Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-06-27
Tho Little stranger.


no man ever enjoyed joke moro than DR..
Byr n. lie had vast fund ofhumor, apd
everyday wit, and with children particularly
he loved to chat familiarly and draw them
out. As he was oue day passing into tho
house he was aecosed by a very little boy,
who asked him if ho wanted any sauce.
meaning vegetables. s.. . s..s
The doctor inquired if any such tiny
thing was a market man. "No, sir, my
father" was the prompt answer. Thc
docter said. "Bring me in some squashes;'
and he passed into he house, sending ous
the change. .as. &c. -as s-r
In few moments the child returned,
bringing back part of the change. he
doctor told him he was welcome to it; hut
the child would not take it, saying his
father would blame him. ....-,,-
Such singular manners in q child attrac-
ted his attention, and he began to examine
the child attentively He was, evidently
poor; his little jacket was pieced and
patched with almost every kind of cloth,
and his trowsers darned with so many
colors it was difficult to tell the original
fabric, but scrupuIously neat and clean
withal. The boy quietly endured the
scrutiny of the doctor, while holding him
at arms length and examining his face
At length he said "You seem nice
little boy ; won't you come and live with
me, and be doctor2" eyes, sir" said
the child. "spoken like a man." said 'ho
doctor, pattiug his head as he dismissed
him. ,...
A few weeks passed on when one day
Jim came to say that Ihere was little
boy with bundle down stairs wanting to
see the doctor, aud would not tell his bust.
ness to any one else. "Send him up, was
the answer; and in few moments he
recognized the boy of the squashes (but no
squash himself, as we shall see) He was
dressed in new though coarse suit Of
clothes, his hair very nicely combed, his
shoes brushed up, and little bundle tied
in homespun checked handkerchief on
his arm.
Deliberately taking of bis hat and laying
it down with his bundle, he walked up to
the doctor, saying, ~ have come, sir
"Come for what, my child ?" "To live
with you and be doctor l'' said the child
with the utmost naiveo.
The first impulse of the doctor was to
laugh immoderJtely ; but the imperturbable
gravity of the little thing rather sobered
him as be recalled his former conversation,
and he avowed he felth needed no addition
to his family.
"Did your father consent to your coming"
he asked. eyes, sir" "What did he
say ~ "I told him you wanted me to
come and live with you and be doct or
and he said you was very good man, and
l might come as soon as my clothes were
ready" '''ii3HA
"And your mother, what did she say I"
"She said DR.. Byron would do just what
he said he would. God had provided for
mo-" "And," said lie, II have on a new
suit of fclothe.," )" surveying himself, and here
is another in the bundle, uudoing the hand
berchief and displaying them, with two
, little shirts white as snow, and couple of
t neat check aprons, SO carefully folded it
was plain none but q mother would have
5 done it. I'd lrfs
Tie sensibilities of the doctor were ava.
keued to see the undoubting trust with
! that poor couple had bestowed heir child
upon him, and such childl His ccgita.
} tons we're not long; he thought of Moses
) in the bulrushes, abandoned to Providence,
and, above ell, he though. Of the child that
=. was carried into Egypt, and that divine
t Savior, who had said blessed be little
4 children !" and he called for the wife Of
his bosom, saying "Susau, dear | think we
Q pray in church that Gcd will have mercy
s upon all young childrenl" "ro be sure
' we do" said the wondering wife; "and
q what then I" Sand the Saviour said
n "Whosoeyer receiveth one such little child
e in His name, and take care of him !" and
e from that hour this good couple received
him to their hearts and homes. ID ~
1t did not then occur to them that tbs
i little creature, thus thrown upon their chat.
= ty, was destined t, be their stall and sty
n in declining agc-a protector to the
T daughters and more than son to themselve
y ), all this was then unreyealed; hut the
cheerfully received tho child they believe
e Providence had committed to their care
= and ii ever bene1cence was rewarded it We
> in this instance. .Hr.-aE sg8 /,