, "I've been around these here parts for some time. I reckon I know people pretty good."
The
old timer continued, "I looked into the eyes of the other riders
and immediately saw there was no concern for my situation. It would
have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when I looked
into
your eyes, kindness and compassion were evident.
I knew, then and there, that your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity
to give me assistance in the time of need."
Those
heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply. "I'm most grateful
for what you have said," he told the old man. "May I never
get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs
of others with kindness and compassion."
With
that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to
the White House.
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