The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-02-22
A True Story with a Moral.

Hospitality has been recommended on the
ground that one may perhaps entertain an
gels unawarcs. We would say be courte-
ous'to all, for fear that through forgetlul-
ness or neglect, you may omit some persons
who have treated you kindly. Those whom
we never saw may have performed good Of
fices TO us through strangers. We may have
reaped benefits in utter Ignorance of their
author; III we are not habitually regnrdful
ana polite, 1t may happen, that in word or
aet' oy private speech, or in the public print,
done us signal good for it is not those with
whom we are most intimate, who nrc sure to
serve us best
poor orphan boy named Theodore -
was only seven years old when he attracted
the notice Of n gentleman of fortune and dis
tinetion; who was fond of indulging n fancy,
= iaucaSle enc Il was-of doing good BY
stealth; and making people happy without
disclosing the author Of the benef;ction. He
used the young lad to be well clothed, sent
school, and afterwards educated at a col
legc. Theodore became distinguished
scholar, but was never able all this time to
penetrate the secret of his generous friend.
fiis bulls were regularly paid, and he himself
literally, though economically, supplied
with necessary money for his pocket; but
he could only sec his bencfactor in his works
IL may be well supposed he did not fail TO
u AK him from the bottom Of his heart, n
thousand times for he had tender one, in
gratitude was not among his faings.
The first thing that he did after leaving
academic quiet, was to pen n virulcnt libel
on an eminent gentleman, who happened TO
be identified with n cause against which the
society which Theodore freQuentcd, was pas
sionately opposed Theodore was known
to be talented and to hold sharp pen: he
was therefore naturally pitched upon to deal
the assrsslns blow. He was in the mean
time not acquainted with the merits cf the
controversy, MS few young en- are, who get
eNcltcd IN quarrel; us for the gentleman
he was to assault, he knew nothing at all of
MN, except that he was n celebrated man.
ana most persons spoke well of him. That
was OF no consequence, however: his wit
ana satire were gift intended doubtless not
TO be neglected, rs their possessors pencr-
| ally think, so he lent himself TO the infiic-
ton of foul slandcr on one he did T OF know.
The effects of this truculcnt attack was
| considerable; for poison will have its oper-
alton, by whatever hand and on whatever
person II shall be administered. An anony-
nous libel, like musket. ball is equally de-
structlvc, whether the trigger be pulled by
child or man; by hired assassin, or a
mistaken man of honor. The charges in
this case had II certain effect at first. but af.
tcrw"rdS exposed, and proved entirely false.
Two years after this, as Theodore was
sitting one morning in his Office, he received
letter inviting him to call at No.-in-
street, at IL o'clock the neat day. He did
so; and was then Informed by the executor
OF = the excellent man whom he had ip-
nOT.ntlN truHnTnI thot h., H. Ia 4
gacy oi live thousand dollars accompanied
with words of encouragement TO perseyere
in his honorable course of honest industry
and generous hopes. Hc was further cut to
The heart to learn from the papers of the
departed, that il was he also that took the
orphan from the gutter, and befriended him
as long as he lived, and whose affcctionate
Kindness death itself had been unable TO ex-
| tinguish
These disclosures sunk down into his
heart and raIkled there forever. His guilty
secret was felt at times during all his days,
aching like an u.healed wound. He went
from the executor of his second father an
altered man, and made n resolution which he
always rcligiously kept, never to speak i'll
again OF man he did not know. This was
The sc.fcovennnt of Theodore. IL should
DC ours; otherwise We may be found rs he
WIS splttlng venom on our best earthly
Trend and benefaetor. As we would add TO
'his the advice not to speak harshly of one
We Know, unless we are certain he deserves
the censurc, and that il will not produce
more harm than good. Thank heaven. the
Orphans father of the present narrative ne.
yer suspected who his secret accusrr wns.
and was therefore saved that scvcrcst of nil
w1nnds-the sting of nsra,tude-Neiodrk
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