Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-12-25
The Little Stranger.


Though man of very strict principle, no
man ever enjoyed joke more than DIR. By
roo he had vast fund Of humor, and ever
ready wit, and with children, particularly, he
loved to chat familiarly and draw them out.
~ az , ne was one day passing into the house,
"s was accosted by very little boy who ask
ed him il he wanred any sauce. meaning
vegetables. The Doctor injured if such a
!lny thing was market-man. mo. sir. NV
father ls, was The Promp, answer. The doc.
tor SAID Bring me some so,lasbes.' and he
passed lnlo Inc house, sending out The
change. In a few moments the child returp.
ed, bringing back part Of the change. /. the
doctor told him he was welcome 10 Il but
the child would not take it back, saying his
father would blame him. Such strange man
ners in child aitrt cieG his attention, and he
began TO examine the child aIlentivey he
was evidently poor, his jacket Was pieced
and patched with every kind of cloth, and
his rOwsers darned with SO many colors il
was difficult 10 tell the original fabric, bur
scrupuleusly neat aud clean wilhal. The
hoy very quietly endured Tie scruiiny of the
Doctor, while he was holding him at arms
length, and examining his face. Al length
he said
You seem to be nice little boy; won't
YOU come ard live with me and learn 10 be 4
doctor?'
Yes, SIR said the child. - .e,
Spoken like man., said the doctor, pat
ting his head as he dismissed him.
lew weeks passed OH, when one day Jim
come TO say there was little boy with
bundle down stairs, wanting TO see the doc
tor, and would not tell his business 10 any
one else. Send him up was the answer;
nd in favv h. od ,hs,h hr,,,
of the squashes, (bui no squash himself, as
we shall seel; he was dressed in 4 new,
though course, suit of clothes, and his hair
very nicely combed, his shoes brushed up.
and little bundle, tied in homespun
checked handkerchief, on his arm. Dellb-
eraiely taking off his hat, and laying il down
with his bundle, he walked up to the Doctor,
saying
have come, SIR
Come for what, my childr
To live with you, and be a doctor,' said
the child, with the utmost naiveie.
The first impulse Of the Doctor was 10
laugh immodera;ely but The imperturbable
gravity of the little thing rather sobered him,
as he recalled, too, his former conversation,
and lie vowed he never felt perplexed in
his life. AT that time he felt be needed no
addition to his family.
Did your father consent 10 your coming"
he asked.
'Yes, SIR
what did he say?'
Il told him you wanted me to come and
live with you and be Doctor; and he said
you was very good man, and might come
as soon as my clothes we're ready
| 'And your mother, what did she say?'
She said, Doctor Byron would do just
what he SAID lie would, ami God had provi-
ded for me-. And said he-'I have on a
new suit of clolhes,' surveying himself, and
here is another in The bundle,' undong the
kerchief and displaying them, with two little
shirts, white as snow, and couple Of neat
checked aprons, so carefully folded It was
plain none bul mother would have done it.
The sensibiilies Of the Doctor were awak-
ened to see The fearless, the undoubtlng
trust with which that poor couple had be-
slowed their child upon him, and such a
child. His cogitations were not long; be
thought of Moses and the bulrushes, aban-
doned TO Providence and above all, he
thought of the child that was carried ino
Egypt, and that the divine Saviour had said =
Blessed be little children !; and he called
Tor the vile Of his bosom, saying Susan,
dear. think we pray in church that God
will hnve mercy upon all young children
10 be sure we do,' said the wondering
wife /; and what then!'
And the Saviour said Whoseever re-
ceiveIh one such little child in my name. re-
ceiveth me = take this child in His name and
take care of him;' and from lhst hour this
good couple received him to their hearts and
homes. Ii did moi then occur to them thar
one of the most eminent physicians and best
men of the age STOOD before them in the per-
son OF that child; it did not occur to them
that this little creature, thus thrown upon
their charity, was destined 10 be their stuff
and stay in declining age-a protector and
more than son 10 themselves; all this was
unrevealed and they cheerfuliy received
the child they believed Providence bad COM
mtted to their care; and if ever beneficence
was rewarded, it was in this instance
Family Circle.