The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1843-11-17
THE UNEXPECTED FRIEND.
A BEAUTIFUL TALE.

1T must De, my child ! said the poor
widow. wipng away The tears which slow
" tricked down her wasted Cheeks
There is no other resource. | am too
sick TO work, and you cannot, surely. see
me and your ltIle brother starve. Try
tn beg few shilings and perhaps by the
time that is gone, shall be better. Go,
Henry, my dear 81 greve to send you
on such an errand, but it must he done
The boy, noble looking little fellow
Of about ten wears, started up, and throw
ing his arms around his mothers neck,
left the house without word. He did
not hear the groan of anguish that was Ut
tered by his parent as the door closed be-
hind him; and il was well that he did not,
for his little heart was ready to burst with
out it. II was a by-slree, in Philadelphia,
and as he walked to and fro on the side
walk he looked first at one person and
then at another, as they passed him, but
no one seemed To look kindly on him, and
the longer he waited, the faster his cour-
aye dwlnded away, and the more difficult
it became 10 muster resolution to beg
The tears were running fast down his
cheeks. but nobody noticed them, or If
they did, nobody seemed to care; for al
though clean, Henry looked poor and mis-
erable. and il is common for the poor and
miserable to cry.
Every body seemed IN a hurry, and the
poor boy was quite in despair, when at
las, he espled gentleman who seemed to
be very Ieisurely taking morning walk,
lie was dressed in black, wore three
cornered hat, and had face that was as
mild and benIgnant as an angels. Some
how, when Henry looked at him. he felt
all his fears vanish at once, and instantly
approached him. His tears had been
flowing SO long, that his eyes were quite
red and swollen, and his voice trembled-
but that was with weakness, for he had
no, eaten for twen,y-four hours. As Hen.
ry, with low, falterlng voice, begged Ion
a little charity, the gentleman stopped
and his kind heart melted with compass
ion as he looked into the fair countenancC
of the poor boy, and saw the deep blush
which spread all over his face, and listen
ed to the modest, humble tone which ac
companied his petition.
You do not look like boy that has
been accustomed to beg his bread sale
he, kindly laying his hand on the boys
shoulder, what has driven you to this
slep!'
'Indeed,' answered Henry, his tears be
ginning TO flow airestl, indeed, | was no
born in this condition. But the mlSior
fortunes of my father, and the sickness o
my mother, have driven me to the necCs
lty now
who is your iarher'' inquired the gen
lleman, sui more Interested.
M, father was rich merchant IN thI
city; but he became b ,ndSman for
friend who soon after fhlcd, and he wa
entirely ruined. He could not live lon
after this loss, and III one month he die
of grief, and his death wa more drea If
tran any other trouble. My mother, IN
litIe brother, and myself. soon sunk INT
the lowest depth, of poverty. NJ y mott
er has until now managed to support he
self and my lIiIe brother 10y her labor, an
have earned what could by shoveIlln
snow and other work that | could find
DEBUT, night before last, mother ";
taken very sick, and she has slnce bocon
50 much worse that here the tears pou
., ed faster than ever--l do fear she W
= die. | canno, think of any way in Il
world to help her. | have not had al
work for several weeks. have not h
the courage To 90 out to any oi my mot
ers old acquanlanccs, and tell them II
:; she has come to need charity. | lhoug
Y you looked like stranger sir, aud son
n Thing III youI face overcome my sha'
ut and gave me courage tn speak to 80
We O, sir, do pity my poor mother!
OF The tears, and the simple and now
or language of the poor boy, touched a che
NJ in the breast of the stranger that was
ch cuslomcd to frequent vibrations.
IA. Where does your mother live,
IN, boy 2 said he in a husky voice, rs II
m, from here Z
ID She lives in the last house in this sire
m, sir, replied Henry. You can see 1t Ir
m here, in the third block, aud on the
we hand side. X
ny Have you sent for physician ?
A NO. sir said the hoy sorrowlu
,ge shaking his head, Il had no money
mr. pay either for a physician or for m
of clnc.'
ed. Here said the stranger, drawing 50
en-. pieces Of silver from his pocket, here
Ter three dollars take them and run INN