The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-08-07
5fltsttlIauro)t5,
THE CRIME OF DELAY.

You ask, dear jim, why | took so much
interest in that boy? ] will tell you, but
mark me, you must never allude to the sub
iect again. had thought, that for my cred
it, no one should ever know the reason OF
nv solicitude concerning him, or why his
death has affected me so deeply. But he is
dead now, and lest you should misconstrue
my interest in him t. my prejudice, | will
tel you frankly all that | know of him, SO
, far as It affects myself.
was not always, you are aware, dear
jim, the man you have recently known me-
once had position and influence, and when
you first knew me, had never done an act to
bring blush to the check of friend or rela-
tive.
But of this, enough. 1t suficeth, that
one year ago, or thereabouts, as | went to
nv Office on beautiful morning in March,
| noticed a boy walking down the street,
Just ahead of me, looking pale, emaciated,
and vet beautiful. There was peculiar -
an exceedingly anxious look, that l had
never een before. There was the face Of
boy with the anxiety of a man. 1t struck
me as peculiar at the first glance, and |
stopped TO look at him. | perceived that it
was with difficulty he could restrain himself
from sobbing aloud. When he saw me he
repressed his emotion, and spoke up with an
e
"Please, sir, are you not the editor Of the
r'
81 am" said |, "my fine fellow, and VIII at
can do for you!"
"Mothers sick, sir, and we are very poor,
and want to get place to work."
"What can you do!" said I.
40, will try to do anything" he replied,
"but don't know what can do, for | al
ways went to school before | came to CAL
ifornia; will try to do any thing
The boy interested me, and though am
a calous man, whom buffeting with the
world has hardened prematurely, | could not
allow him to leave me, till | had given him
a word of comfort.
"My fine fellow said I, "can you come
to my office at seven o'clock this EVENING"
81 will" he answered-'I will do any
thing to earn some money for my poor sick
mother.''
I took five dollar piece from my pocket,
and put it into his hand. Had right to
do it! had often said had ought to pay
nv honest debts, before thought of charity.
Had right to do it! Yes.
The boy looked at the money; then he
looked at me, and then burst into tears.
Dear me, believe me, had great mind
to cry, too. Said he, "did act like beg
gar!" As he spoke the word "beggar," he
burst out again, and the tears gushed forth
afresh.
"No, my lad," said 1, "but take that to
your mother, and this evening will have a
place for you, SO that you can earn the mon
lev, and when you have enough of it perhaps
you can pay me back"
He held the coin toward me and said
'take the money; I am not a beggar, and
hs my father, who is dead, and my mother,
who is dying, told me to starve sooner than
peg. shall not take it."
He was SO earnest, that TO have refused
would have offended more, and so reques-
ling him to call on me at seven O'Clock in the
vening, I told him to 60 home to his moth
r, and tell her he had found friend who
gould get him situation.
He tripped away with lighter heart
went on my way, thinking how could
naEwould befriend him. 1t was only the
ay before, that friend had told me he want
boy of about his years, and If he was
ithful and trustworthy, would pay him .