The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-01-31

sNo, sir" said the boy sorroW1ully shak-
inc head aI had no money to pay eth
er for a physician or for medicine"
aHere, ? said the stranger, drawingsome
pieces of silver from his pocket, "here are
three dollars, take, them, and run imme-
diately for a physician"
Henry's eyes flashed with gratitude
he received tie money with stammer-
ing and almost inaudible voice, but with a
look of the warmest gratitude, he vanish
ed
The benevolent stranger instantly
sought the dwelling Of the sick widow
he entered little room. in which he could
see nothing but a few implements Of fe-
male labor-a miserable table, and an old
bureau, and a little bed which stood in one
corner on which the invalid lay. She ap-
peared weak and almost exharsted-and
on the bed at her feet, sat little boy, cry
ing as 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;
ooh, my sickness was deeper cause,
and one which is beyond the art of the
physician to cure I am a mother-a
wretched mother see my children sink
ing daily deeper and deeper in want, which
I have no means of relieving. My sick
ness is of the heart, and death alone can
end my sorrows but even death is dread
full to me, for it awallens the thought of
the misery into which my children would
be plunged, it"
Here emotion checked her utterance,
and the tears fowed unrestrained down
her cheeks. But the pretended physici-
an spoke so consolingly to her and man.
ifested SO warm sympathy for her con-
dition, that tie heart of the poor woman
throbbed with pleasure that was un-
wonted.
sDo not despair" said the stranger,
"think only Of recovering and of pre-
serving a life that is 50 precious to your
children. Can 1 write a prescription
here?"
The poor widow took little prayer
book from the hands of the child who sat
with her on the bed, and tearing out
a>blank leaf, have no other" said she,
but perhaps this will do"
4he stranger took a pencil from his
pocket and wrote few lines upon the
paper.
'This prescription said he, you will
find of great service to you. If it is nee
essary I will write you second. 1 have
great hopes of your recovery.
He laid the paper nthe table departed.
Scarcely was he gone when the eldest son
returned
aCheer up, dear mother" said he, going
to her bedside, and afectionately kissing
her aSee what a kind, benevolent strang-
er has given us. twill make us rich for
several days. 1t has enabled us to have
physician, and he will be here in mo-
ment. Compose yourself now, dear moth
er and take courage"
aCome nearer, my son." answered the
mother, looking with pride and affection
on her child. aCome nearer, that I may
bless you. God never forsalles the inno-
cent and the good. o may He watch over
you in all paths A physician has jnst
been here. He was a stranger, but he
spoke to me with Il compassion and kind
ness that were balm in my heart. When
he went away he left that prescription on
the table, see ifyou can read it.
Henry glanced at the paper and start
ed back-he took it up, and as he read it
through again and again, cry of won
derful astonishment escaped him.
aWhat is sit, my son," exclaimed the
widow, trembling with an apprehension
she knew not what.
aAh, read, dear mot srl God has heard
u.s."
The mother took the paper from the
hands of her son, but no sooner had she
fixed her eyes upon it than, "My God?'
she exclaimed, ''it is Washington" and
fell back fainting upon her pillow.
The writing was an obligation-for it
was indeed he-by which the widow was
toreceive the sum of one hundred dollars,
from his own private property, to be dou-
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