Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-11-30
Srlctt gtorp.
AN UNExPECTED FRIEND.
A BEAUTIFUL TALE.

tic brother starvc. Try and beg few shil- !
lings, and perhaps by the time that is gone
| may he better. Go, Henry, my dear, |
grieve to send you on such an GRAND, butt
must be done.
The boy, noble looking little fellow of
about ten years, started up, and throwing
his arms about his mothers neck, left the
house without word He did not hear
the groan of anguish that was uttered by
his parent as the door closed behind him,
and it was well that he did not, for his little
Heart was ready to burst without it.
1t was q by-strcet in Philadelphia, and as
he walked to and fro on the sidewalk, he
looked first at one person and then at an
other, as they passed him, but no one seem
ed to look kindly upon him, and the longer
he waited, the faster his courage dwindled
away. and the more difficult it became to
muster resolution to beg The tears were
running fast down his cheeks, but nobody
noticed them, or if they did, nobody SEEM
cd to care, for although clean, Henry looked
poor and miserable, and it is common TOR
the poor and miserable to cry.
Everybody seemed in u hurry, and the
poor boy was quite in despair when at last
he espied Il gentleman who seemed to be
very leisurey taking morning walk. lie
was dressed in black, wore three cornered
hat, and had face that was as mild and be-
uignant as an angels. Somehow, when
Henry looked at him, he felt all his fears
vanish at once, and instantly approached
him. His tears had been flowing so long,
! that his eyes were quite red and swollen,
and his voice trcmbled; but that was with
weakness, for he had not eaten for twenty
four hours. As Henry, with low faltering
voice, begged for little charity the gen
/ tcman stopped, and his kind heart melted
with compassion as he looked into the fair
countenancc Of the poor boy and saw the
deep blush which spread over his face, and
listened TO the modest, humble tones which
accompanied his petition.
You do not look like boy that has
been accustomed to beg his bread, " said he,
kindly, laying his hand on the boys shoul-
der, ''what has driven you to this step?"
Indeed, answered Henry, his tears be-
einning to flow afresh; ''indced, | was not
born in this condition. But the misfortune
of my father, and the sickness Of my mo.
ther, have driven me to the necessity now.
Who is your iather?' inquired the gen
ticman, still more interested.
My father was rich merchant of thi'
Icity, but he became bondSman for frienC
who soon after failed and he was entirely
,uined He could not live long after thi
loss, and in one month he died Of grief, an,
his death was more dreadful than any o
our trouble. My mother, my little brothe
and myself soon sunk into the lowest depth
of poverty My mother has until now man
aged to support herself and my little broth
er BY her labor, and | have earned what
could by shovcling snow and other worl
hat could find to do. But night befor
last my mother was taken very sick, anc
has since become so much worse that -
bore the tears flowed faster than ever
THAT fear she will die--I cannot thinl
Of any way in the world to help her. | hav'
not had any work for several weeks. | hav,
not the courage to go to any otny mother
| old acquantances, and tell them that sh
has come to need and charity. | though
you looked Ike stranger, sir, aud some
thing gave me courage to speak to YOU
Oh sir, do pity my mother" p"
The tears, and the simple and movin
:. language of the poor boy touched a chor
y in the breast Of the stranger that was accu.
toned to frequent vibrations.
Where does your mother live, my boy?
said he in husky voice, lis it far iroI
herc?'
''She lives in the last house on this street
here, in the third Lock, and Oh the lei
hand side "
Have you sent for physician?'
mo, sir, 4" said the boy, sorrowfully shal
, ing his head, Il had no money to pay eithe
for physician or for medicine.
Here" said the stranger, drawing som
pieces of silver from his pocket, here al
three dollars, take them, and run immed
ately for physician. "
Henry eyes flashed with gratitude h
received the money with stammering an
almost inaudible voice but with look {
, the warmest gratitude he vanished.
. The benevolent stranger instantly soug!
the dwelling of the sick widow He el
tered Il little room in which he could st
nothing but a few Implements of female i
;, bora miserable table, an old bureau, al
a little bed which stood in one corner {
), which the invalid lay. She appeared weu
and almost exhausted, and on the bed
her feet, sat little boy crying as if his hea
would break.
Deeply moved at this sight the strang
- drew near the bedside of the invalid, al
Y fvigning to be physician, inquired into Il
nature of her disease. The symtoms we
explained in few, words, when the wido
, with deep sigh added, "Oh, my sckne
D. has deeper cause, and one which is beyoI
hcart ofa physician to cure | am IN
ther-a wretched mother. see my ch
c. dren siuking deeper and deeper in war
which have no means of releaving. \
!, sickness is of the heart, and death alone c.
end my sorrows, but even death is dreadf
to me, for it awakens the thought of the m
cry into which my children would be plum
ed, is-here emotions checked her utt,
- ance, and the tears flowed unrestrain
down her checks. But the pretended ph
: ician spoke so consoling to her, and ma
D' tested so warm asympathy forher conditi'
that the heart of the woman throbbed W
pleasure that was onwonted
b DO not despair" said the strang
think only Of recovery and of prcservi
a life that is SO precious to your childr
Can | write prescription here?'
C. The poor woman took a little prayer be
from the hands Of the child who sat W
her on the bed, and tearing out blank lie
81 Il have no other she said, perhaps t
!, will do"
The stranger took pencil from his po
ct, and wrote few lines upon the paper
i. This prescription, said he, ''you '
+, find of great service to you. If it is nee
sary will write you second. have gr
hopes of your recovery"
- He laid the paper on the table and
parted. Scarcely was he gone when I
oldest son returned.
Cheer up dear mother" said he go
to her bedside, and affectionately kiss