Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-03-14
"But the Greatest of These is
Charify."

"But the Greatest of These is
Charity"
An incident in the life of young man
in this city came to our knowledge the other
day, which from the spice of romance it
contains, as well as an Illustration Of what
a vast deal of good slight bestowal of
charity sometimes does, makes it worthy of
record.
As young clerk and a friend were pass
ing hastily through Broad street, one raw,
chilly day in November, a few years ago,
! they saw standing noar the corner Of India
street, as they turned to so to the waif a
poor woman, thinly clad in calico dress,
tattered bonnet and shawl, holding on her
arm a small basket in which were few
uninvitins apples, which she vainly offered
TO the hurrying pedestrians that pessed
With her stockingless feet thrust into old
slippers, and few threads Of white hair
scattered over her forehead, she stood shiv-
ering in TIE keen, searching wind as our
two clerks drew near.
Poor old woman = sail one, as he ap-
preached the poor creature, and with a sud-
den impulse he plunged his hand into his
pocket and grasping every cent it contained d
threw them into her basket-the old wo-
mans God bless you following him on the
frosty air as he rapidly passed away.-IIis
companion, who witnessed the act, ejaculat-
cd, at tho nnonaont of it's performance
"Bill, you are a fool to. throw your
money away in that manner or street beg
garS."
" Perhaps | am" said the other, shut
could not help it; she might have been an
impostor, but do not believe it,"
The next day the matter was forgotten,
and indeed might never have been remem-
bered again had it not been brought 10 mind
in the following manner:
The next summer, one day, as the young
man was busy over his ledsers 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 he saw fno looking sailor, in
nautical costume, who eyed him closely as
he approached.
did you wish TO see me, sir 2"
ais your name William-?"
"Yes, sir, that's my name.'
"Blue eyes light complexion, stands
straight, speaks quick" said the sailor, half
soliloquising.
Yes, you must be the man, you look
just like it," said the tar.
"Just like what ?" asked the young man,
little surprised.
"Why, I'll tell you. Overhaul your log
and tell me if you don't recolIect seeing a
poor old woman, about ten months ago
shivtring in the cold in Broad street, and
trying to sell few apples to keep from
starving, and you threw dollar and hall
into her basket and walked on-you-d did
y
: you ?" said the sailor with feverish anxiety.
Somewhat staggered by the questioner's
eagerness, it was some moments before the
young man could collect his thoughts, when
he replied that he did recollect throwing
some change into poor woman's basket,
but that the circumstances had passed out
of his memory,
"Ah but she hasn't forgotten it! said
the sailor warmly, but do you recollect what
the man that was with you saidY' he in
quired.
Why, yes, now that recall the circum-
what fool you are to throw your money
away"
That proves it" said the sailor. joyfully,
and dashing his hat upon the floor, he seiz-
ed the astonished Young man by the hand,
with hearty grasp, saying, "God bless
your soul, sir ! you saved my mothers life,
you did. knew you must be the man."
continued he, to the astonished clerk, .'the
moment set my eyes on you why, bless
j your generous heart, that poor woman was
my mother" said the sailor, a big tear run
ming down biz brown cheek.
4 Drawing his guest aside, the clerk learn
ed that he was second mate OF a ship now
in port that he had been searching for his
mothers benelaetor for nearly ihr-e weeks,
upon almost every wharf in that part of the
city ; that, during his absence the winter
before, he had been taken sick in q foreign