The Portland daily press., 1864-05-07
SELEC TIONS.


ssGood Deeds never Die.'
An incident in the life of q young man in
this city, came to our knowledge the other
day, which from the spices OF romance IL con-
tains, as well as an illustration of what vast
deal of good slight bestowal OF charity some
times does, make il worthy OF record.
As the Young clerk and friend were pass
ing hastily along Broad street, one raw, chilly
day in November few years ago, they saw
standing near the corner of India street, as
they turned to go down the wharf, poor old
woman, thnly clad in calico dress tattered
bonnet and shawl, holding on her arm a small
basket in which were few uninviting looking
apples, which she yainly offered the hurrying
pedestrians that passed her. Her stoekingless
ieet thrust into old slippers, and few threads
OF white hair scattered over her forehead, she
stood shyering in the keen, searching wind
~ our two clerks drew near.
"Poor old woman said one, as he approach
ed the poor old creature, and with sudden
impulse he plunged his hand into his pocket
and grssping every cent II contained, threw
IL into her basket,-the old woman's God
bless yours" followed 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 a fool TO throw your money
away ia that manner. on street beggars.r
perhaps am" said the other. but could
not help Il; she may have been an impostor,
but do not believe IT,"
The next summer, one day as the young
man was busy over his ledger, In an inner
counting-room at his employers store be was
summoned to the outer Office by the message
that some one wished TO see him. Going out
he saw waiting fine looking sailor, In nauii-
cal costume, who eyed him closely as he APP
preached
Ibid you wish 10 see me. STRIP
as your name Wm.-g"
"Blue eyes, light complexion, stands straight,
speaks 9uick," said the sailor, half soiioquis-
ing" Yes. you must be the man, you look
Just like it," said the tar.
"Just ike WHAT" said the young man, a
little surprised.
why, I'll tell youl overhaul your log and
tell me II you recollect seeing poor old wO-
man about ten months ago. shiveiing in the
cold 10 Broad street, aud trying TO sell few
apples 10 keep her from starving, you threw
dollar and half 10 silver into her basket aud
walked on. You did, didn't you?-you can
remember IL, can't you?' said the sailor with
feverish anxiety.
Somewhat staggered by the quesuoners ca
gerness, it was a moment or two before the
young man could collect his thoughts, when
he replied that be did recollect throwing some
change into poor woman's basket, but that
the circumstance had passed out OF his memo
~:
lor, warmly, "but do you reeollect what the
man who was walking with you said ?" he in
quired.
why, yes, now that | recall the circum-
stances I think do He said. Bill what a
fool you are TO throw your money away"
"That proves It," said the sailor, joyfully,
and dashlng his 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,
knew you must be the man, !" continued he to
the astonished clerk, "the moment / set my
eyes upon you why bless your generous heart,
that poor old woman was my mother" said
the sailor, big tear running over his brown
cheek.
Drawing his guest aside, the clerk learned
that he was the second mate OF a ship now in
port; that he had been searching for his moth
er's benefactor for nearly three weeks, upon
almost every wharf in that part of the city
that during his absence the winter before, he
had been taken sick in foreign port, his moth
er had met with misfortune, had heard moth
ing from him, and was deprived of the pro-
vision he had made for her support during his
absence; that expecting TO hear IRON him she
had managed, by various means, to exc out an
existence till the chill month of November
found her without food, fire or clothing. and
eAiFCu W tuc stitct W piOCuit IL Iudt iHt
handful of change which the young man threw
into her basket provided her with necessaries
till other means fortunately reached her.
In answer to the clerks inquiry as TO what
clue he had TO direct him in his search, he re-
plied-"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 some
thing about the wharf, consequently / con-
cluded you must be In store on the wharf;
so I've been into every store on the wharves
where there were any Williams and overhaul
ed about two dozen Bills but / didn't run
along side the true Bill till found you, sir"
"There," concluded the sailor that's my
yarn. | felt / couldn't rest easy till / thanked
you-and that's what I've called to do. My
old mother is well provided for now, and I'm
second mate OF ship. God bless you, sir,
I'll never forget your name, and may you new
er know what 1t is TO be poor. And the SAL
lor wrung the hand of his benelactor whose
heart glowed with the richness OF the poor
man's blessing, as he departed.-Com. But
letin.