Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-11-18

AMI. in the persons of a well dressed gen sou
,man and ragged newsboy, passing Town Du Sl
roadway together in the broad ngns -
AZ, y eoplef4n to look after them a til,
.ey passed, but ON, OF they went, regafe wi
ofeverything aldeyerybody, save them da
elves and the one great object m view ms
future of the Newsboy, which his gene ar
IONS benefactor had resolved should be as pt
bright and happy as the past had Oeeh a.
and miserable. "
After a brisk walk Of an hour the nome v
Of the newsboy and his widowed mother II
was reached. Home! A miserable, power n
ty-stricken part Of the city; dirt and nun il
scattered around in abundance; ragged anu }
dirty faced children, some playing otheIs !
fighting, in the doorways and in the street !
houses a century old, perhaps, woodworG
rotted and falling to pieces; walls crackeu
and the mortar between the bricks crum-
bling into sand again; no shutters on the
windows, save one here and there, hanging
Inv a single hinge and ready to follow us
able opportuniry ppaSAH 81 GAS All box
out and old hats, rags dc, stuffed in in
stead; and everything around bearing a
squallid and dilapidated appearance. In
such a place and in a single room of one of
the houses described was the home Of the
newsboy and his mother. But It's said to
be "home where'er the heart is" and if
that be true, when the newsboy was there,
they were both truly at home!
Into one Of the houses and up the rick
city stairs the newsboy led his friend and
ushered him into the single room occupied
by his mother.
The room was not very large and was
poorly furnished, but was as clean and neat
in appearance as the widow could possibly
make it. Close by the only window ofthe
apartment she sat engaged in sewing. On
the entrance of the gentleman and her son
she arose, and invited him to be seated, bid
ding the boy hand a chair.
She was about thirty years of age, and
although thin and emaciated in appearance,
was really a good looking woman. She
seemed to be perfectly at ease in the pres
ence OF the stranger, and having laid aside
her work, waited for him to nnounce his
business.
| "Madam," said he at length, "you are the
mother of this little boy, | believe 2"
eyes, sir, he is my only living child" sh'
replied.
"Well, madam, it is on his account tina
/ have paid you this visit.
"Ihopehe has been doing nothing wrong
+ sir" said she anxiously.
. "Oh no" replied the stranger, ION tn
u contrary, | think he has been doing yer
" well, this morning, at least. But will e1
plain. | saw him accidentally III the S
r Nicholas hotel to-day, engaged in sellin
e papers, and being favorably impressed wit
e his manners and appearance, | drew hil
into conversation, and gained from him th
: story of your situation. He also told m
7 that he had once been to school and Wa
very anxious to Iave an opportunity of g
ing again, and having taken a decided il
terest in him, | determined if he turned OF
he to be the boy | judged him to be he shou
have that opportunity. He tells me TIL
OF his scanty earnings are almost your SO
* support"
- eyes, sir" returned the widow gazir
fondly upon the boy, Gift was not for Pc
ton, | don't know what | should do. | a
i in very feeble health and can barely ca
~ enough to pay our rent, and it is upon /
- earnings alone that we live. He is a We
good boy, sir, and is not addicted to al
bad practices that | am aware of. i ha
1 never heard him swear, never knew him
bo be guilty of telling an untruth and he
always prompt in obedience to my co
mands. In addition to that, sir, he
r votes the greater portion of his time to S
=. ling papers to make a living for us DO
~ and every leisure moment he has is sp,
hn4 in ~endeavoring to improve himself in re
nJ ing and writing, in both of which he is rs
oU well advanced. He never sells papers
Sunday, and regularly attends the Sabb
school and the Church. He is my O
,oI son, sir, l love him dearly and you
therefore pardon a mothers heart for spe
l;ed ing so freely in his praise"
9TH Il am glad to hear you say that, N
,out am" replied the stranger Hfor it strene
ems the good opinion | had already forr
-our of him. In talking with him this morr
pro- he expressed great anxiety to have a g
education, and | am satisfied if he has
be chance he will make a very smart mai
Now, Madam, l have only one child
daughter)-and have an abundance
vour this worlds goods, and with your con
ome will take your son with me to my h
and in the State Of Georgia, adopt him as
and own and give him the best education
r. can be had. Ny name is Edgar Pres
l am well known to persons of high st
noer ing in this city, so you can easily sa
and yourself that l am able to do all l off
"hat say you madam
the ooh! sir" replied the widow, 81
often wished that l had the means OF
lould ing him a good education, or was so S
,llow, ted even that he could attend the p
schools, and | am deeply grateful for
Twas kind offer but, sir, how can | part
lat l my only child on whom | am depend
l am willing to do any thing, to make
ature sacrifice for his good, but what will be
head, of me ifhe is taken from me, Heaven
gaze, knows"
/; but "Nay, Madam" said the Southern
hdent have taken all that into consideratl
were When Iasked him this morning if he '
stuff be willing to 90 with me, his only obj
an OF, was to leaving you, but when told
all be would see that you were provided +
S my said he would willingly go. do not
pose to take him away from you and
to you in your present circumstances, fal
assers it, you too shall be cared for. My
eturn. thank kind Heaven, are ample, and
nod IN n - l:.- 4lo ~an6afac of Gods