The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-06-19
The Little Stranger.

no man ever enjoyed joke more than DIR.
Byron. lIc had vast fund for humor,
and every day wit, and with children par
ticularly he loved to chat familiarly and
draw them out.-As lie was one day pass
ing into the house he was accosted by q
very little boy, who asked him if he want
ed any sauce, meaning vegetables.
The doctor inquired if such tiny thing
was market man. No, sir, my father,
was the prompt answer. The doctor said,
Bring me in some squashes and be pass
ed into the house, sending out the change
In a few moniepts the child. returned,
bringing back part ofthc change. The doc
tor told him he was welcome to it; but the
child would not take it, saying, his father
would blame him.
Such singular manners in "a child. ottrac.
ted his attention, and he began TO. examine
the child attcntivcly. He was evidently
poor Ibis little jacket was pieced and
patched with almost every kind of cloth,
and his trowsers, darnedf with so many
colors it was difficult to tell the original f:i-
brio, but scrdpulously neat and clean with
al. The boy very quietly endured the
scrutiny Of the doctor, while holding him
at arms length and examining his face.
.sAt length he said: You seem a nice
little boy; won't you come and live wifi
me, and be doctor Yes sir, said the
child. Spoken like man, said the doc
tor, patting his head as he dismissed him.
A few weeks passed. on, when one day
Jim came to say that there was little boy
with bundle down stairs wanting to see
the doctor, and would not tell his business
to any one else. Send him up, was the
answer and in a few moments he recog-
nized the boy Of the squashes-but no
squash himself, as we shall see. lie was
dressed in new though coarse suit of
clothes, his hair very nicely combed, his
shoes brushed up, and little bundle tied
ip homespun checked handkerchief OH
his arm. e, = =,
Deliberately taking off his hat, and lay
ing it down with his bundle, he walked up
to the doctor saying. have come, sir.
Come for what, my child2 To live with
YOU and bea doctor said the child, with
the utmost naivete. =.
Tho firskimpulsee of the. doctor was to
laugh immodcrately but the .impertur-
blegsavity Of the little thing rather sober,
ed him as he recall bis former. coversation,
and he avowed he felt he needed no addi-
ton to his family. -
Did your father consent to your coming?
he asked. Yes, sir. What did he cav {?
ltold him you wapteda meAp come and
live with you and to be doctor, and he
said You was a, Very good man, and might
come as soon as nay clotheswere ready.
An your mother, what did SHE saya She
said that DR.. Byron would do inst what
he said he lie would God had provided
for me. And, said lie, have on new
suit Of clothes, s,ltteyiag'himself' and here
is another fin Che bundle, ,shnduipg- the ker-
cHefand displaying them. with two little
,sAHtsFas !white as snow sand a. couple Of
neafseheck aprons, so carefully folded. 1t
waspiainnone. buEa mother would have
The ssnsibilities of. the doctor we're .siwa-
.kened to sec thea uhloubting trust with
which that poor couple had bestowed their
cbitdupon him, and such a child! His
eogstaions,l were not long, lie thought of
Moses in the bulrushes, abandoncd, ito Prov
idence; and, above all, lie thought Of the
child that was carried into Egypt, and that
diyffe Saviour who said. Blessed bc little
cliildren,; and lie called for the wife of his
bos2m, say Susan, dear, think. we pray in
chufcha6at God will hayesmercy upon all
ydgn Children Z To,be suraSa do, said
the kon1edng wife.: Sarsd what then !
And The Saviour said, whatsoever receiy.
eth one such little child in my name, re-
seiiath me; take this child in Ills name,
and take caret6f linn, ;s.and4from that hour
this good. couple. RECEIVED him ito their
hearts and homes
. II did not occur TO item thai tits little
scfeature thus thrown upon their charity,
was destined to be their staff and stay In
declining sge-a protsstorto to their dauell-
ters and more Than son 10 themselves !:
all ti1sy was then pnreyealeds; But stbev
bheerMly received the *ebild thew .haI;avad
Providence had comnisas to. dns;r cara !.
and Il ever, efcencs was fSws syded 81 wa
in this instance p Pa,lor aEaqazips:s e 7
81 IL --------- 8 q,
i aHELIox M1sTnnl .rncte.; the inde.
fatigabis aopt ectosfS5 ~ iaief;n6ettie streets,
was much ahfhsed yesterday 81 q counsSv.
Map, wlb e, perhaf first inlt6 6ducal ia
tpgn h 3hs "if1n hofsen pena3f ine TO .ilis
slsyIsan retreat Tucker asaS ni5sntSa ut,o,, m i,,
6h asw sprir 5iSfs s,csaes.s lli Waier
jns snt bsbtsd M fjoss z III fse E auttsS sAsst. fs.
sgsgsnQ scos Shegs aehsin sa 3:
our cevutfT c6usin ile
4! &! q! t.Il Msstef. ysrd
wate ssf ffiis 5satnraiIy
merlin &,