Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-02-11
hut the Greatest Of These is
Charity.

An incident in the life of a Young man
in Boston came to our knowledge the other
day. which, from the spice of romance il
contains, as well as an illustration of what
vast deal of good o slight bestowal OF
charity sometimes does, makes it worthy of
record
As the young clerk and friend were
passing hastily through Broad street, one
raw, chilly day in November, a few years
ago, they saw standing near the corner of
lndia street, as they turned to go down to
the wharf, poor old woman, thinly clad
in a cslico dress. tattered bonnet and shawl,
holding on her arm a small basket in which
were few uninviting looking apples,
which she vainly offered to the hurryinc
pedestrians that passed her. Her stock
ingiess feet thrus. into old slippers, and a
few threads of white hair scattered over
her forehead, she stood in the keen search~
ing wind as our two clerks drew near.
Poor old woman !" said one, AZ he an
preached the poor creature, and with q
sudden impulse he plunged his hand into
his pocket, and grabbing eyory cen. it cons
tanned threw it into her basket-the old
wOman's God bless you," following him
on the frosty air as be rapidly passed
away. His companion who witnessed the
act, CALCULATED at the moment Of its per-
fOrmance-
bill, you are fool to throw your mon
ey away IN that manner on street beg
CARS"
perhaps I am" said the other, "but
could not help it; she may be an imposter,
| but do not believe it."
The next day the matter was forgotten,
and indeed might never have been remem-
bored, had it not been brought to mind in
the following manner:
The next summer, one day, as the young
man was busy over his ledgers in an inner
counting room at his employers store; he
was summoned to the outer office by the
message that some one wished to see him.
Going out, be saw waiting fine looking
sailor, in a nautical costume, who eyed him
! closely as he approached.
"Did you wish to see me, sir?"
ais your name William"
Eyes, sir, that's my name"
BLUE eyes. light complexion, stands
straight, speaks quick" said the sailor, half
soliloquizing.
"Yes, you must be the man, you look
| just like it," said the tar.
"Just like WHAT" said the Young man.
little surprised.
why, I'll tell you. Overhaul your lg
and tell ue if you recollect seeing a poor
woman, about ten months ago, shivering in
the cold in Broad street. and trying to sell
few apples to keen her from starving,
and you threw dollar and half in silver
change into her basket and walked on
you did-didn't your" said the sailor with
feverish anxiety.
Somewhat staggered by the questioner's
eagerness, 1t was a moment before the
young man could collect his thoughts when
he replied tina. he did recollect throwing
some change into poor woma ms basket
but shat the circumstance had passed out OF
his memory.
"Ah! but she hasn't forgotten J" said tie
sailor warmly, "but do you recollect what
the man that walked with you said? ?" he
then inquired.
"Why. yes, now that I recall the cir
cumstance, think do. He said, Bill
whnt a foei yen are to throw your money
away"
THAT proves it," said the sailor ioyfully
dashing his hat on the floor he seized the
astonished yOuDg man by the hand, with
hearty grasp, saying, God bless your soul
sir! you saved my mothers life, you did
| know you must be the man." continued
he, to the astunished clerk, "the moment
| set my eyes on you; why, bless your gen
erous heart, that poor old woman was my
mother" said the sailor, a big tear runnin,
over his sun Drowned cheek.
Drawing his guest aside. the clerk learn
ed that he was second mate Of ship nov
in port that he had been searching 70
his mothers benefactor nearly three week
upon almost every wharf in that part o
the city that during his absence the win
ter before, he had taken sick in foreign
port his mother had met with misfortures
had heard nething of him, and was de-
prived of the provision lie had made 70
her support during his absence that ex-
pecting to hear from him she managed b,
various means to exc out an existence til
the chilling month of November found Le
without food, fire or clothing, and driver
her to the street to procure them that tn
! handful of change which the young ma
threw into her basket procured her necct
saries till other means fortunately reHchc
her.
Inanswer to the clerks inquiry as 70 wha
clue he had to direct him in his search, b
replied
"My mother marked you sir, althoug
you walked off so quickly, and her desert :
ton of the color of your eyes and hair, an
OF your height are correct. Furthermore
she beard your companion call you Bill
and say something about the wharf, sh
concluded you must be in store on tn
wharf; so Pye been into every store on tn
wharves where any Williams were, an
overhauled about two dozen 'Bills,' bu
didn't run alongside the true Bill till
found you, cir. There" continued tn
sailor, that's my yarn. | felt could G
rest easy till thanked you-aud that
what I've called to do. My old, poor oil
mother is well provided for how, and IF
second mate of q ship. God tless you, sill
Ill never forget your name, and may 70
never know what it is to be poor !"
And the sailor wruBg the hand Of hi
benefactUr.