The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-11-24
Providence PrOspers Honesty
By MRS. ST. SIMON.

tSicu lHt Warehouse OF lIlc TlCn merchant
Samuel Richter, in Dartzie, aid asked III,
book keeper for aims.
! "You will get nothing here" grumblet
the man, without raising his head from hi
book. "Be OFF,
Weeping bitterly. the boy g!ided towards
the door, at the moment Herr Richter en-
tered. -
"What is the matter here?" he asked
turning TO the book-keeper.
"A worthless beggar boy" was the man:
answer, and he scarcely looked up from hi:
work.
| In The meantime, Herr Ritcher glanced
towards the boy, and remarked that, when
close to the door, he picked up something
from the ground.
ella my little lad, what is that you pick
ed up?" he led.
The weeping boy turned, and showed hin
a needle.
| land what will you do with it?" asked
the other.
| "My jacket has holes in it, was the an.
swer, IL will sew up the big ones"
! Herr Richter was pleased with this reply
and still more with the boys innocent
handsome face. -.-
"But are you not ashamed" he said, in
kind, though serious tone, ''you, so young
and hearty, TO beg? Can you not work ? .
"Ah, my dear sill" replied the boy, 81
do not know how, and am too little yet to
thresh or fell wood My father died three
weeks ago, and my poor mother and little
hrOtbprS h tyn ootnn ot I,;p,r h.u, ,,,x, ,,.
Then | ran out in anguish, and begged for
aims. But, alas! a single peasant only gave
me yesterday a piece OF bread; since then |
have not eaten morsel."
Its quite customary for bcggars by trade
to contrlve tales like this, aul this hardens
the heart against the claims of genuine
want Bat this time the merchant trusted
the bows honest face. He thrust his hand
into his pocket, drew forth piece of money,
and said: .....
"Thcre is half dollar; go to the bakers,
and with half the money buy bread for your.
self, your mother, and your brothers, but
bring back the other half to me.
The boy took the money, and ran ioyfully.
"Well," said the surly boot keeper, "he
will laugh in his sleeve, and never come
back again"
"Who knows?" replied Herr Richter
And as he spoke he behcld the boy return
ing, running quickly, with large loaf OF
black bread i'll one hand, and some money
in the other.
"rhcre, good sir?" he cried almost breath
less, "ihere is the rest of the money" Then,
being very hungry, he begged at once for n
knife to cut oil Il piece OF the bread. The
book keeper reached him in silence his
pocket knife.
Tie lad cut off slice in great haste, and
was about to bite upon it. But suddenly he
bethought himself, laid the bread aside, and
folding his hands, rehearsed silent prayer.
Then he fell to his meal with a hearty ap-
petite.
The merchant Was moved by the boys
unaffected piety. He inquired after his FAM
lily and home, and learned from his simple
narrative that his father had lived in VII
lage, about four miles distant from Dantzic,
where he owned small house and farm. -
But his house had been burnt to the ground,
and much sickness in his family had COM
PEELED him to sell his farm. He had then
hired himself out to rich neighbor, but,
before three wseks was at an end, he died,
broken down by grief ana excessive tol. -
And now his mother, whom sorrow had
thrown upon bed of sickness, was, with
her fouryoung children, suffering the bitter
est poverty. He, The eldest, had resolved
to seek for assistance, and had gone at first
frp lln,ro ,to
the high road, and at last, having begged
everywhere in vain, had come to Dantzic.
The merchants heart was touched. lie
had but one child, and the boy appeared to
him as n draft at sight, which Providence
had drawn upon him as test of his graft
tude. # .... ...
''Listen, my son" he began, "have you
then really wish to lcarn?''
"Oh, ycs--I have, indeed!" cried the
boy, IL have read the catechism already,
and | should know agood deal more, but at
home had always my little brother to car
ry, for mother was sick in bed." fa 81.
Herr Richter suddenly formed his resolu-
ton. ""Well, then," he said, "if you are
goud, and honest, and industrious, / will
take care ofyou. You shall learn, have
meat and drink and clothing, and in time
earn something besides. Then you can
support your mother and brothsrs also.
The boys eyes flashed with JOY Bat in
a momont he cast them to the ground again,
and said sadly, MY mother all this while
has nothing to eat"
At this instant, as if sent by Providence,
an inhabitant of the boys native village en-
tered Herr Rich,er's house This man con-
tirnned the lads story, and willingly con-
sentcd to carry the mother tidings of her
son Gottiltb, and food, and a small sum of
money from the merchant. At TIE same
time Herr Richter directed his book keeper
to write letter to the pastor of the village,
commenting the widow to his care, with an
additional sum enclosed for the poor family,
and promising further assistance. i
~ AS soon as this was done, Herr Richter
furnished the boy with decent clothes, and
At noon led him to his wife, whom he accu
rately ihformed of little Gottileb's story, and
Of the plans which lie had formed for hinl.I
The good woman readily promised her best
assistance in the latter, and she faithfully
kept her word. 8iM.W 1H3ai aiH |
n During the next four years, Gottileb at
tended the schools Of the great commercial
city;then his faithful foster r-father took him !
into his counting room, in order to educate
him for business Here, as well as there, at
the writing deskas ON the school bench, theT
L i IL