The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-11-23
As YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY.

MIR. Frazier sat reading in his counting
room. He was in the midst of a piece O
interesting news, when a lad came to thu
door and said-"Do you want boy sir?"
Without lifting his eyes from the paper
MIR. Frazier answered NO. to the applicant
and i'll rather rough way.
Before the lad had reached the street
conscience had compelled the merchant tc
listen to a rebuking sentence. ..l.s
''You might have spoken kindly tc The
poor boy, at least, said conscience. ''Thii
is an opportunity"
eyes, and turned to look at the lad. He
ped at one of the windows of the counting
room, and the boy glanced back over his
shoulder A sign from the merchant caused
him to return.
''What did you say, just now ?"
''Do you want boy, sirr' The lad re
peated the words be had spoken, hesitating
ly, few minutes before.
Mr. Frazier looked at him with sudden.
ly awakened interest. He had fair girl
ish face, dark brown eyes and hair, and
though slender and delicate in appearance
stood erect, with maniness of aspect thai
showed him to be already conscious of duty
in the world. But there did not seem to be
much of that stuff In him that is needed for
the battle of life.
''Take chair, said Mr.. Frasier, an in
voluntary respect for the lad getting pos
session of his mind.
The boy sat down, with his large, clear
eyes fixed on the merchants face
''How old are you? p
81 was twelve sir, last month, replied the
boy.
"What splendid eyes," said the merchant
to himself. Sand I've seen them before,
dark and lustrous as woman's"
Away back in the past the thoughts of
Mr.. Frazier went borne on the light from
those beautiful eyes; and for some moments
he forgot the present in the past. But
when he came back into the present again,
he had softer heart toward the stranger
lad.
''You should go to school for year or
two longer" he said.
Il must help my mother,!' replied the
lad.
SIS your mother very poorf"'
''Yes, sir, and she's sick
The lads voice shook little and his
soft woman's eyes grew brighter in tears
that filled them.
MIR. Frazier had already forgotten the
point of interest in the news after which his
mind was searching when the boy inter
rupted him. Il don't want lad myself"
said MIR. Frazier, hut maybe can speak a
good word for you, and that would help,
you know. think you would make an
honest and useful lad. But you are not
strong" rs
''Oh, yes, sir, I'm strong!" And the boy
stood up in brave spirit
The merchant looked at him with a stead
lily increasing interest.
''Wbat is your naIne?" he asked.
'Charles Leonard, SIR"
There was an instant change in the mer-
chants manner, and he turned his face Sc
far away that the boys eyes could not see
its expression. For long time he sat still
and silent-so long that the boy wondered.
''Is your father living?" Mr. Frazier did
not look at the boy, but still kept his face
away. His voice was low and not very
even.
No sir He died four years ago"
''Where?" The voice was quick and
frmer. - -.--
''ln London, SIR
SLOW long since you came to American
1.-TWO years."
''Have you been in this city ever SINGER
''No. sir. We came here with my uncle
year ago. But he died month after ouI
arrival
There came another long silence, il
which the lad was not able to see the mer
chants countenance. But when he did Iooi
at him again, there was such new and
kind expression in his eyes which seemed
almost to deVour his face that be felt assur
anco in his heart that Mr. Frazier was ,
good man and would be friend to hi
mother
- ''Sit there for a little while" said Mr.
Frazier, and turning to bis desk, he wrote
brief note, in which, without permittin.
the lad to see what he was doing, he en-
closed two or three bank bills
'lake this to your mother" he said hand
ing the note to the lad.
''You'll try and get me place, sir. won
your" The little boy lifted to him an ap
pealing look.
''Oh yes. You shall have a good place
But stay; You have not told me where 70,
I've"
at No.-MeIon street"
''Yery WELL" MIR. Frazier noted tn
street and number. "And now take tina
note to your mother"