Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-09-09
THE UNEXPECTED FRIEND.

~ ut must be, my chldP' said the poor
widow, wiping away the tears which
slowly trick!ed down her wasted cheeks.
There is no other resource. am too
sick 10 work, and you cannot, surely. see
me and your little brother starve. Try
and beg few shillings, and perhaps by the
time that is gone, may be better. Co.
Henry, my dear;--I grieve to send you on
such an errand, but it must be DONE" "
The boy, noble looking little fellow of
about ten years, started up, and throwing
his arms about his mothers neck, left the
house without word. He did not hear
the groan of anguish that was uttered by
his parent as the door closed behind him;
q and it was well that he did not, for his
little heart was ready to break without.
:. 1t was by.sireet in Philadelphia, and as
he walked to and fro on the sidewalk, he
looked first at one person and then al
another, rs they passed him, but no one
scemed to look kindly on him, and the Ion.
ger he waited, the faster his courage dwin-
died away, and the more difficult il became
( TO muster resolution to beg. The tears
were running fast down his cheeks, but
nobody noticed them, or if they did. no.
body seemed to care; for although clean,
-
4 is common for the poor and miserable TO
cryl -. - ~ ~
y Every body seemed in n hurry, and the
poorboy was quite in despair, when at last
he espied a gentleman who seemed to be
sery leisurely taking morning walk. He
was dressed in black, wore q three-cor-
,nered hat, and had face that was as mild
and ,benignant MS an angels, Somehow,
! when Henry looked at him. he felt all his
fears vanish at once, and instantly, APP
Iproached him. His tears had been flowing
so long, that his eyes were quite red and
- swollen, and his voice tremblcd--but that
= was with weakness, for he had not eaten
y for twenty four hours. AS Henry, with a
. low. faliering voice, begged for little
charity, the gentleman stopped, and his
kind heart melted with compassion as he
looked into the fair coun,enance of the
(. poor boy, and saw the deep blush which
4 spread all over his face, and listened TO the
modest. humble tones which accompanied
his petition. a4. eyt
sfei ..You do no, look like boy that ha.
,Leen accustomed to beg his bread" said he
. kindly laying his hand on the boys Shout.
r. ders; "what has driven you to this step?"
ar, Indeed" answered Henry, his tears be
: ginning to flow afresh, "ndeed, was no
5, born in this condition. But the misfor
/, tunes Of my father, and the sickness of my
. mother. have driven me to the necessi,,
G now" ~ aea5 G2y sssv ,lifi
.bs5 "Who is your father'" inquired the gen
,n,,eman,s still more interested. ;fI-1,.sEl
any father was a rich merchant of thi
city; but he became bondsman for friend
who soon after failed, and he was entirel
ruined. He could not live after this loss
and in one month he died of grief, and hi
death was more dreadful than any othe
trouble. My mother, my little brother
and myself, soon sunk into the loves
depths, Of. poverty. My mother has, uni,
now, managed 10 support herself and m
little brother By her labor, and l hay
earned what could by shoyelling sno,
and other work that could find 10 dc
Bat, night before last, mother was take
very sick, and she has since, become s
much. worse that"--here the tears poure
faster than ever--..sI do fear she win die.
cannot think of any way in the world
help her. have not had any work 90
for several weeks. have not had d
courage 70 GO TO any Of my mothers 81