Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-10-05

The benevolent stranger instantly sought
the dwelling Of the sick widow. lie en-
tered a little room in which be could see
nothing but few implements Of female
labor--a miserable table, and an old bu-
resu, and little bed iu which the invalid
lay. She appeared weak and almost ex.
baGsted, and on the bed at her feet sat a
little by crying ss if his heart would
break.
Deeply moved at the sight. the stranger
drew near the bedside Of the invalid, and
feigning to be physician, inquired into
the nature of her disease.
The symptoms were explained in few
words, when the widow, with deep sigh,
added, "Oh, my sickness has deeper
cause, and one which is beyond the art Of
physician to cure. | an a mother-a
wretched mother. l see my children
sinking daily deeper and deeper in want,
which 1 have no means of delivering. Ny
sickness is Of the heart, and death alone
can end my sorrows; but even death is
dreadful to me, for it wakens the thought
of the misery into which my children
would be plunged, it -" Here emotion
checked her ut,erauce and the tears nowe ed
unrestrained down her cheeks. Blu, the
pretended physician spoke consolingly 10
her and manifested 50 warm sympathy
for her condition, that the heart OF the
poor woman throbbed with pleasure that
was unwonted.
"Do not despair said the stranger,
" of recovering, and of preserving life
SO precious to your children. Car | write
a prescription here?'
The poor widow took little PRAYER
book from the hands Of the child who sat
on the bed with her, and tearing out a
blank leaf, II have 10 otLer," said she,
" but perhaps this will do
The stranger took a pencil from bis
pocket and wrote few lines upon the
paper.
This prescription" said he, you will
find of service to you. If it is necessary,
| will write you second. | have great
hopes of your recovery"
He land the paper on the table and de.
parted. Scarcely was he gone when the
eldest son returned.
- Cheer up, dear mother said he, go
ing to her bedside and affectionatcly kiss.
ing her, See what kind. benevolent
rich for several days 1t has enabled US
to Lave physician, and he will be here
in moment. Compose yourself, dear
mother, and take courage"
" Come nearer, my son." answered the
mother, looking with pride and affection
on her child Come nearer, that may
bles, you. God never ,orsakes the inno-
cent and the good. o, may he watch
over you in all your paths A physician
has ust been here. He was stranger
but be spoke to me with compassion
and kindness that were balm to nv
heart When he went away he left pre-.
scrip,ion on the table; see if you can
read it,
Henry glanced at the paper and started
back; he took it up, and as he read it
through again and again, cry of won.
derful as'onishment escaped him.
"What is it, my SOM" exclaimed the
widow, trembling with an apprehension Of
she knew not what.
"Ah, read, dear mother. God ha.
heard us
The mother took the paper from the
hands OF her son, but no sooner had she
fixed her eyes upon it than, Ny God y
she exclaimed, ii, is Washington y and
fell back iain,ing upon her pillow.
The writing was an obiigaton-for it
was indeed he-by which The widow was
to receive the sum o. one hundred dollars
from his own private property, TO be doub
led if necessary.
Meanwhile the expected physician made
his appearance, and soon awoke the moth
er from her fainting ft. The joyful sur
prise, together with a good nurse, with
which the physician provided her, and
plenty Of wholesome food, eoon restored
her to perfect health.
The influence of Washington, who visit.
ed them more than once, provided for the
widow friends who furnished her with
constant employment, and her sons, when
they arrived at the proper age, were placed
in respectable situations, where they were
able to support and render .he remainder
Of their mother life comfortable and
happy.
Let the children who read this story,
remember, when thinking Of the great
and good WAsHlNGToN that he was not
above entering the dwelling Of prover,y,
and carrying JOY and g!adnees to the
hearts Of its inmates. This is no fictitious
tale, but only one of thousand incidents
which might be related OF him, and which
stamp him one of the best OF men.