The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-12-02

matter ike tins. But now, as the I'M
age of that sad face-for it was unu-
sually sad at the moment when Mr. Ev-
erett looked suddenly toward the boy
fingered in his mind-growing every
moment more distinct, and more touch
ingly beautiful, many considerations of
duty and humanity were excited He
remembered his old friend, and the
pleasant hours they had spent together
in years long since passed, ere generous
feelings had hardened into ice, or given
place TO all-pervading sclfshness. He
remembered, too, the beautiful girl his
friend had married, and how proudly
that friend presented her to their little
world as his bride The lad had her
large, dark, spiritual eyes--only the
light Of joy had faded therefrom, giving
place to a strange sadness
All this was now present to the
mind of Mr.. Everett, and though he
tried, once or twice, during the boys
absence, to obliterate these recollec-
tions, he was unable to do so.
"How is your mother, John?' kindly
asked the broker, when the lad returned
from his crrand.
The question was so unexpected, that
it confused him.
"She's well-thank you, sir. No
not very well, either--thank you, sir ~
And the boys fuoe flushed, and his eyes
suffused.
mot very well, you say2' Mr. Ev-
erett spoke with kindness, and in a
tone Of interest. "Not sick, ! hopc?'
mo, sir, not very sick. But
"But what, Johu?" said Mr. Everett,
oncouragingy.
shes in trouble" haIf-stummercd
the boy, while the color dCepcncd on his
face.
"Ah, indeed? I'm sorry for that
What is the trouble, Johu?"
The tears, which John had been
vaiuly striving to rcpress, now gushed
over his face, and with boyish shame
for the weakness, he turned away and
struggled for q time with his oyurmas-
tering feelings.
Mr. Everett was no little moved by
Sc unexpected an exhibition. lie wait.
ed with a new born consideration ioI
the boy not unmingled with respect
until a measure Of calmncss was re-
stored.
"John," he then said, "if your moth
er is in trouble, it may be in my pow
er to relieve her"
80, sir!" exclaimed the lad, eagerly
coming up to Mr. Everett aud, in the
/ forgetlUlness Of the moment, laying
his small hand upon that Of his en-
| ployer, eff you will, you can
Hard indeed would have been the
heart that could have withstood the ap
| pealing eyes lifted by John Leyering
to the face Of Mr.. Everett. But MIR
Everett had not a hard heart Love
of self and the world had eucrustod il
with Indifference towards others, bu
the crust was now broken through,
"Speak freely, my good lad, said he
kindly. "Tell me of your mother
/ What is her trouble2"
1--WE are very poor, sir Tromu
ious and mournful was the boys voice
"And mother isn't we'll. She does al
she can, and my wages help little
But there are three of US children, unC
I am the oldest. None Of the rest car
earn anything. Mother couldn't hell
getting behind with the rent, sir, be
cause she hadn't the money to pay i
with. This morning, the man who own,
the house where we live, came for
some money, and when mother tOlC
him that she had none, he got, oh, 81
angry and frightened us all II,
said if the rent wasn't paid by to
morrow, he'd turn us all into the street
Poor motherI She went to bed sick.
Chow much does your mother owt
the man?" asked Mr., Everett.
so, it's great deal, sir I'm afraiC
she'll never be able to pay it, and
don't know what we'll do.
Chow much?"
Fourteen dollars, sir, answered tn,
lad
Us that alp" And Mr. Everett
thrust his hand into his pocket
"Here are twenty dollars. Run homr
to your mother, and give them to hor
with my compliments"
The boy grasped the money eagerly
and as he did so, in an irrepressibl
burst of gratitude, kissed the han,
from which he received il. He di,
not speak, for strong emotion choket
all utterance, but Mr. Everett saw
his heart in his large, wet eyes, ant
it was overlooking with thankfulness
"Stay a moment" said the broker
as John lowering was about passing
through the door. "Perhaps 1 ha,
better write a note to your mother.
81 wish you would, sir, % answered tn
boy, as he came slowly back,
A brief note was written, in whic
Mr.. Everett not only offered presen
aid, but promised, for the sake of oil
recollections that now were crowdin
fast upon his mind, to be the widow
future friend.
For half an hour after the lad de
parted, the broker sat musing, wit
his eyes upon tho floor. His thought
were clear and his feelings tranquil
He had made, on that day, the sun
Of two thousand dollars by a singl
transaction, but the thought Of thi
large accession TO his worldly good
did not give him a titho Of the pleas
ure he derived from the bestowal o
twenty dollars. He thought, too, o.
the three hundred dollars he had los
by a misplaced confidence yet, eve