Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-05-27

t other city, he would be willing to lend or give
y his mother seven dollars to prevent her little all
from being taken from her, and she and her chill
Idren turned into the streets in the dead OF VIM
, ter. The thought made his young heart beat
quicker and his cheek burn. Until dinner time
he Wondered this over, his mind feeling more
confident each moment that relief would be OBJ
tanned if application were made to Mr.. Perclval
When Charles come home from school, alter
the morning session, the face of his mother was
full of distress. Though the hoy tried to eat
s when he sat down to dinner, he could with diff
Guilty swallow his food. He left the table in a
- few minutes, and without speaking a wold took
up his hat and hurried from the room. Before
leaving school he inquired of the boys the direc-
Ition of Mr.. Percivals store, and towards this he
IS now directed his steps.
d The public announcement of his great liber-
k atty, united as it was with huge encomiums up
:. on him as cone of our weathiest and most be-
e ~nevolent citizens, was particularly gratifying to
O Benedict Pelcival Esq. He read the various
paragraphs that met his eyes with the liyeliest
satisfaction; and enjoyed a higher degree of self
|. complacency than he had known for a long time.
1t was especially agreeable to him to find that
the largest subscription made by any one bat
s himself was only FIVE hundred dollars, and that
d this sum was subscribed by a merchant who was
n reputed to be worth several hundred thousand
IS dollars more than himself.
Here was a triumph not often to be had, and
Of it was richly enjoyed. Numerous we're the con-
n gratulations he received for being the possessor
D. of such charitable feelings, united with the means
e. of gratifying them to the fullest extent. 1t was
a happy day for Mr.. PercivaI. Verify he had
r his reward in the praise of men. How much
ID treasure was laid up in heaven by the act, we
e cannot say-we have no means of determining
" this.
About one o'clock, while Mr.. Percival was
er sitting alone in his private counting-room, think
ing pleasantly Of what he had done for the good
Of his fellow men, and bordering that significant
r passage of holy w~rit-"Charity covers a multi
h. tude of sins'-a lad entered, with a timid look
and h~esitating step.
or well, sir, what do you wantP said the mer-
a chant, in a rather forbidding tone, contracting
mt his brow as he spoke.
of The child paused, suddenly at this reception
de so different from what he had evidently expect
to ed, and looked half frightened. But he gather
lot ed up his scattered confidence and told his er
TO rand thus
.se MY mother has got no money to pay hcI
,ss rent, and the man is going to sell her things anc
ere turn US all into the street, She only owes hin
seven dollars. Won't you lend it to her, sirr
NV Mr.. Percival looked at the lad a moment, re-
m ally astonished at his assurance, and then said.
ate 'Begone, sir. | never encourage street beg
i'm ging, If your mother isn't able to pay hel
nd rent, she had better take you all to the aims
il house, where you will be well taken care Of
fu. Saying this, the benevolent merchant took
Ter the lad somewhat rudely by the arm, and lead
no ing him to the door of the room in which he
iii had been sitting, thrust him into the one adjoin
ID ing, through which he had come, where were
re- several clerks, saying to the latter, as he did SO
or in a rough voice,
oh Don't let any more beggars in here. YOU
al know that have forbidden this over and ovel
Ly again
at, 4 shall be overrun by all the meudicants il
town multered Mr.. Percival to himself, as ht
resumed his seat. So much for having one
IN name up as a benevolent man,
When Charles came to school that afternoon
his teacher noticed that he had been weeping
and that he seemed to be in a good deal of dis
to tress. But, though he asked him as to thu
ito cause, the lad did not reply directly to his ques
ev tons. Several times during the afternoon the
ce teacher noticed that Charles wiped the tear'
nd from his eyes, and that his mind was so mucl
disturbed that he could not say his lessons. Hi
Dr. mentioned this to his female assistant. A:
m Charles was leaving the school-room to go home
on the dismissal of his class, this young lady
IT. who had observed him frequently since her at
tention had been called to him, took him kind,
by the hand, and said
IN what is the matter with you, Charles? You
if appear to be very unhappy
il The lad paused and looked up into her face
His eyes were full of tears, and his lips culver
on ed. He tried to speak, but could not utter
nd word.
rs any one sick at homer she asked.
he mo ma'am,' the lad family replied.
he The young girl, for the teacher was quite
en- young, stood silent a moment. She knew tina
Is the mother of the boy was poor; and from thu
lie peculiar way in which he was distressed, she
se Immediately suspected that something, was wrong
on at home.
hit is anything the matter at home that you would
for like to tell me! she asked.
IN. By this time most of the children had lief
his the room, and the teacher and the lad stooc
ere quite alone. The tears that had been binding
asst the latter ever since his teacher had spoken tc
I'm him, now fell over his cheeks freely. But, il
,as a little while, he was able to restrain them
ed when he told of the distress his mother was in
lis and how, if the rent was not paid in the morn
sh. ing, her things would all be taken away from
her and they turned out of doors. He also re
lated, in a most earnest and artless manner, how
ar he had called upon Mr., Percival, without say
&C. ing anything to his mother, hoping that he