Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-12-21
as You HAVE OPPORTUNITY.
BY T. s. ARTHUR

BY T. s. ARTHUR
Mr.. Frazier sat reading in his counting
room. He was in the midst of piece of in
teresting news, when lad came to the door
and said, " Do you want a boy, sir }"
Without lifting his eyes from the paper Mr..
Frszier answered Mol" to the applicant,
and in rather rough way.
Before the lad had reached the street, con-
science had compelled the merchant to listen
to rebuking sentence.
:. You might have spoken kindly to the
poor boy, at least" said conscience. This
is an opportunity"
Mr.. Frazier let the paper fall from before
his eyes, and turned to look at the lad. He
was snall-not twelve years old, to appear
ance-poorly attired, but clean. The mer-
chant tapped against one of the windows in
the counting room, and the boy glanced back
over his shoulder. A sign from the merchant
caused him to return.
What did you say just now?"
Do you want boy, sir ;" The lad re-
peated the words he had spoken, hesitatingly,
a few moments before.
Mr.. Frazier looked at him with suddenly
awakened interest He had fair girlish face;
dark brown eyes and hair; and though slen-
der and delicate in appearance, stood erect,
| and with manliness of aspect that showed
him to be already conscious of duty in the
world. But there did not seem to be much OF
I that stuff in him that is needed for the battle
of life.
"Take chair" said Mr.. Frazier, an in
voluntary respect for the lad getting posses
/ sion of his mind.
The boy sat down, with his large, clear eyes
| fixed on the merchants face.
How old are your"
al was twelve, sir, last month";" replied the
bay.
" What splendid eyes ! +" said the merchant
to himself And have seen them before
Soft, dark and lustrous as a womans."
| Away back in the past the thoughts of Mr.,
Frazier went, borne on the light from those
beautiful eyes and for some moments he for
got the present in the past. But when he
came back into the present again, he had
softer heart towards the stranger lad
You should go to school a year or two
longer" he said.
/" must help my mother" replied the lad.
" Is your mother very poor?"
Yes, sir; and she is sick"
The lads voice shook little, and his soft
womans eyes grew brighter in the tears that
filed them.
Mr. Frazier had already forgotten the point
of interest in the news after which his mind
was searching. when the boy interrupted him.
81 don't want lad myself said Mr. Fra
ezr, g but may be might speak good word
for you, and that would help you, you know.
| think YOU would make an honest, useful lad.
But you are not strong"
'Oh, yes sir. I'm strong!" And the boy
stood up in brave spirit.
The merchant looked at him with steadily
increasing interest.
What is your name?" " he asked.
Charles Leonard, sir"
There was an instant change in the MR.
chants manner, and he turned his face far
away that the boys eyes coud not see its ex-
preston. For long time he sat still and
silent-so long that the boy wondered.
" Is your father living? Mr.. Frazier did
not look at the boy, but still kept his face
away. His voice was low and not very even.
E" No, sir He died four years ago.
"Where The voice was quicker and
firmer.
:" In London, sir
" low long since you came TO America ?"
1.-TWO years. !
81 Have you been in this city ever since ?"
No sir We came here with my uncle
year ago. But he died u month after our ar
rival"
"What was your uncles name
Z" MIR. Hoyle, sir"
There came another lorg silence, in which !
L
countcnance But when he did look at him /
again, there was such new and kind express
sion in the eyes which seemed almost to de-
your his face, that he felt an assurance in his
heart that Mr. Frazier was a good man, and
would be friend to his mother.
" Sit there for little WHILE" said Mr. Fra
zer, and turning to his desk, he wrote a brief
note, in which, without permitting the lad to
see what he was doing, he enclosed two or
three bank bills.
"Take this to your mother" he said hand
ing the note to the lad.
You'll try to get me place, sir, won't
you? The boy looked to him in an appeal
ing look.
40 yes You shall have good place
But stay, you haven't told me where you
live"
AT No. = Melon street"
Very WELL" Mr.. Frazier noted down the |
street and number. And now take that note |
to your mother"
The merchant did not resume bis newspaper |
after the lad departed. He had lost all inter-
est in its contents. For long time he sat
with his hands shading his face, so that no one
saw its expression. If spoken to on any mat |
usual interest in business. The change in
him so marked, that one of his partners |
asked if he was not ILL.,
l feel a little dull,'' was evasivey answer |
ed.
Before his usual time Mr.. Frazier left the
store and went home. AS he opened the door |
of his dwelling, the distressed cries and sob |
bngs of a child came with an unpleasant
shock upon his ears. He went up stairs, with
two or three long strides, and entered the nur-
sery, from which the cries came.
What is the matter, darling - he aaid as |
he caught the weeper in his arms. What |
ails my little Maggy?"
40 papa, papa?" sobbed the child, cling
iae- to his neck, and laying her wet face close
/ TO his.
"Jars,F said Mr.. Frazier, looking at the |
nurse, anu speaking with some sternness of
manner, why is Maggy crying in this man.
| ner?7
The girl looked excited, but pale. ashes
been naughty" was her answer.
No, papa amt been naughty said the
child Indignantly. 81 don't want to stay here
all alone, and she pinched me and slapped me
so hard o papa!" And the child's wall
rung out again, aud she clung to his neck,
sobbing.
/ Has she ever pinched and slapped You be-