Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-02-22
"But the Greatest Of these is Charity.

''But the Greatest Of these is Charity"
An incident in the life of young
man in Boston came to our knowledge
the other day. which from the spice of
romance it contains as well as an illus
tration of what vast deal Of good
slight bestowal of charity really does,
makes it worthy of record.
AS the young clerk and friend were
passing hastily through Broad street,
one raw, chilly day in Nove'+bcr, a
few years ago, they saw standing near
the corner Of India street, as they
turned to go down to the wharf, a
poor old woman, thinly clad i'll cali
co dress, tattcred bonnet and shawl,
holding on her arm small basket, in
which were few uninvitng looking
apples, which she vainly offered to the
hurrying pedestrians that passed her
Her stockingless feet thrust into old
slippers, and 4 few threads Of white
HAIR scattered over her forehead, she
stood in the keen searching wind as
our two friends drew near.
| OOl Oltl w Sftlti OHC, slS Ilc
approached the poor creature, and
with a sudden impulse he plunged his
hand into his pocket and grabbing ev-
cry cent it contained threw it into her
basket-the old woman's "God bless
you," following him on the frosty air
rs he rapidly passed away. His COM
panion who witnessed the act, e,jacu-
lated at the moment of It's perform
| ance-
bill, You are fool to throw your
money away in that manner on street
beggars."
sPerhaps I am,'' said the other,
"but could not help it: she may be
an impostor, but do not believe it.''
The next day the matter was for
gotten, and indeed light never have
been remembered had it not been
brought to mind in the following man
ner:
The next summer, ono day, as the
young man was busy over his ledgcrs
in al inner counting room at his ON
| ployer's store, he was summoned to
the outer Office by the message that
some one wished to see him. Going
out, he saw waiting fine looking sail
or, in q nautical costume. who eyed
him closely rs he approached.
"Did you wish to see me, sir? ?"
els your name William -??'
eyes sir, that's my name"
s'Blue eyes, light complexion, stands
straight, speaks quick, said the sailor,
half soliloquizing.
eyes, 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
log and tell me 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 keep
her from starving, and you threw q
dollar and half in silver change into
her basket and walked on-you did
didn't you?' said the sailor, with fe-
yerish anxiety.
Somewhat staggered by the ques-
toners cagerness, it was few mo-
ments before the young man could col
lect his thoughts, when he replied that
he did recolcct throwing some change
into woman's basket, but that the
circumstance had passed out of his
memory.
"Ah ! but she hasn't forgotten - said
the sailor warmly, "but do you recol-
lect what the man that walked with
you said ?" he then inquired.
"Why, yes, now that I recall the
circumstances, I think / do. He said
;, BILL, what fool you arc to throw
your money away"
That proves it, said the sailor JOY
fully, and dashing lis hat on the floor,
he seized the astonished young man by
the hand, with a 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 astonished clerk, ''the moment |
set my eyes on you; why, bless your
generous heart, that poor old woman
was my MOTHER" said the sailor, big
tear running over his sun Drowned
cheek.
Drawing his guest aside, the clerk
learned that he was the second mate
of IA ship now iii port; that he had
been searching for his mothers bene-
factor nearly three weeks upon every
wharf iE that part of the city; that
during his absence the winter before,
he had been taken sick in q foreign
port, his mother had met with misfor-
, tunes, had heard nothing Of him, and
| was deprived of the provision he had
; made for her support during bis alb
sence: that expecting to hear from him
she managed by various means to exc
f out an existence, till the chilling month
/ of November founo her without food