The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-04-23
AS YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY.
BY T. 8. ARTHUR.

BY T. 8. ARTHUR.
Mr.. Frazier sat reading in bis counting
room. He was in the midst Of piece Of in
teresting news, when a lad came to the door,
and said, "Do you want boy, sirl"
Without lifting his eyes from the paper Mr..
Frazier answered "Ne." to tho applicant, and
in rather a rough way.
Before tho lad reached the srsst, conscience
had compelled tho merchant 10 listen to re-
buking sentence.
"You might have spoken kindly TO the
poor boz, at least" said conscience. "This
Is an opportunity"
Mr.. Frazier let tho paper fall from before
his eyes, and turned to look at the lad. He
was small-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 slender. A sign from the mcr-
chant causeed his return.
"What did you say just nowi'
"Do you want a boy, sirF The lad repeat
ed the words he had spoken, hesilatingly, a
few moments before.
Mr.. Frazier looked at him with suddenly
awakened interest. He had a fair, sirlish
face; dark brown eyes aud hair; and though
slender and delicate in appearance, stood
erect, and with a inaniucss of aspect that
showed him to he already conscious Of duty
in the world. But there did not seem to be
much Of tha, stuff in him that is needed for
the battle of life.
"Take chair" said Mr. Frazier, an iuvo-
| fo~ lha toI
of lis miLd.
The boy sat down, with his large, clear
eyes fixed on the merchants face.
"How old are your
81 was twelve, sir, last month, replied
the boy.
"WLat splendid eyes," said the merchant
TO himself "And | have seen them before.
Soft, dark and lustrous as a woman's"
Away back in the past the thoughts Of
Mr.. Frazier went, borne on the light from
those beautiful eyes, and for some moments
he forgot the present in the past. But when
he came back into the present again, he had
n softer heart towards the stranger lad.
"You should 60 TO school for year or two
longer" he said.
81 must help my mother" replied the lad.
"ls your mother very poor"
ayes sir; and she's SICK
The lads voice shook little, and bis soft
womsn's eyes grsw brighter in tho tears that
filed them.
Mr.. Frazer had already forgotten the
poin of interest in the news after which his
mind was searchings when tho boy interrupt
ed him.
~ don't want lad myself" said Mr.. Fra'
rier, "but may be l 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 am strong| And the boy
stood up in brave spirit.
The merchant looked at him with ST eadi.
ly increasing interest.
"What is your name3" he asked.
"Charles Leonard, sir"
There was an instant change in the mer-
chants manner, and he turned his face so far
away that the boy could not see its expres.
sion. For long time he sat still and silent
so losg that the boy wondered.
81, your father lvingi' Mr.. Frazier did
not look at the boy, but still kept his face
away. His voice was low and not very even.
"No, sir. He died four years ago"
"Whero!" the voice was quicker and firm
| or.
"In London, sir"
allow long since you came to America"
1.-TWO years"
"Have you been in this city ever since3"
HNo, cir, We came hero with my uncle a
year ago. But he died month after our ar
rival"
"What was your uncle's namcw
"Mr. Hoyle, SIR"
There came another loug pause, in which
the lad was not able TO see the merchants
couutenauce. But when he did look at him
again, there was such kind expression to
the eyes which seemed almost TO dev our his
face, and he felt an assurance in his heart
that Mr.. Frazier was good man, and would
be friend 10 his mother"
"Sit there for a little WHILE" said Mr. Fra.
zier, and turning to bis desk he wrote note,
in which without permitting the lad TO see
what he Was doing enclosed two or three bank
bills
"Tako this to your mother" he said, hand.
ing = note to the lad.
"You'll try and get ma place won't you !!
The boy lifted 10 bin an appealing look.
20 yes. You shall have good place.
Blu, stay, you bsvn't tod mo where you
live.
AT No-Melon stree"
"very we'll" Mr.. Frazier noted down the
street and humber. "And now tako that
note 20 your mother"
| 4, merchant did not resume his new.pa
per after the lad departed. lie had lost all
interest in its CONTENTS. For a long time he
sat with lis hands shading bis face, so that
no one saw its expression. If spoken to on
any matter. he answered briefly, and with
nothing Of his usual interest in business. The
change in I'm was so marked, that Que of his
partners asked IL no were not well.
al fOcl little dull, was evasvely answer.
ed.
Before the usual time Mr.. Frazier left the
storc and went houe. IA he opened che