Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-06-01
Select Gales.
From the N. Y. Christian Messenger.
THE UNEXPECTED FRIEND,

1T must be, my chlld!' SAID the poor widow
wiping away the tears which slowly trickled down
her wasted cheeks. "Thore is no other resource.
am too sick to work, and you cannot, surely,
see me and your little brother starve. Try and
beg few shilngs and perhaps by the time that
is gone, may be better. Go, Henry, my dear
l grleve 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
around his mothers neck@leGt the house without
word He did not hear the groan of anguish
that was uttered by his parent as the door closed
behind him; and it was well he did not, for his
little heart was ready to break without it. I'll
was bye street in Philadelphia, and as bel
walked the street to and fro on the sidewalk, he !
looked first at one person and then at another as
they passed him, but not one seemed to look
kindly on him, and the longer he waited, the
faster his courage dwindled away, and the more
dlihcuIt 1t became to 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 although clean, Henry look
ed poor and miserable, and it is common for the
poor and miserable to cry
Every body seemed in hurry, and the poor
boy seemed quite in despair, when at last he
spied gentleman who seemed to be very leisure
ly taking morning walk. He was dressed in
black, wore three-cornered hat, aud had face
that was mild and bengnant as an angels
Somehow, when Henry looked at him, he felt
all his fear vanish at once, and instantly APP
preached him. His tears had been flowing so
long, that his eyes were quite red and swollen,
and his voice trembled, but that was with weak
for ha had of ofn for fNuon fouF hours
As Henry with low, faItering voice begged for
little charity, the gentleman stopped, and his
kind heart melted with compassion as he looked
upon the fair Countenance of the poor young
boy and saw the deep blush that spread all over
his face, and listened to the modest humble
tones which accompanied his petition.
"You do not look like boy that that has been
accustomed to beg his bread said he, kindly
laying his hand on the boys shoulder, "what has
driven you to this stepl'
"Indecd," answered Henry, his tears begin
to flow afresh, "indeed was not born in this
condition. But the misfortunes Of my father,
and sickness of my mother, have driven me to
the necessity now"
"Who is your father I" enquired the gentle
man with still more interest.
"My father was rich merchant of this city,
but he bacame bondsman for 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 terrible
than any other trouble. My mother, my little
brother, and myself, soon sunk into the lowest
depths Of poverty. My mother has, until now,
managed to support herself and my little broth
err by her labor, and have earned what could
by shovcng snow, and other work that could
find to do. But night before last mother was
taken very sick, and she has since become so
much worse"-here the tears poured faster than
ever--"I do fear she will die. l cannot think
of any way in the world to help her. l have
not had any work to do for several weeks. /
have not had the courage to 60 to any of my
mothers old acquaintences, and tell them that
she had come to need and charity. l thought
you looked like stranger sir, and something
in your face overcame my shame, and gave me
courage to speak to you. Oh, sir, do pity my
poor mother !"
The tears and the simple moving language Of
the poor boy, touched chord in the Stranger
that was accustomed to vibrations.
where does your mother live, my boy p said
he in husky voice, sis it far from here ?"
"She lives in the last house in this street, sir, "
replied Henry. "You can see it from here in
the third block, and on the left hand side"
Have you sent for physician!"
"No, sir" said the boy, sorrowfally shaking
his head. 81 have no money to pay neither for
aphyscian nor the medicine"
"Here," said. the stranger drawing some pieces
Of silver from his pocket, "here are three dol
lars, take them and run Immediately for a ply.
scian."
Henry's eyes flashed with gratitude, he re
ceived the money with a stammering and inau
dble voice, but with look of the warmes
gratitude, and vanished.
The benignant stranger Immediately sough
the dwelling of the sick widow He entered
little room in which he could see nothing but
few implements of female labor, miserable ia
bic, an old bureau, and little bed which stoo
in one corner on which the invalid lay Sh
appeared weak and almost exhausted, and in he
bed at her feet sat little boy, crying as if hi
heart would break
Deeply moved at the sight, the stranger drew
near the bedside of the invalid, and feigning t
be physician, inquired into the nature of he
disease. The symptoms were explained in FEY
words, when the widow with deep sigh, added
20 sir, my sickness has deeper cause, and on
which is beyond the art of the physician to curt
am mother-a wretched mother see m
children sinking daily deeper and deeper in m
cry and want which have no means of relic,
ing. My sickness is of the heart, and deaf
alone can end my sorrows, but even death
dreadful for me, for it awakens the thought
misery into which my children would be plunge
if"
Her emotion choked her utterance, and II
tears flowed unresrained down her cheeks. b.
the pretended physician spoke SO consongly
her, and manifested so warm sympathy for he
condition, that the heart of the woman trobbt
with pleasure that was unwonted.
"Do not despair, said the benevolent strange
"think of preserving life that is so precious
your children. Can write prescription here
The poor widow took little prayer book fro
the hand of the child who sat with her in Il
bed, and tore out blank leaf
II have no other paper" said she "but perha
this will do"
The stranger took pencil from his pock
and wrote few lines upon the paper.
"Ths prescription, said he you will find
great service to YOU If il is necessary | "