The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-06-04

had happened.
She had. scarcely finished when the
little sufferer awoke free from delirium
At first he looked frightened and wa:
about to cry; but Fanny soothed him
on her bosom, and he smiled up at her
and was soon able to tell his tale. He
could, as yet, only speak indistinctly
however, on account Of his extreme
childhood. But his eager listeners gath
cred, from his broken language, that he
had been sent out to beg early that
morning; that he had eaten nothing all
the preceding day that his bare feet
had been treading the icy streets for
hours unsuccessfully, and that he was
about to knock at the door and ask aims
when the hasty exit of Fanny caused
the accident.
"Father Id Heaven, can this be pos
sible % said Fanny, when the lisping
feeble accents ceased.
" Not only possible but probable, >
replied her husband: All ! dearest
there are scores in this great city desti-
Iute."
''I know now why you said twenty
dollars was too much for such a triAe as
a new collar when I have enough al.
ready" said Fanny, with bitter seif-rc-
proach, bursting into tears. What good
could l not do amorg these poor with
twenty dollars !''
1t was impossible to know, from the
description of the child, where its wild
owed mother lived. 1t Twas somewhere
in a cellar, and she was i'll abed that
'uuch the listeners learned; as also that
his sister, who was but a little older
than himself, had sert him out to beg
she having to stay and watch her mother.
will get cup of tea,' said Mr..
Hapgood, land then 60 out and hunt
for them. Think how alarmed they will
be about him ~
Hours passed, yet he- husband did
not return, and meantime Fanny sat
holding the weary head of the sufferer
soothing HIM to sleep or watching be,
side him. At last near midnight Mr.
Hapgood returned.
=" have found them at last" he said
taking off his overcoat. for it was sleet
ing violently without /" The mother
has seen better days. She was almos,
distracted when 1 entered the low, damp
| cellar, where there was not bit of fire
Oh Fanny, We don't know what suffer.
ing there is until it is brought to our
very doors in this way"
Fanny drew him to the fire and away
from the bed, for the child had now
fallen into sweet sleep, which was un
disturbed. by dreams. "He breathe:
naturally pow," she said, :" the doctor
, wRs here at ten o'clock, and said thai
he was out of danger. Tell me all ubou
them.
They shared their tears, Fanny and
her husband, as the latter told the story
of widowhood, sorrow and destitution
such, alas as is furnishe only too otter
in our great cities When the narrative
was done, Fanny was changed being
For the first time in her life she hac
E been brought face to face with real suf
fering; aud she made resolution, which
he has ever since faithfully kept.
The next day the twenty dollars which
Fanny had designed for the collar wal
, laid out for the benefit of Mrs. Waters
: the mother of the injured child. A
neat, warmly furnished room was pro
) cured, stove was put up, and the sicl
: lady moved into it Groceries were
e placed in the cupboard; coal in the eel
3 lar; winter clothing was purchased fol
S the daughter; and the family physician
of the Hapgood's dispatched to prescrib,
e for the invalid.
Z Nor did the beneoelence of Fam,
:, stop here. When the mother had re
J, covered, which she soon did, now tha
4 she had medical ATTENDANCE and warn
apartment, a little store was stocked fo
: her, so that she might earn her living
), By this time the injured child was we'll
d and had gone home, and merry house
hold !. on CCh--:;s.nas eve When Nj At
: Waters opened her shop and ate her frs
It supper in what seemed to her little one
d a palace.
Our readers would be surprised t
d know what little money it took to do al
d this. Fanny had often wasted as muc
d in one season on unnecessary articles {
dress, and there are many who will pt
lie ruse this tale who have done the samt
lie Nor is it the last of her charities Syi
r, tematieally, since then, has she lahore
le to deserve the divine words, ''Inasmuc
10 as ye did it unto one of the least of thes
le ye did it unto me-"
Great and glorious is thy mission
ID FanDy-the world is calling with h,
L. thousand voices, "Cone!" But IL
* desolate and the stricken, the widowt
lg and the fathherless cry to thee also, an
ar verify, thou hast chosen the better pal
l. Would to God that, in this broad, hal
k world, more hearts might receive, lii
ID thee, the baptism that shall make the
J. whole,