The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-02-28
From the Boston Commercial T,ulleiin,
But the Greatest of These ia CHARITY :,

"u' 'n0 "roatese Oh lnese Is Charity"
An incident in the life Of young man
in this city came 10 our knowledee the
other day. which, from the spice Of ro-
nance II contains, as well as an iIlustra-
ton Of what vast deal OF good slight
besIowal o! charity sometimes does, makes
!; worthy Of record.
AS the young clerk and friend were
passing hastily through Broad street one
raw, chilly day iE November, a few years
ago, they saw, standing near the corner of
India street, as they turned 10 90 down
the wharf. poor old woman, thinly clad
in calico dress, tattered bonnet and
shawl, holding on her arm a small basket.
in which were few uninvting looking
apples, which she yaiDly offered TO the
hurrying pedestrians that passed her,
Her stockingless feet, thrust into old
slippers, and few threads OF white hair
scattered over her forehead, she stood
shivering in the keen, searching wind, as
our two clerks drew near.
Poor old woman p said one as he an.
preached the poor creature, and with a
sudden impulse he plunged his hand into
bis pocket, and, grasping every cent IL
contained, threw il into her basket-tbe
old woman's "God bless yous" following
him on the frosty air as he rapidly passed
away. His companion, who Witnessed
The act, calculated at the moment of its
performance
"Bill, you are fool 10 throw your
money away in that manner on stree. bec-
gars."
"Perhaps / am" said The other, "but I
could not help 1t; she may be an imposter,
but | do not believe it."
The next day the matter was forgotten,
and indeed might never have been re-
membered again, had il not been brought
TO mind in the following manner:
The next summer, one day, az the
young man was busy over his iedgers in
an inner counting room at his employers
store, he was summoned to the outer
office by the message that some one
wished 70 see him. Going out. he saw a
ine looking sailor, in nautical costume,
who eyed him closely as he approached.
"Did you wish TO see me, sir 2"
"ls your name William --?'
"Yes, sir, that's my name"
"Blue eyes, light complexion, stands
straight. speaks quick" saidt he sailor, half
soliloquizing.
Eyes. you must be the man, you look
just like il" said the tar.
"Just Ike whai?' said the young man,
a little surprised.
why, I'll tell you !! Overhaul your
log, and tell me if you reco!,ect seeing a
poor old woman, about ten months ago.
shivering in the cold ia Broad street, and
trying TO sell few apples to keep her
from starving. and you threw a dollar and
half in silver change into her basket, and
walked on-you did-didn't you-you
can remember l., cant you ?" said the
sailor with feverish anxiety.
Somewhat staggered by the question
er's eagerness. it was q moment or two
before the young man could collect his
thoughts, when he replied that he did
recollect throwing some change into
poor woman's basket. but the circum-
stance had passed out of his memory.
"Ah but she hasn't forgotten II said
the sailor warmly "but do you recoIlect
what the man that walked with you said?"
he inquired.
"Why, yes. now that recall the cir
think do. He said, Bill,
what fool you are to throw your money
away" =
"rhal proves IT," said the sailor, Joy
fully. and dashing his hat on the loor, be
seized The astonished young man by the
hand with hearty grasp, saying, "God
bless your soul, sir | you saved nv
mothers life, you did knew you must
be the man." continued he. to the aston
ished clerk, "the moment set nv ewes
on you why. bless your generous heart,
that poor old woman was nv mother"
said the sailor, big lear running over
his brown cheek.
Drawing his guest aside, the clerk
learned that he was second mate Of shin
now in port that he had been searching
for his mothers benefactor for nearly
three weeks. upon almost every wharf in
that part OF the city; that, during his alb
sence the winter before. be had been
taken sick in foreign port, his mother
h"u met Win mislortunes, had heard
nothing from him, aud was deprived of
the provision he had made for her sup.
port during his absence; that, expecting
TO hear from him, she managed. by va.
rious means. TO exc out an existence till
The chill month Of November found her
without food, fire or clothing, and drove
her to the street TO procure them that
The handful Of change which the young
man threw into her basket, procured her
necessaries till other means fortunately
reached her. st-aL
In answer 10 the clerks inquiry as TO
what clue he had to direct him in his
search, he replied : I
"My mother marked you, sir, although
you walked off SO quickly and her
description Of the color of your eyes and
hair. and OF your height, are correct
Furthermore, she heard your companion
call you Bill, and say something about
he wharf SO I've been into every store
on the wharves where there were any
Villains. and overhauled about two dozen
Bills but didn't run alongside the true
Bill ill ! found you, sir. There" con-
rludad the aailar GIihaIpa ,,ou worn lalI