The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-09-01
T H E ADOPTED son
OR, CHI
BY PAUL cREYTON.
CHI A p T E. r |

, One cold, windy, dreary day in the
month of November, 1843, a tall, dark in
dividual might have been observed passing
to and fro, in mysterious manner, in one
OF the most retired streets in the city of
Boston. His finely made form and hand
some features were disguised by the folds
of spacious cloak and scarf, which he
had assumed for the double purpose of
-concealment and defence against the cold.
Several times had the strange indivdu-
al walked up and down the street, like
one abstracted. But, although he seemed
to have no object in view, a keen observer
would,4faye remarked at once that he was
deeply interested in some object he saw, or
wished to see, in a cottage over the way;
for his dark piercing eye was turned in that
direction continually.
At last, as the stranger was approaching
the house in one of his rounds, a lad of a.
bout twelve summers--pale and poorly
clad, came out Of the door, and ran lightly
down the steps into the street. The stran-
ger paused-but as the boy ran on before
him, he followed quickening his pace, and
was soon led by the unconscious youth
into more busy quarter of the town.
The two kept on at a rapid pace, the
stranger gradually nearing the boy, until
the latter suddenly turned into a large,
crowded building, composed of offices de-
voted to the use of lawyers, brokers, and
other business men. The lad mounted a
broad fight of stairs and entered a side
door, which he scarcely closed when the
strangerentered and followed him in.
There was but one man in the office,
and he sat at the desk with newspaper
in his hand. He looked up as the two en-
tered, and after glancing at the stranger,
who coolly took a seat near the stove, mo-
toned the boy to approach him.
g The lad was embarrassed, and seemed
afraid to speak. With his cold, numb
fingers, he played with the buttons of his
coat, while his eye turned alternately from
the stranger to the man at the desk.
The latter was middle-aged mati, With
q cold, hard, calculating look, such as
chills the heart unused to the sellishnoss
of the world.
"Well, William" said he, turning to
the boy, with the mockery of smile-it
was so ocold and heartless-"well, William
has your father sent me the money for the
rent, as he promised my clerk, when he
called on him the other day! Speak out,
William"
ale sent me-" said the boy, after some
hesitation, "to tell you that he couldn't
possibly raise the money for you to-day;
but that he hopes to be able to get it for
you before next Sunday" ,..-..,. ~
The man at the desk scowled darkly.
NTell your father" said he, in tones Of
harshness, 'that can put up with this
treatment longer. Ihave been put of
now day after day with promises and pro-
testations until ! am tired of the same eter-
nal lingo. However, will let things re-
main until Saturday, when, If The rent is
not paid, I shall be under the necessity Of
adopting measures that would be unpleas-
ant both to him and me-. III t.gg u
aBut father is very sick, J" began the lad,
his eyes gistening with tears. .,..
He would have said more, but sobs
choked his sItterance, and he hurled from
tse office into the street. cs3ai tig8
III said the man al the desk scowled dark
"; but when tHe boy was gone, and his
eve fell upon the stranger seated at the fire,
II the sirht 81 the dignifed besfing Of the
later, and his rich but simple dress. his
worldly heart was pleased, and his brow
Frightened with smile.