Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-11-16

begged for little charity, the gentleman
stopped, and his kind heart melted Will
compassion, as he locked into the faii
countenance of The boy, and saw the
deep blush which spread over his face.
and listened to the modest, humble tones
which accompanied his petition. -.
you do not look like boy that has
been accustomed to beg his bread, q said
he, kindly laying his hand on the boys
shoulder; what has driven you to this
step?' ga.
'lndeed,' answered Henry, his tears be-
ginning to flow afresh, 'indeed. i. was not
born in this condition. But the misfor-
tunes of my father, and the sickness of
my mother, have driven me to the neces-
sity now.' 2
'Who is your father?' inquired the
gentleman, still more interested.
my father was rich merchant of this
city; but lie became bondsman for a
friend, who soon after failed. and he was
entirely ruined. He could not live after
this, loss, and in one month he died of
grief, and his death was more dreadful
than any other trouble. j, NJ y mother, nv
little brother, and myself. soon sunk. In
TO the lowest depths of poverty. My
mother has. until now, managed to sup
port herself and my little brother by her
labor, and | have earned what could bv
shovelling snow and other. work thati
could find to do. But, night before last
mother was taken very sick, and she has
since become so much worse that'-here
the tears poured faster, than eyer-'I do
fear she will die; | cannot think of anv
way in the word to help, hers / have
not had any work 20 dofor several weeks.
| have not had toe courage to go to any
of my mothers old acquaintance, and
tell them that she had come. to need
charity, I thought >yop looked like a
stranger, sir. and something in your face
overcame my shame and gave me cour-
age to speak to you. o, sir, do pity my
poor mother!' So.
- The tears, and the simple and touch
ing language of the poor boy, touched a
chord in the breast Of the stranger.
that was accustomed to frequent vibra-
tions, ;. :, ts,1
Where does your mother live, my
boy? said he in huskey voice; .is it far
from here?'
.'She lives in the last house in this
street, sir,' replied Henry. You can
see it from here, III the third block on
the left-siGe.'
'Have you sent for physician?'
mo SIR said the boy, ssrrowfully, sha-
king his head. 4 had no money to, pay
neither for physician nor for the medi-
cine,' u s,s -.
Here said: the stranger, drawing some
pieces ofsilver from his pocket. shere are
three dollars take them and run imme-
diatcly after physician. ,,
p. Henry's eyes flashed with gratitude
he received the. money with a stammer-
ing and almost inaudible voice, but with
look of the warmest gratitude, and van
ished., 2. =. .,a;s.ss
The benevolent stranger immediately
sought the dwelling of the sick widow.
He entered little room, in which he saw
nothing bat few implements of female
labor, miserable table, and old bureau.
and little bed which stood in corner on
which the invalid lay.s., She appeared
weak, and almost exhausted; and on the
bed, at her feet, sat a little boy, crying
as if his heart would break. !, .. j 81.
Deeply moved at this hit. the ssran-
ger drew near the bedside Of the Invalid,
and feigning to be physician, inquired
into the nature of her disease The
symptoms were explained in a veryifew
words, when the widow with a very dees
sigh, added: % sir, my sickness has .
deeper cause, and one which is beyont
the art Of the physician to cure. 1 am q
m0ther-a wretched mother. / see my
children sinking deeper in misery and
want, which have no means of reliev
ing. My sickness is of the heart, and
death alone can end my sorrows: bat e.
ven death is dreadfulto me- for it, ava
kens the thought of the misery iate-which
my children would be plunged fl
Here emotion choked her utter ance, and
the tears flowed unrestrained down her
cheeks. But the pretended physician
spoke so consoling ta,her,a and ,Elanifes
ted so warm a sympathy for her condi-
ton, that the heart of the. poor woman
throbbed with pleasure that was unwon-
ted. ~, i. s.s !, asl
sDo not Despair said the benevolent
stranger, think only. ofrecovery and of
preserving life; that is, so precious 20
your children. Can write prescrip-
ton here?' i ~ "a.
The poor widow took little prayer
book from the hand Of the, child who sat
with her on the bed, and fore ont blank
leaf; we have no other paper said she,
but perhaps this will do. l'.
The stranger took pencil from his
pocket, and wrote d few lines on the pa.
per. SIS. 81
This prescription SAID he, syou will
ind OF great service to you. If it is
nleeccessary,tiw'!, write you second
= II SC.