Goodbye at the Minneapolis Station

*A retelling for children, based on **Mahmúd's Diary** (entry of 20 September 1912).*

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It was a morning in September 1912, in the city of Minneapolis, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá was leaving. Friends and visitors came to see Him at the hotel. He told them to love one another, to visit one another, and to live by the commandments of God, not only to talk about them.

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At eight o'clock He left for the train station, and the friends went with Him. They were sad that He was going. 'Abdu'l-Bahá comforted them until the train left. He told them, "I shall never forget you. You are always in my mind."

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Then He told them what He wanted them to do:

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> I exhort you to be kind to the poor and love them. Help them, for the poor are broken-hearted.

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"Exhort" means to urge someone strongly. He also told them why. If you do things for rich people, He said, they think you are doing it because you have to. But if you love the poor, they feel joy and are truly grateful. "To help the poor is essential," He said.

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Then the train pulled away, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá traveled on toward Omaha.

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*This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["A Farewell in Minneapolis"](/stories/md-kindness-to-the-poor-minneapolis).*

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