Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1865-12-14
AS YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY

Mr.. FRAZER sat reading III MS counting
ROOM He was in the midst of piece of in
teresting news, when lad came to the door
and said-"Do you want Il boy, sir
Without lifting his eyes from the paper,
Mr.. Frazier answered NO. to the applicant,
and in rather rough way.
Before the lad had reached the street, con-
science had compelled the merchant to listen
to a rebuhing sentence.
"You might have spoken kindly to the poor
boy, at least said conscience, This is an
opportunity,
DR.. Frazier let the paper fall before his
eyes, and turned to look At the lad. He was
smull-but clean. The mcrchant tapped at
on of the windows of the counting room,
and the boy glanced back over his shoulder
A sign from the merchant caused him to re-
turn.
What did you say just nowy
"Do YOU want boy, sir? The lad repeat
I'd the words he had spoken hesitatingly, a
few minutes before.
Mr.. Frazier looked at him with a suddenly
awakened interest He had a fair, girlish
face, dark brown eyes and hair, and, though
slender and delicate in appearance, stood
erect with manlincss OF aspect that 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 bat
tie of life
Take chair" said Mr.. Frazier, an in
voluntary respect for the lad getting posses.
sion OF his mind.
The boy sat down, with his large clear eyes
fixed on the merchants face.
"How old are YOU 2
u was twelve last month, sir replied the
boy.
What splendid eyes, said the merchant
TO himself "And I've seen them before, dark
and lustrious as a womans.
Away back in the past the thoughts of Mr..
Frazier went born on the light from those
beautiful eyes, and for some moments he for
got the present IN tue past But when he
came back into the present again, ne had
softer heart toward the stranger lad
"You should go to school year or two
longer" he said
Il must help my mother" replied the lad.
as your mother very poor!
YES, sir, and she's sick.
The lads voice shook little, and his soft,
womans eyes grew brighter in tears that filled
them.
Mr.. Frazier had already forgotten the point
of interest in the news after which his mind
was searching, when the boy interrupted him.
Il don't want boy myself" said Mr.. Fra
zier, "but maybe can speak good word
for you, and that would help, you know l
think YOU would make an honest and useful
lad But you are not strong
"Oh, yes, sir, I'm strongl' And the boy
stood mn in brave spirit
The merchant looked at him With stead
lily increasing interest l.. .....
"What is your name p he asked.
"Charles Leonard, sir.
There was an instant change in the mer-
chants manner, and he turned his face so far
away that the boys eyes could not see its ex-
preston. 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,
mo sir He died four years ago"
"Where The voice was quick and
frmer
''In London, sir"
"How long since you came to AmerieaT
1.-TWO years.
Have you been in this city ever since p
"No, sir. We came here with my uncle
year ago But he died month after our ar
rival