Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-11-30
rs You Have Opportunity
ny T. s. ARTHUR.


Mr.. Frazier sat reading in his counting
room. He was in the midst Of piece Of
interesting news, when lad came TO the
door, and said, "Do you want boy, siri"
Without lifting his eyes from the paper,
Mr.. Frazier answered "No;" and in rather
rough way.
Before the boy reached the street, con-
science had compelled tho merchant to lis
ten 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 small, not twelve years old in appear
ance; poorly attired but clean. Tho 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 now9"
"Do you want boy, sir? The lad re-
peated the words he had spoken, hesitat-
ingly few moments before.
5 Mr.. Frazier looked at him with sudden
ly awakened interest. He had fair, girl
ish face; dark brown eyes and hair; aud
though slender and delicate in appearance,
stood erect and with with a manliness Of
aspect that showed him to be already con-
scious of duty in the world. But there did
not seem to be much of that stuff in him
that is needed for the battle Of life.
"Take chair" said Mr.. Frazier, an in.
voluntary respect for tho lad getting posses.
sion of his mind.
The boy sat down with hislarge clear eyes
fixed on the merchants face.
allow old are you9"
al was twelve, sir, last month";" replied
the boy.
"What splendid eyes, said tho merchant
to himself. "And have seen them before
Soft, dark and lustrous as woman's"!
Away back in the past the thoughts o
Mr.. Frazier went, borne on the light from
those beautiful eyes; and for some moments
he forgot the present in the past. Blu
when he came back into the present again
he had softer heart toward the strange
lad.
''You should 90 to school for year O
two longer" he said.
81 must help my mother" replied thu
lad.
ais your mother very poorp
"Yes, sir; and she's sick"
The lads voice was tremulous, and hi
soft, woman's eyes grow brighter in tn
tears that filled them.
Mr.. Frazier had already forgotten tn
point of interest in the news after which hi
mind was searching when the boy inter
rupted him.
81 don't want lad myself" said MI
Frazier, "but maybe l might speak a goo
word for you and that would help you, yo
know. think you would mako an honest
useful lad. But you are not strong"
"Oh, yes sir, l am strong" and the bo
stood up in brave spirit.
The merchant looked at him with a steaG
lily increasing interest.
"What is your name he asked.
"Charles Leonard, sill"
There was an instant change in the me-
chants manner and he turned his face S
far away that the boys eyes could not sc
its expression. For a long time he sat sti
80 long that the boy wondered.
0Is your father livingT Mr.. Frazier di
not look at the boy, but still kept his faC
away. His voice was low, and not vel
even.
"No, sir. He died four years ago"
"Where9" The voice was quicker an
firmer.
GIn London, sir"
"How long since you came to America
"Two years"
"Have you been in this city ever ersince
"No, sir. We came hero with my unc
year ago. But he died month after o.
arrival"
"What was your uncle's namep
"Mr. Hoyle, sir"
There came another long silence in whi'
the lad was not able to see the merchant
countenance But when he did look
him again, there was such a new and XII
expression to the eyes that seemed almo
to devour his face, that be felt an assuran
in his heart that Frazier was a good ma
and would be friend to his mother.
"Sit there for little WHILE" and turnil
to his desk he wrote a note, in which, wit
out permitting the lad to seq what he "
uOlnB, nc luClOSou bWo Dduh uLlS'
"Take this to your mother" he sa
handing the note to the lad.
''You'll try and get me place, won't y,
sirp The boy raised his head with an a
pealing look.
"Oh, yes. You shall have a good pla,
But stay, you haven't told me where y
live"
"At No. Melon street."
''Very'well." Mr.. Frazier noted do,
the street and number. "And now ia
that note to your mother"
The merchant did not resume his nev
paper after the lad departed. He had Il
all interest in its contents. For long tir
he sat with his hands shading his face
that no one saw its expression. If spok
to on any matter, he answered briefly, Al
with nothing Of his usual interest in bu
ness. The change in him was SO markC
that one Of his partners asked if he W.
not well.