Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-05-07
THE LITTLE STRANGER.

Though man of very strict principles, n
man ever enjoyed joke more than Dr. Byron
Tie had q vast fund of humor, and every day wit
and with children particularly, he loved to cha
Familiarity, and draw them out As he was on
day passing into the house, he was accosted b
a very little boy, who asked him if he wan,e
any sauce-meaning vegetables. The Docto
inquired if such tiny thing was market man
mo, sir, my father is" was the prompt answer
The Doctor said, "bring me some seuashes," ant
| passed in the house sending out the change
In a few moments the child returned, bringing
| back a part of the change. The Doctor, tolC
him he was welcome to it, but the boy would
not take it back, saying his father would blame
him. Such singular manners in child attract
ed his attention, and he began to examine ,ht
child a,tentively. He was evidently poor; hi.
little jacket was peced and patched with almos
every kind of cloth, and his trowsers darneC
with so many colors, it was difficult 10 tell the
original fabric but scrupulously clean and neat
withal. The boy very quietly endured the scru-
Tiny of the Doctor, while holding him at arms
length and examining his face. AT length be
said:
"You seem like a nice little boy; won't you
come and live with me, and be Doctor?"
"Yes, sir" said the child.
SPOKEN like man" said the Doctor, patting
his head as he dismissed him.
A few weeks passed on, when one day Jim
came to say there was little boy with bundle
down stairs, waiting to see the Doctor, ami
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 in new, though course suit OF
clothes, his hair very nicely combed, his shoes
brushed up, and little bundle tied in a homespun
check handkerchief on his arm. Deliberately
taking off his hat and laying 1t down with his
bundle, he walked up to the Doctor, saying;
81 have come, sir"
ITO live with you and be Doctor" said the
child, with the utmost naivete.
The first impulse of the Doctor was 10 laugh
immoderately but the impurturbable gravity of
the little thing rather sobered him as he recall
led, too, his former conversation, and he avow-
ed he felt he needed no addition TO his family.
"Did your father consent 10 your coming ~
he asked "What did he say ?"
81 told him you wanted me 10 come and live
with you and to 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 p
"She said DR.. Byron would do just what he
said he would, anc God had provided for me-"
"And, said he, 81 have on new suit of clothes"
surveying himself, land here is another in the
bundle" undoDg the handkerchief and display
ing them, with two little shirts as white as snow,
and a couple'of neat checked aprons, so carefully
folded, it was plain none but mother would
have done it. The sensibilities Of the Doctor
were fully awakened to see the fearless, the I'M
doubling trust with which that poor couple had
bestowed their child upon him-and such a child
His cogitations were not long; he thought of
Moses in the bullrushes, abandoned to Provi-
dence and above all, he thought of the child
that was carried into Egypt, and that the Divine
Savior had said, Blessed be little children; and
he called for the wife of his bosom, saying :
"Susan, dear, think we pray in church that
God will have mercy on all young children ?"
"To be sure we do, said the wondering wife,
sand what then p
"And the Savior said, Whosoever receiveth
one such little one in my name, receive,h me :;
take the child in his name, and take care of him"
And from this hour the good couple received
him to their hearts and home. 1t did not then
occur to them that one of the most eminent phy-
sicians, and best men of the age stood before
them n the person Of that child it did not &C.
cur to them this little creature, thus thrown up
on their charity was destined 10 be their staff and
stay in declining years-a protector TO their
daughters and more than a son 10 themselves
All this was then unrevealed but they cheerful
ly received the child, they believed Providence
had committed 10 their care and if ever bene-
ficience was rewarded, it was in this instance