The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-12-25
The Bag az Rseans.
A TRUE INCIDENT.

-gH .E TRUE INCIDENT. !, 80 ~
In . country village in New England there
dwelt not many years ago, lawyer and a
physician, both intelligent, ed.cated men ;
both members Of the same church. They
have both passed away, but not without
doing some good in the world. #
Just ten years ago, one frosty morning,
there walked into that village . little boy,
looking very tired and desclate. Ills gar.
ments were OLD, hut neatly patched; his
hand. and fare wore clear. aui his hair
smoothly cdnlbcd witba', tliaFe was about
him most attractive air Of dscc;,t poverty.
So thought Dr. A., Is he drew nesr he
lad, who had seated hi6,se'f iHa stjne
opposi;e his gate pr 0 ~
''W hat are you thinking about, my little
man ?" he kindly asked.
Tho boy started, stared at the doctor with
his great brown eyes, as much as to say, Can
it be that such IS you take an interest in
me then the tears began to trickle over his
bronzed cheeks, and fell fast upon his patched
garments. 'fa at #a 9a
The doctor was moved. He patted the
boy gently on his head, and again asked
v hat he was thinking or The child seemed
reassured. and, despite his choking sobs, ex-
claimed, ~ 7t 100
~ was thinking, IL God would only open
way for me to become great and good like
you, how might help my dear mother, who
is working her life out to get hrcad for her
children" @' '.i'b's7f'a .''5
The doctor himself now brushed tear
fro n his eve, and softly said, stll keeping
his hand npon the boys head, "Good you
can certainly become great to, in virtue ;
and all other greatness God is able to add
thereto. Take heart, my son-aes If yo,
would Be-"
"Oh. sir. ify you would only help me-" ex-
claimed the la9, sprinyins up and confront
ing his new found friend with glowing face
and sparkling eyes. ~s zsag .,gr br.a s8
The graceful attitude Of the child, the
vigor ofhis expression, the seeming firmness
Of his purpose, turned the scale with the
doctor. 81 do not need you, chill, but I
will take you and give you start, may God
help vou dn the rest. You may be my
chore.boy. will board, cloths. and teach
you till vou can do better No thanks. lad;
hut take nv h ,rse there to the stable, and
tend him carefully
The boy silently obeyed, and his benefact
or turned away. The hears of both were
full Of gratitnde-the child's for his new.
found home. and its donor for the rich as
snrancc that he was but doing his Makers
bidding. @
Neither the boy nor his patron had eve,
reason to regret the decision of that morn
ing. The one proved kind and consider.
ate master. the other careful, diligent ser.
want. His evenings the boy eagerly spent
in study, and quickly mastered oil the
branches taught in district schools. Here
he might have stoppel, despite his lnngia-s
ani have passed the rest Of his davs in
humhle, honest poverty, hal not a most trivi
al inciien: turned The whole current Of hi.
lie. 1e'a9
0ne morning the good doctor, in his daily
visit TO his stable, while rummaging in his
hay NOW, stumbled upon bag full ofbeans
-onc.half hushel Of nice, fresh beans. Here
was mystery. How came they there! Tc
whom did they beIong' Was there any
thing wrong about it - His wife could tel
him nothing; SO he next had recourse te
James. The boy colored, hesitated, STAN
nered. and then was silent altogether.
A faint suspicion flashed across the doc
tors mind. Could it be No !! he fluns
the idea from him at once. Honesty wa.
stamped upon every feature of that manly
face.
The boy seemed to read. by intuition. hi,
every thought. Again he pu, himself in tn,
half.tragic attitude Of his first appeal to the
doctor, and exclaimed, "a tAieff MOI II
sooner die than touch what did not belong
to me. Those beans my mother saved I,
help me buy Latin grammar with. d.
you think cauld be untrue to such moth
er's teachings ~
'sNo. my lad," said the doctor, frnl,
L
grasping his hand, land your mother may
well be proud ofsacA son. Henceforth tn,
way to learning shall be no thorny one t,
you, If friends can help you."
So itproved. The physician and lawye
went hand in hand in such works of benevo
lence the large heart Of the one and tn
abundant means Of the other went we'll tn
gether. Their kindly interest and good ad
vice cheercd on the struggling boy. Book
he had in abundance and when the tim
came for HIM to l.cgin his student caree
amongst new scenes AMI faces, their influ
ence found him place whore his patiy
powers could begin T. carve out his destiny
That destiny is now we'll assured. Tn
iorlorn, di>irasting chore boy is now tn
srfpsssessed, hnaored professor. Natur
helgive him a co,nely person, and tn
graces have beca kind to him. His home i
amongst tine educated. the polished, and tn
! refined /; yet is he not uatrus I, his mother
teachiags and now even he grasps be
homely hand just IS warmly rs he did o.