Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-09-17
The Beggar Boy.
A TRUE sToRY.

Some eight years ago, small ragged
boy called at the office door of gentleman
in this city, and asked for aims in the fol-
lowing frank and laconc manner:
Boy. Please, sir, give me two or three
cests.'
Gent. 'WEa: do you want of money!
B. 'I'm hungry, Sir
G.. EAT that then;' THROWN g him coiE.
B. Il can't eat this;' picking up the
piece of money, 'but can buy bread with it. ,
G. 'Oh! its bread you want, not money!
B. Il can buy bread with money
G. Have you had any breskfastl'
B. Nor
G. where DO you liver
B. Anywhere
G. 'Why do you begi'
B. Because have nothing else to do.
G. Would you rather work than beg!'
B. "Yes, if could get anything for it. ,
G. There is water, wash yourself and
remain here until return
The boy stepped into an adjoining room,
and commenced the cleaning process as he
had been bidden. The gentleman left tn
room and stepped into bakers shop, where
he procured loaf of new bread, and a piece
of cheese, he then returned to his Office,
where he found the boy somewha; improved
in personal appearance, and giving him as
much as would suffice to allay the demands
of keen appetite. directed him to eat
After this plain meal was finished, the gen.
tlemsn said to him, 'NQw Sr, if you will
work, you need not beg ca het every
morning sweep the Office and do suchsother
little jobs as | haye land l will pay you we'll
for it. and will also try to find other work for
you in some of the Offices near by. The boy
did as he was directed, and through the
recommendation of his new patron, soon
found work that furnished him with COM
Portable support.
His industry brought him new friends; so
that in the course of a few weeks, he OBJ
tanned constant employment in retail gro
cery store. He had received good advice
and kind treatment from the gentlemanswsio
had first taken an interest in his welfare,
and had promised faithfully to follow his
the turmoil of business all traces o. the boy
were lost. After lapse of more than seven
years, this same gentleman, returning from
the Post-office through - street, as he
was passing coppersmith's shop, well
clad, neat looking workman came into the
street, with dinner pail IN hand, on his way
from work after the labors of the day. He
bowed respectfully, and modestly inquired,
is not this Mr.. B-!' On being informed
that this was the name of the person ad-
dressed, he continued. 'I suppose you dc
not remember met No. said Mr.. B,
do not recollect to have seen you before.'
DO you remember said he, 'the boy that
used 10 sweep the office for you eight years
agop Il do,' replied Mr. B.. We'll,
Sir! am that boy Mr.. B turned
quickly around and said, MY good fellow,
give me your hand, am glad to see sou.
Where have you been these many long
yearsp Il have been. sir, about half of the
time in the city Of, " here worked three
years in a hardware store. ] then bound
myself to a coppersmith, (the man with
whom | now work, for four years, and was
to receive one dollar week, for the first
year, two for the second, three for the third,
and four for the fourth. My time will be
out next fall, and shall have GOOD trade,
and be independent.
Mr.. B congratulated him upon his
success, and as they were about to part at
the corner of the street op posite the Savings
Bank, said to him, My young friend, have
one more word of advice to give you. which
! trust you will 70 o;iow. Forever, refrain
from the Use o tobacco, intoxicating drinks,
and from gambling, and when yon get few
dollars you do not need for immediate use,
put it into that Saving Bank. What you
may thus be able to save will help you when
you want to start business for YOURSELF
pleasant smile played upon the young mans
countenance, as he replied, Il thank you for
your good counsel, and | should be migrate
full to you for your former kindness, were
to disregard it. But my life thus far, will
bear me witness, that have never indulged
in the vices you have named; and as to the
Savings Bank. have already in that cor.
ner, (pointng to he Bank three huhdred
and twenty dollars laid up for time of
need Erie Constitution