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 to 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
notice 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 my 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.
