Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-05-20

The public announce ent Of his great
hberalliy, united, as it Was, with high
encomiuIns upon him as zone OF our
wealthiest aud most benev volenl cnlzens,'
was particularly gratifying TO Benedict
Percivnl. Esq lie read the va',ous
rarsgrophs that met his eye. with the
hvriiesi satisfaction and enjoyed n
higher degree OF self complacency than
he had known for a long time. Ii was
especially agreeable to him to find that,
the largest sciiptlon made by any Que
except himself, was only live hundred
dollars; and that this SUN vas subscribed
by u merchant who was repuied To be
worth several hundred thousand dollars
more than himself Here was triumph
not often TO be had and il WAS richly
.enloyed. Numerous were the congratu-
lalions he received for being the posses
sor Of such charitable feelings, united
with The means Of gratifying them to the
fullest extent. II was happy day for
Mr. Percival. Verify, he bad his re-
ward IN tho praise OF men. How much
iressore was laid up in Heaven by the,
act. We naDnot say we have no means
OF determining ihis.
About one o'clock, While Mr.. Percivsi
was sitting alone in his private counting
room. thinking pleasantly of what he haG
Joue f"r the good Of his fellow men, and
wandering that significant passage Of
Holy Wr,t-'Charity covers n multitude
%! sins'-a lad entered wnh timid look
and hesita,ing step.
swell, sir What do you want ? said
The mer,haot, in rather forbiddng tone,
cnu,i,cii"e his Grows ms he spoke.
The chGd paused suddenly, at this
reception, 50 different from what he had
evitenIiy expected, and looked half!
But he gathered up his
scattered confidence and told his e,rand
thus -
My mother has 90, no money TO pay
her reni, aud The man is going to sell her
things and turn all OF u, into the street.
She only owes him seven dollars. Won't
YOU lend it to her, sir ?
Mr. Pcrcivnl looked at the lad a mo-
mrnl, really astonished at his assurance,
and then said
'Bcgonc, sir. | never encourage street
begging. lfyour mother isn't able to
pay her rent, she had better take you all
to the aims house, where you will be
well taken care of
Saying this, the benevolent merchant
took the lad Somewha, rudely by the arm
and leading him to the room in which he
had been sitting, thrust him into the ad-
Joining, through which he had come,
where were several clerks saying to
the latter, as he did SO, in rough, per-
empory voice,
Don't let any more beggars in here.
You know | have forbidden this over
and over again.
Il shall be overrun by all the mendi-
,cants in town, muttered MIR. Percival 10
himself ms he resumed his seat. 80
much for having ones name up as be-
nevolent man.
When Charles came TO school that
afternoon, his teacher noticed that he
had been weeping, and that he seemed
10 be in n good teal Of distress. But,
though he asked him as to The cause, the
lad did no, reply directly to his questions.
Several times during the afternoon the
noticed thai Charles wiped the
tears from his eyes, and that his mind
vas so much disturbed that he could not
say bis lessons. He mentioned this
to his female assistant. As Charles was
leaving the schooIroom to 60 home, on
the dismissal Of his class, this young la
dy, who had observed him frequently
since her attention had been called to
him, took him kindly by the hand and
said -
What is the matter with you, Charles
you appear 10 be very unhappy.
The lad paused and looked up into
her lace. Ills eyes were full Of tears,
and his lips quiveIcd He tried to speuk,
but he could not utter word,
is any one sick a, home ? asked the
teacher
No, ma'am,' the lad family replied.
The young gi,l, for the teacher was
quite young, stood silent a moment. -
She knew that the mother Of the boy
was poor--and from the peculiar way inl
which he was dressed, she imme diately
suspected that something was wrong at
nome.
is anything The matter a, home that
you would like to tell me ? she asked. =
BY this time most OF the children had
left the room, and The teacher and the
lad stood quite alone. The tears that
had been binding The latter ever since
his teacher had spoken to him, now fell
over his cheeks freely. But, 10 a little
while, he was able to restrain them,
when be told Of the distress his mothe1
was in, and how, il the rent was not paid
III the morning, her things would all be
iakeC away from her and they turned
out of doors lie also related in most
earnest and nrilcss manner, how he had
called upou Mr., Percisal, without say
irg gp, ,hiug TO his mother, hoping that
he wouid lend li,m money to pay their
rent " hen he told OF the cruel aud
unexpected repuIse with which he had
net, his tears flowed again.
But the man certainly will not do AZ
he has threatened SAID the teacher.