The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-01-10
''But the Greatest of These i, Charity

-'ttut tne SsIeatett oi ne>e IL Z nar1tb.
An incident IN The lite Of Young man in
this city came TO our knowledge the other
day, winch, from the spice of romance II
contains, as we'll As an illustration Of what a
vast deal of good slight bestowal of charity
sometimes does, makes il worthy of record.
As the yourg clerk and friend were pass
ing hastily through Broad street, one raw,
chill. DAY in November. a few years ago,
they saw standing near the corner of India
street, as they turned TO go down the wharf,
poor old woman, thinly clad in a calico
dress, taliered bonnet and shawl. holding
on her arm small basket I'm when wtre 4
few unin,lfiny iouking apples, which she
vainly offered 10 the hurrying pedestrians
that passed her. Her .tockinglrss feet,
thrust into old slippers, and few threads of
White hair scattered over her forehead, she
stood shiNerng IN tie keen searching wind
as Our Two clerks drew near.
Poor old woman said one, as be ap-
preached the poor creature. AMI with sud
den impulse he plunged his hand into his
pocket, aud, grasping every cent IL contained,
threw II into her bashet-ihe old woman's
~God bless vous' followed him on the frosly
air as he rapid. passed away. His compan-
ion, who Witnessed the acr, calculated. al the
moment of lis performance
bill. YOU fool to throw Your money
away in that manner on stree, hesgars"
Perhaps | am," >aid The other. "but |
could not hel p il: she may have been an I'M
poster, but do not believe il.
The next day The matter was forgotten,
ana indeed might never hav, been r,men.-
bered again. haI IL not been Brought 10 mind
IN the following mann-r
The next summer. one day, Is the Young
man Was ousy over ni> led.ers IN al inne.
countins-room at his employers store. he
Was summoned In the outer office BY the
message that some one wished Ia see him
Going ont. he saw waiting fine looking
sailor. Ia nautical Costume, who eved hin
c.o>e:, as h. approached.
Did A"u wish In >ee NE, sir
"ls ,our nane William -"
''ie>, sir, that's my name
"Biur eye hight mplexion. stands straight
speaks qalcA- sad the sailor, halt sollloquiz-
lrg.
'les Won must he ne man, you lvok iu.;
Ike II. SAID The Tar.
just lihe wha, ," sad the younc man. z
little surprised
"N ny, III ie.. YOU Overhaul Your log
and tell NE lfyog recolleci seeing a poor oli
woman, about ten months ago, ehiyerinc In
The cold IN Broad street. and irving 10 sell Z.
iew apples 10 keep her from starving, and
YOU threw dollar and half in silver change
INTO her basket and walked on-you did
Gl'in tou-kou cla remember IL cant you :"
said the sailor, with irverlsh anxiety
Somewhat Staggered by the questioners
easern.>s. Il was a moment or two before
the Young man could coiec, his thoughts.
~nen be replied that he itd recollect throw
inS some change into poor " oman basket,
but that the circumstance tad passed olI ut
ms memory.
An. hut she hasn't forgotten il :" said
the sailor, warmly. "but 90 YOU recolect what
The man who walked with You SAID ;" he in
qnfed.
"Whv, YES nox hat recall the circam-
stance, r:ank 30. lie said, Bill. what 4
fool Nou aTe 10 throw your money away.
"tnal proves Il. sal'i the sailor, vtullv,
and Ga>t..ng his lat pn The floor he seized
lhe a,roni>tiea koun-, man bt the hand, with
hearty grasp. >a,i.as. -tiod bless Your soul.
>lr .o'i sdred II, Ia ,her's life. va did
knew sou must h.. the man." continued he,
IN ~ nsioni>hed Clerk, the moment s,t
nay cyes upon ,ou. wfy. bless Your generous
heart, that ;,anr old woman Was III, III meth-r."
SAID t;l. >airr. hg tear running over his
brown cheek.
Drawing LIS guest aside. the clerk learned
that he il second Mate ut >t:p Don IN
port: that lac mad l'e-n searching for hi.
mothers bert:Actor for nearly three weeks
upon almost every wharf in that part of the
city; that durias his absence, the winter bee
fore. he had been taken SICK IN foreign port,
his mnthtr mad met with mi>fnrlun.s had
heard nothing from him. and WAS depri, ed
Of the provision he had made for her support
during ms absence : l;4at expecting 10 hear
trom Lam she nla,iaged, by various means 10
exc ont ~ existence I'll me chill month Of
November found her without food, fire. or
clothing. and driven n.r Ia the street 10 pro-
cNre them: thai the handful cf change which
t,ie Young man threw iHic her basket pro,id-
~ her with nr.,.s> aries I'LL other means for
ttnattly reached. her.
: In answer :" The clerk 5 inquiry as 10 What
clue he had 20 direc; aim IN has search. be re-
Piled
My mother marked you. sir, although YOU
walked OF so q'l;ca y. and her description of
the color of ,oar ewes and hair. ;an,l nf your
height. are correct. Furthermore, she heard
.our companion Gail ,ou .liill,' aud LAY some
thing about th" wharf, con~ciucnrl, con-
l Guided Nna ms, h. IN I store oa ,h,, whar: !;
80 ". heen iEio every store on the wharrr-
~h.reary Williams wcrc and or'rtaa!ed abaut
, tao t!c,en Bis hu, ,ii.iut run along side
,he true Ell I'll ! found .ou. >ir. There.
concluded The 81 or. -li.al', N, yarn. e.:
: could not rest easy iii thanked ,uu -
/: and that's what ". called 10 Do. My old
3. mother ! Wi nrcvi'!e'! FIR now, ard I'm
= second mr'' - 3, ship God pies> yeu, sir
1 III neyer forget yu',g ;.sine, and may toG
q nrver know wLa; ! j. Ia he poor,
And the sai.nr wrung The hand of hi> ben
!. factor. whose heart glowe,i with richness q
: the poor nla,i : l,,sirr, As he departed
/ E"s'"h fo",n,.,,'tui Buii.t,..