Worcester daily spy., 1861-08-09
dNortestet DalIp Spp.

BY MRS. ST. SIMON

Providence PrOspers Honesty.
BY MRS. ST. SIMON
poor boy, about ten years of age, entered
the warehouse off, rich merchant Samuel
Ritcher, in Dantzic, and asked the book keep.
er for aims. "You will get nothing here, y
grumbled the man, $50 be off p
Weeping bitterly, the boy gided towards
the door, at that moment Herr Ritcher enter.
ed.
What is the matter here z" he asked, turn.
ing towards the book keeper.
"a worthless beggar boy" was the mans
answer, and he scarcely looked up from his
work.
In tile meanwhile Herr Ritcher glanced to-
wards the boy, and remarked that, when close
10 the door, he picked up something from the
ground.
"Ha my little lad, what is that you picked
up 2" he cried. The weeping boy turned and
showed him needle.
"And what will you do with it :" asked the
other.
"My iacket las holes in it" was the an
Swer, al will sew up the big ones"
Herr Ritcher was pleased with the reply
and still more with the boys innocent, hand
some face.
"But are you not ashamed" he said, in
kind, though serious tone, "you, so young
and hearty to beg Can you not work %
"Ah, my dear sir" replied the boy, 81 do
not know how, and | am too little yet to thresh
or fall wood. My father died three weeks ago.
and my poor mother and little brothers have
eaten nothing these two days Then / ran
out in anguish, and begged for aims. But
alas a single peasant only gave me yesterday
piece of bread since then have not eaten
morse ~
1t is quite customary for beggars by trade
to contrive tales like this, and thus hardens
many heart against the claims of genuine
want But this time the merchant trusted the
boys honest face. He thrust his hand into
his pocket, drew forth piece of money and
said
"There is a half dollar, go to the bakers
and with half the money buy bread for your
self, your mother and brothers, but bring the
other half to me"
Tie boy took the money, and ran joyfully
away.
"Well,'' said the surly book keeper, ''he will
laugh in his sleeve, and never come back
again"
"Who knows 2" replied Herr Ritcher And
just as he spoke he beheld the boy returning,
running quickly with large loaf of black
bread in one hand, and some money in the
other
"There, good sir" he cried almost breath.
less, there is the rest of the money" Then,
being very hungry, he begged at once for a
knife 10 cut off piece OF the bread The
bookkeeper reached him in silence his pocket
knife.
The lad cut off slice in great haste, and
was about to bite upon il. But suddenly he
hethought himself laid the bread aside and
folding his hands, reheaTscd silent prayer
Then he fell to his meal with hearty appe-
tite.
The merchant was moved by the boys un-
affecting piety. He inquired after his family
at home, and learned from his simple nara
tive that his father had lived in village,
about four miles from Dantzic, where he own
ed a small house and farm. But his house
had been burned to the ground, and much
sickness in his family had compelled him to
sell his farm. He had then hired himself out
to rich neighbor, but, before three weeks
were at an end, he died, broken down by glief
and excessive toll. And now his mother,
--i'sss.s -. - l'sa ~. s'~' q
ness, was, with her four young children, suf
fering the bitterest poverty. He, the eldest,
lad resolved TO seek for assistance, and had
gone at first from village to village, then had
struck into the high road, and at last, having
begged everywhere il vain had come TO Dan
tzic.
The merchants heart was touched. Hehad
but one child, and the boy appeared to him
as draft at sight, which providence had
drawn upon him as test Of his gratitude.
"Listen, my son, he began, "have you then
really wish to learn !'
"0h, yes ; have, indeed !" cried the boy,
Il have read the catechism already, and |
should know good deal more, but at home
had always my little brother to carry, for
my mother was sick in bed.
Herr Ritcher suddenly formed his resolu-
tion.
"Well, then" he said, "as you are good and
honest, and Industrious, | will take good care
of you. You shall learn, have meat and drink,
and clothing, and in time earn something be.
sides. Then you can support your mother
and brother also"
The boys eyes flashed with joy. But in
moment he cast them to the ground again,
and said sadly, "My mother all this while has
nothing to eat"
AT this instant, as if sent by providence, an
inhabtant of the boys native village entered
Herr Ritcher's house. The man confirmed
the lads story, and willingly consented to
carry the mother tidings of her son Gottlieb
and food and small sum of money from the
merchant. AT the same time Herr Ritcher di
rected his book,keeper 10 write letter TO the
pastor of the village, commenting the widow
to his care, with an additional sum for the
poor family, and promising future assistance
AS soon as this was done, Herr hitcher al
and at noon led him to his wife, whom he ac-
curately informed OF little Gottlieb's story and
OF TIE plan which he had formed Tor him. The
good woman readily promised her best assls
tance in the latter, and she faithfully kept her
word.
During the next four years, Gottlieb atten
ded the schools of the great commercial city
then his faithful foster father took him into
his counting room, in order to educate him for
business. Here, as well as there, at the writ
ing desk as on the school bench, the ripeDng
youth distinguished himself not only by his
natural capacity, but by the faithful industry
with which he exercised it, With all this,
his heart retained its native innocence. OF
his weekly allowance, he sent the half regu.
larly TO his mother until she died, after having
survived two OF his brothers She had passed
the last years of her life, not in wealth it is
true, bnt by the aid of her no6Ier Richer and
of her faithful son, in a condition above want.
After the death of his beloved mother there
was no dear friend lett to GottlIeb in the world
except his beneiactor Out Of love for him he
became an active, Jealous merchant. He be-
gan by applying the superf1uity Of his allow.
ance, which he could now dispose of at his
pleasure, to a trade in Hamburg quilts. When
by care and prudence he had gained about
hundred and twenty dollars, it happened
that he found in his native village a consid-
cradle quantity OF hemp and flax, which
was very good, and still to be had at a reason
able price He asked his foster father 10 ad-
vance him two hundred dollars, which the lat
ter did with great readiness. And the busi-
ness prospered so well, that, in the third year
of his clerkship, Gottlieb had already acquired
the sum of five hundred dollars. Without
giving up his trade III flax, he now tratficked
also in linen goods, and the two combined
10 /. in 10 nf ahnnt
sand dollars richer.
rrh;s l,appanad dt,riner tho nnctnn,orv fva %