Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-01-11
The Bsg OF Reans.

ln q country village Of New England |
there dwet not many years since u lawyer
and u physician, both intelligent. educated
men; both members Of the same church. |
They have both passed away, but not with.
out doing some good in the world
Just ten years ago this month, one frosty
morning, there walked into that village
little boy; looking very tired and desolutc.
His garments were old, but neatly patched;
his hands and face wers clan, aud his hair
smoothly conbed; wiIhal, there was about
him most attractive air Of decent power
ty.
So thought DR.. A., as he drew near the
lad, who had seated himself upon stone
opposite his gate.
What are you thinking about, my little
man?' he kindly asked.
The boy started, stared ut the doctor
with his great brown eyes, as much as 10
suy, Can it be that such as you take any
interest in me? then the tears began 10
trickle over his bronzed cheek, aud fell
fast upon his patched garments.
The doctor was moved. lie patted the
boy gently on The head, and again asked
what be was thinking Of The child seem.
cd reassured aud despite his choking sobS,
exclaimed,
i was thinking, IL God would onIy open
q way for me TO become great and good
like you, how l might help my dear mother
who is working her life out 10 get bread
for her children,
! The doctor himself now brushed tear
from his eye, and softly said. still KEEPING
his hand upon the boys bead. Good, you
can certainly become; great too in virtue;
and all other greatness God is able to add
thereto. Take heart my son--aet if yon
would BE-
Oh sir if you would only help me. ex
claimed the lad, >pringug up aud conf ont
ing bis new-fouud friend with gIosing face
aud sparkling eyes.
The graceful attitude Of tho child the
vigor of bis expression, the seeming firm
ness of his purpose, taraed the scule with
the doctor j d. not need you, child, he
said but will take you aud give you a
start; may God help you the rest. YCu
may be my choreboy. l will board, clothe
and teach you until yon can do better. No
thanks, lad; but take my horse there to
the stable. aud tend him carefully,'
The boy silently obeyed, aud his bene-
factor turned away. The hearts Of both
were full Of gratitnde--the child's for his
new found home, and It's donors for the
rich assurance that be was only doing his
Makers bidding.
Neither the boy nor his patron had ever
reason to regret the decision of that morn
ing The one proved kind aud consider.
ate master, the other q careful, dlligent
servant. His evenings the boy eagerly
spent in stady and quickly mastered all the
branches taught in district schools. Here
he might have stopped despite bis lougings
aud have passed the rest of his days in
humble honest poverty, had not a mosl
trivial incident turned the whole current 4
his life.
One morning the good doctor, in his
daily visit TO his stable, while Iummagiug
in his hay NOV, stumbled upon a bag iulI
of beans-a half hnshel of nice, fresh heans
{ Here was a mystery. How came they
there? Was there anything wrong about
/ il? His wife could tell him nothing; so bs
r next had recourse to james. The boy
eolored, hesitated, stammered, and thea
was silent altogether.
r A faint suspicion flashed across the doe
e tors mind. Gould il bel mol be hune
0 the idea iFoul him at once. Honesty was
, stamped upon every feature Of that manly
T face
: The boy seemed to read, by intuition h
r every thought. Again ho put himself il
J. the half tragic altitude Of his hfst appea
0 to the doctor, aud exclaimed, "A thief No
c ia sooner die than touch what did not be
o long 10 me. Those beans my mother save'
y to help me buy Latin grammar wib.-
i Do you think j could be untrue to th
:. teachings of Saeh motkerH
!, No my lad, said the doctor, drnl
d grasping his hand, aud your mother ma,
/ well be proud of sReh son. Henceforll
g the way TO learning shall be no IhoTny ON
!. to you, If friends can help yon,'
h So il proved. The physician and laWye
o went hand in hand 10 snch works OF bene
Is violence; the large heart OF the one aud ~
!, abundant means of the other went wen 10
n getbcr. Their Kindly interest ana goo'