Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-12-29
clearly through The realms of heaven, or
which came from purer source, than did
HE,oRPHAN's PRAYER.
CHAPTER II,

trnoge on his way towards the city Of Phi
ladeIphia. He found kind hearts on III
road, and on his arrival in West
> chester, he had the good fortune to fall ii
. with an old Quaker who was going to tn
: city on the next day, and after hearing tn,
, boys story he offered 10 give him res. fo
the night and ride in his wagon on th,
morrow, and when Henry laid his hea,
on the pillow that night, he began to fee
that there was much Of humanity vet ir
! the world. qel$s
The sun had hardly peeped up over the
tall trees when The old Quaker started of
upon his trip. For long distance the
youth and his kind host rode ON in silence
hat at length the old man rather abruptly
asked: a
w aat dost thou intend to do in the grea,
city, my young friend?'
'l do not know ye,,' returned the boy,
in frank, honest way; but think can
easily ihd employment
tWhat would thee soy 10 entering the
Office OF an eminent lawyer2'
II he would take me, I should like j,
above all things answered Henry, while
a flush Of hope overspread his handsome
features, and then, as shadow fitted
across his face, he added, 'But have no
recommendations.
Yes thee has
| 'Nho can recommend meD
Myself, boy
| But you do not know me- s.
| boy. / heard thee pray this morning.
When thee thought that no ear save thy
Gods heared thy prayer, | was listening.
will place thee IN the care of my friend,
and l will lend thee money when thou
needesi it.
Henry would have spoken his thanks in
words bad he been able, but the deep feel.
lngs OF his soul were too overwhelming for
that, and his grateful Tears told the whole,
and during the remainder of the ride, The
Old Quaker tried to impress upon The
youths mind the necessary course to be
pursued in steering clear Of the shoals and
quicksands oil the metropolis.
The kind old man was as good as his
word; aud on the next morning Henry
found himself duly installed into the Office
oi Ashley Beaochampe, Esq, one of the
most prominent lawyers of the State, and
al the end Of month from that lime he
was taken IRON the situation of "runner,o
and piaced in the somewhat responsible of.
flee otecopyist, where he had more time
le read; and having free access TO Mr..
Beauchampe's library. he turned his spare
moments to good account. Thus passed
three months; during that time the lawyer
had so learned TO love and respect his pro
fepe that he took him to his own house 10
dwell, buias ye. he had never thought of
giving 10 The youth any regular course of
study, partly because he lnought he was
no, old enough, and partly because he up.
preciated his beautiful aud rapid penman
ship too highly to take him from the copy
lug desk; but a circumstance was about to
OCCUR thai, was destined TO make a vns,
change IN The horizon Of future prospects.
An old man named Brown, had died
over a year before without leaving will,
and had lelt q vas! bulk OF wealth behind
him. His wife had dad some years pre-
ylous, aid he haa lett an only child, son
OF twenty years OF age, as the legitimate
lnherllor ot his estates; but number OF
ayaricious relations, who had long looked
with longing eyes, upon old Browns
wealth, determined 10 possess themselves
OF IL IT possible; and TO this end they told
and maintained tha story that the pretended
son was IN iact no son oil all, but merely
a poor boy whom Mr.. Brown had adopted
IN his infancy; and 10 maintain their. posi-
lion, they hired an old woman TO personate
the young mans mother, and also man
10 swear that he worked for Mr.. Brown a,
the time the child was adopted. These
two wreaches we're well drilled in the parts
they were to perform. They were taken
to The house OF the deceased, and shown
over the premises, and as the dwelling was
retired they hoped TO be the better able u
carry out their base designs. The physl.
clan and the nurse-the only two persons
who could have sworn to the birth OF young
Robert Brown-had been dead several
years, and, save the common impression
among The neighbors, no testimony could
be brought forward TO prove the legiliDa-
cy oil the supposed son, wniie the heirs pre-.
sumptlve seemed 10 have it all their own
way. ..=,.-.-. 5. -
The scoundrel relations, after they had
sufficiently trained the principal witnesses,
placed The case IN the hands OF two eminen,
counsel, and The thunder struck Robert,
hardly realizing the baseness That was al
work against hun, secured the services OF
Mr.. Beauchampe and his collegue. Many
times did Robert visit the Office; and on
every occasion, Henry Williams heard
every word that passed, and feeling live,
ly interest inthe young mans case, he
very naturally sci his wits al work to dive
into the intricacses of The suit.
| No legal document had been left by Mr..
Brown which had the slightest bearing on
the case-the birth of Robert had never
been entered on the town record, nor could
any clue whatever be obtained to substan,
liale defence agains. the relations. The
case indeed looked almost hopeless; but il
at length came before the court, and on
| The morning oflhe trial Mr.. Beauchampe
desired Henry Williams to accompany
himAnd take exact notes nf the evidence.