The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-11-21
rhe Littla strnnrer.

Auc AAtbAO oNAuu1CEs
THouGn man Of very strict principles, M
man ever enjoyed d joke more than Docto
Byron be had a vast fund Of humor, an ever
ready wit, and with children, particularly
he loved 70 chat familiarity and draw then
out. As he was one day passing into thu
honse, he was uccosted by very little boy
who asked him if he wanted any SAUCE
meaning vegetables. The doctor inquired il
such "a tiny thing was market-man. "No
sir, my father, = was the prompt answer. The
doctor SAID, aBring me some squashes,1 and
passed into the house, sending out the change.
In few nome nts the child returned, bring
ing back part OF the change; the doctor told
him he was welcome it; but the child
would not take il back, saying his father
would blame him. Such singular manners
in a child attracted his attention, and he be-
parl to examine the child attentively; he was
evidently poor, his little jacket was pieced
and patched with almost every kind ofcloth,
and his trowsers darned with so many colors
il was difficult to tell the original fabric, but
scrupulously neat and clean withal. The
boy very quietly endured the scrutiny of the
doctor, while holding him at arms length.
and examining his face. Atlength he said.
ssYou seem nice little boy won't you
come and live with me and be doctorp
ayes SIR said the child.
s'Spoken like man" said the doctor, pat
ting bis head as he dismissed him.
A few weeks passed on, when one day Jim
Gene tosay there was little boy with bum
die down stairs, wanting to see the doctor,
and would not tell his business to any one
else. "Send him up" was the answer; and
in few moments he recognized the boy of
the squashes (but no squash himself, as we
shall see;) he was dressed ina new, though
coarse suit OF clothes, his hair very nicely
combed, his shoes brushed up, and little
bundle, tied in homespun checked handker-
chief, on his arm. Deliberately taking off
his hat, and laying it down with his bundle,
he walked up to the doctor, saying,
81 have come, SIR
"Come for what, my child?'
ITO live with you, and be DOCTOR" said
the child, with the utmost NAIvETE.
The first impulse of the doctor was to laugh
immoderately; but the impertubable gravity
of the little thing rather sobered him, as he
recalled, too, his former conversation, and lie
ayowed he never felt so perplexed in his life.
At that time he felt he needed no addition 10
his family.
'Did your father consent to you coming,
he asked.
eyes, sir"
"What did he say?"
81 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 were ready"
"And your mother, what did she say?"
''She said, Doctor Byron would do just
what he said he would, and God had provid-
ed for me-" And said he, 81 have on new
suit Of clothes" surveying himself, "and here
is another in the bundle" undoing the ker-
chief, and displaying them, with two little
shirts, white as snow, and couple of neat
checked aprons, so carefully folded, it was
plain none but mother would have done it.
The sensibilities Of the doctor were awaken
ed to see the fearless, the undoubting trust
whith which that poor couple had bestowed
their child upon him, and such child. His
cogitations were not long he thought Of Mo-
ses in the bulrushes, abandoned to Provi-
dence and, above all, he thought Of the child
that was carried into Egypt, and that that
divine Saviour had said, "Bessed be little
children J" and be called for the wife of his
bosom, saying, "Susan, dear, think we pray
in church that God will have mercy UPON
ALL YOUNG CHILDREN"
ITO be sure we do" said the wondering
wife; "and what then 2"
"And the Saviour said, 'Whosoever receiv-
eth one such little child in my name. receiv-
eth me : take this child in His name, and take
care of him )" and from this hour this good
couple received him to their hearts and homes.
1t did not then occur to them that one of the
most eminent physicians and best men of the
age stood before them in the person of that
child lit did not occur to them that this little
creature, thus thrown upon their charity, was
destined to be their staff and stay in declin-
ing age--a protector to their daughters, and
more than son to themselves; all this was
then unrevealed but they cheerfully receiv-
ed the child they believed Providence had
committed to their care; and if ever benefc-
ence was rewarded, it was in this instance
Family Circle and Parlor Annual.