Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-11-10
| She lives in the last house in this street,

sir replied Henry.
| Have you sent for physician =
No sir said the boy sorrowfully shaking
his head. l had money neither for a physi-
clan nor for the medicine
Here said the stranger drawing some
pieces of silver from his pocket, here are
three dollars, take them, and run immediate.
| ly for physician
Henry's eyes flashed with eratitude-he
received the money with stammering and
almost inaudibe voice, but with a look of the
warmest gratitude, and vanished.
The benevolent stranger Immediately
sought the dwelling of the sick widow he
entered little room in which he could see
nothing but few implements of female la.
Dor, miserable table, an old bureau, and q
little bed which stood in one corner, on which
the invalid lay. She appeared weak and al.
most exhausted. and on the bed at her fee
sat little boy crying as if his heart would
hreak.
Deems, IT, movea. at the sight, the stranger
drew near the bed SIZE of the invalid, and
feigning to be a physician inqu" 'u ''''o .ne
nature of the disease. The symptoms W..
explained in few words, when the widow
with deep sigh added, o, sir, my sickness
has deeper cause, and one which is beyond
the art of the physician to cure. lam mo-
ther. wretched mother. see my children
sinking daily deeper and deeper in misery
and want, OF which have no means of re-
lieving. Ny sickness is Of the heart, and
death alone can end my sorrows-but even
death IS dreadful to me, for it awakens the
thought of the misery into which my chill
dren would be plunged, if'-Here emo
ton choked her utterance and the tears flow
cd unrestrained down her cheeks. But the
pretended physician spoke so consolingly to
her and manifested so warm sympathy for
her condition, that the hear, of tho poor wo-
man throbbed with a pleasure that was I'M
wonted.
DO not despair said the benevolent
stranger, think only of recovering, and of
preserving life that is so precious to your
children. Can | write a prescription
here 7
The poor widow took little prayer book
from the hand of the child who sat with her
on the bed, and tearing out blank leaf said
. have no other paper said she, but per-
haps this will do
The stranger took pencil from his pock-
ct and wrote few lines upon the paper
This prescription you will find of grea, SER
vice 10 you. If it is necessary, l will
write you second. have great hopes of
your recovery
He laid the paper en- the table, and went
away. Scarcely was he gone, when the ell
der son returned.
Cheer up, my dear mother. said he going
to her bedside ard affectionately kissed
her. See what kind benevolent stranger
has given us-it will make us rich for sever
al days. 1t has enabled us to have 4 physi-
clan and he will be here in momcnt.-
Compose yourself now dear mother, and
take courage
Come nearer, my son. answered the
mother, looking with pride and affection on
her child. Come nearer, that may bless
you. God never forsakes the innocent and
the good. Oh may he still watch over you
in all your paths A physician has Just
been here. He was stranger but he spoke
to me with kindness and compassion that
were balm to my heart: When he went
away, he left the prescription on the table !;
see if you can read it.
Henry glanced at the paper, and started
back-he took 1t up,and as he read it through
again and again, cry of wonder and aston
shment escaped him.
What is it {; my son = exclaimed the poo-
widow, trembling with an apprehension of
she knew not what.
An, read dear mother! God has heard
u.s.
The mother took the paper from the hand
OF her son, hut no sooner had she fixed her
eyes upon it, than she exclaimed, 1T IS
WASHINGTON y and fell back and tainted
upon her pillow.
The writing was an obligation from
Washington, (for it was indeed he y by which
The widow was to receive the sum of one hun
dred dollars, from his own private property,
TO be doubled in case of necessity.
Meanwhile the expected physician made
his appearance, and soon awoke the mother
from her fainng fit. The joyful surprise,
together with good nurse with which the
physician, provided her, and plenty of
wholesome fosd, soon restored her to perfect
health.
The influence of Washington, who WISH
ted them more than once provided for the
widow friends who furnished her with con-
slant and profitable employment, and her
sons, when they arrived at the proper age,
were placed in respectable situations, where
they were able to support themselves, and to
render the remainder Of their mothers life
comfortable and happy.
Let the children who read this story. re-.
member, when they think of the great and
good Washington that he was not above en-.
terlng the dwelling of poverty, and carrying
JOY and gladness to the hearts of its inmates,
This IS no ficticious tale, but it is only one
}. thousand incidents which might be re-
ateo Of him, and which stamp him the best
If men.--.M Y. Christian Messenger.
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