Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-30

thought you looked ike a stranger, sir, and
something in your face overcame my shame,
and gave me courage to speak to you. Oh !
sir, do pity my motherr
The tears and the SIMPLEX moving Lam
guage of the boy touched chord in the
Stranger that was accustomed to vibrations
Where does your mother live, my boy 2
said he IN husky voice it is not far
from from here 2
She lives in tie last house on this street,
SIR replied Harry. You can see it from
here, in the third block, and on the left
hand side.'
Have you seat for physician?'
No SIR said the boy, sorrowfully sha-
king his head, 4 have no money to pay
neither for physician nor medicine
Here said the stranger, drawing pieces
of silver from his pocket-shere are three
dollars take them and run Immediately
for physician
Henry's eyes flashed with gratitude; he
received the money with stammering and
inaudible voice, but with a look of the war
NEST gratitude and vanished.
The benignant stranger Immediately
sought the dwelling of the sick widow
He entered the little room in which he
could see nothing but few implements of
female labor, miserable table, an old bu-
reau, and little bed which stood in one
corner, on which the invalid lay. She ap-
peared weak and almost exhausted, and in
her bed, at her feet, sat little boy, cry
ing as if his heart would break.
noorlr ,,,oyod ho s.orhf tho Giro N
ger drew near to the bedside of the inva-
lid, and feigning to be physician, inquired
into the nature of her disease. The symp-
toms were explained in few words, when
the widow, with deep sigh, added: %
sir, my sickness has deeper cause, and is
beyond the art of the physician to cure
am mother-wretched mother. see
my children sinking daily, deeper and deep
er, into want which I have no means Of
relieving. My sickness is of the heart, and
death alone can end my sorrows; but even
death is dreadful to me-for it awakens
the thought of misery into which my chill
drer would be plunged if
Her emotion choked her utterance, and
tears flowed unrestrained down her checks
But the pretended physician spoke so con
ditionally that the heart of the woman throb
bed with pleasure that was unwonted.
do not despair said the beneyolen
stranger think of preserving life that i
| so precious to your children. Can | writ'
prescription here?,
The poer widow took little praye
book from the hand of her little child wh'
sat with her in the bed, and tore out
blank leaf.
4 have no other paper she said; bu
| perhaps that viii do
The stranger took pencil from his pock
ct, and wrote few lines upon the paper
This prescription, said he, you will fin
i of great service to you. If it is necessar
| will write you a second. have gres
i hopes of your recovery
He laid the paper on the table and wer
away.
1 Scarcely was he gone, when the eide
! son returned.
Cheer up mother said he going to b.
j her beside and affectionately kissing he
See what kind and benevolent strar
t ger has given us. 1t will make rs rich ft
| several days. 1t has enabled us to have
el physician and he will be here in momen
t Compose yourself, now, dear mother, an
8 take courage
t Come nearer, my son. answered tt
: mother, looking with pride and affectic
l. on her child. Come nearer, that | ma
$ bless you. God never forsakes the innoce1
:. and good. Oh, may he still watch ov
e you in all yonr paths A physician h
= horo H. CTR h
ol spoke to me with kindness and compa
(. sion that was balm to my heart. Wh'
: he went away he left that prescription {
d the table; see if you can read it.
:, Henry glanced at the paper and start'
is back-he took itup, and as he read
J. through again and again, cry of wond
r and astonishment escaped him.
d sWhatis it, nv son. exclaimed the po
It widow, trembling with an apprehension
otl she knew not what.
vi sAh, read, dear, dear mother! God b
al heard u.s.
ID The mother took the paper from t
as hand OF her son but ne sooner had she
le ed her eyes upon it than Ny God = s
h exclaimed. 1t is Washington and
leE back fainting upon her pillow.
ID The writing was an obligation frC
Washington (for it was he,) by which
as widow was to receive the sum of one ht
i'd died dollars from his own private prop
ys ty, to be doubled in case of necessity.
= Meanwhile the expected physician ms
,e- his appearance, and soon awoke the mo
ot er from her faiating fit. The joyful s
,r- prise, together with the good nurse "
ny which the physician provided her, an
ty plenty of wholesome food, soon restor
her to perfect health again.
n The influence of Washington, who '
ted her more than once, provided for
ais widow friends who furnished her with c
nd slant and profitable employment, and
eIyt sons, when they had arrived at the pro
,ss, age, were placed in respectable situate
nd where they were able 10 support thernsel
lb- and to render the remainder of their ms
ny- er's life comfortable and happy.
of Let the children who read this story
an member, when they think of the great
,th- good Washington, that be was not al
At ] entering the dwellings, of poverty, and
ork rying Joy and gladness into the heart
tore its inmates. This is no fictitious tale,
she is one of thousand incidents which m
lerei be related Of him, and which stamps
dof one Of the best of men.