American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-03-15

4
tunes of my father, and the sickness ofmy
mother, have driven me to the necessity
| now
who is your ftaher?' inquired the gen.
| tleman, still more Interested.
My father was rich merchant Of this
city, but he became bondsman for friend
who soon after failed, and he was entirely
ruined. He could not live after this loss,
and in one month he died of grief, and his
death was more dreadful than any other
trouble. Ny mother, my little brother, and
myself, soon sunk into the lowest depths of
poverty. My mother has until now,
managed to support herself and my little
brother by her labor, and have earned
what l could by shovelling snow and other
work that could find to do. But night
before last mother was taken very sick ,and
she since has become so much worse, that
here the tears poured faster than ever
81 do fear she will die. cannot think of
any way in the world to help her. have
not had any work to do for several weeks.
| have not had courage to go to my moth
er's old acquainiances, and tell them she
had come to need charity. thought you
looked like astranger sir, and something in
your face overcame my shame, and gave
me courage to speak to you. o, sir, do
pity my poor molherP
The tears, and the simple and moving
language of thepoor boy, toucheda chord
in the breast of the stranger that was ac-
customed to frequent vibrations.
Where does your mother live, my boy%
said he in husky voice, lis it far from
here?
She lives in the last house on this
street, sir, replied Henry. You can see
it from here, in third block, and on the
left hand side
Have you sent for physician?'
No, sir, said the boy, sorrowfully shak-
ing his head. 4 had money to pay neith-
er for a physician nor for the medicine
Here said the stranger, drawing some
pieces of silver from his pocket, here are
three dollars, take them and run immcd-
ately for physician
Henry's eyes flashed with gratitude, lie
received the money with s,ammering and
almost inaudible voice, but with look of
the warmest gratitude, and vanished.
The benevolent stranger Immediately
sought the dwelling of The sick widow
He entered little room in which he could
see nothing but few implements of female
labor, miserable table, an old bureau,an
a little bed which stood in one ner, on
which an invalid lay. She appeared
weak, and almost exhausted, and on the
bed at her feet sat little boy crying as if
his heart would break.
Deeply moved at this sight, the stranger
drew near the bedside of the invalid, and
leigning 10 be a physician, inquired into
the nature of her disease. The symptoms
Were explained in few words, when the
widow with deep sigh, added %, sir,my
sickness has decpercause, and one which
is beyond the art of the physician to cure.
anna molher-a wretched mother. Isee
my children sinking daily deeper and deep
er in misery and want, which l have no
means of freieving. My sickness isof the
heart, and death alone can end my sorrows,
but even death is dreadful to me, for il a.
wakens the thought of the misery into
which my children would be plunged
it" Here emotion choked her ut
terance, and the tears flowed unrestrained
down her cheeks. But the pretended
physician spoke SO consoling to her, and
manifested so warm sympathy for her
condition, that the heart Of the poor wo-
man throbbed with a pleasure that was un-
wonted.
DO not despair said the benevolent
stranger, think only of recovery, and
of preserving life that is so precious
to your children. Can write prescrip-
tion here?'
The poor widow took little prayer
book from the hand of the child who sat
with her on the bed, and tearing out a
blank leaf,
4 have no other paper said she, but
perhaps this will do
The stranger took pencil from his
pocket, and wrote few lines upon the
paper.
"This prescription, said he, you will
find of great service to you. If tits nee.
essarv, | will write you second. l have
great hopes your recovery
He laid the paper on the table and wen
away.
Scarcely was he gone when the elder sor
returned.
| Cheer up, dear mother said he, going
to her bedside and affectionately kissing
her. See what kind, benevolent stran
ger has given us. 1t will make us ricl
for several days. 1t has enabled US tc
have physician, and he will be here in q
moment. Compose yourself, now, deal
mother, and take courage
Come nearer, my son. answered the
mother looking with pride and affection OF
her son. Come nearer that may bless
you. God never forsakes the innocent ant
the good Oh! may he still watch ovel
you in all your pathsl A physician ha'
Just been here. He was stranger, but he
spake TO me with kindness and com
passion that were balm to my heart
When he went away, he left that pre-
scription on the table; see if you can reat
it,
Henry glanced at the paper and started
back-he took it up and as he read i
through, again and again, cry Of wonde
and establishment escaped him