The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-07-13
Bread Upon the Water.

When | was ut college | CHANGED to
be returning to my room at late
hour one night, when / stumbled over
something lying on the sidewalk As
l was just beginning my junior year,
and had consequently given up
the sophomore idea that swearing
was a mark OF superior manhood, with
out so much as blessing upon care
less watchmen ! bent down, and after
a little examination, found that | had
stumbled over one of the city news
boys He was almost frozen; so
wrapping him up in my heavy cloak,
| carried him with some difficulty up
the long hill, and soon had him in
quarters something warmer than those
in which ] had found him.
1t was long time before the boy
became conscious Of his whereabouts;
but when his delirium was over, and
he sat before my fire wrapped in my
warm dressing-gown, i ascertained
how it happened that | found him
asleep on the sidewalk.
He told his story in few words.
He was alone in the world; his father
and mother vroro dead and lao was
shifting for himself lie had been UNI
successful in the sale of his papers
that day, was hungry and thinly
dressed, and the wind blowing very
cold, he had crouched down a moment
at the corner to shield himself from
the cutting blast, had fallen asleep,
and in that state l had found him.
thought the little sinner was lying
to me when he began about his father
and mother and / watched to see if he
didn't bring himself ont some way be-
fore he finished He was a brigh,
little fellow; thin, to be sure, and very
pale but he did have a keen, black
eye, and no mistake His story, short
as it was, was not ended before |, feel
ing sure he was not lying to me, had
decided what to do.
The next morning, measuring the
length, breadth and thickness of my
newsboy, | went down street to my
tailor's, obtained a suit of clothes
which he Glanced to have on hand,
and which, with a few changes, proved
to be just the thing, purchased a pair
of shoes which exactly fitted the meas
ure had in my pocket, and returned
to my room before the lad was awake.
You ought to have seen how he
opened those eyes and stared at me,
at the room, at everything, and have
watched the shadow of perplexity, as
constituent and delight fit across his
face, as the recollections of the last
few hours came back.
"Well, my man, said |, chow do you
feel? Well enough to get up and sec
if these traps are anywhere near the
size of that body of yours ?"
He was out of bed in fash, and in
very short time was dressed in his
new suit. All but he did look we'll
as he stood there so neat and trim
and so thankful withal, that / felt as
the schoolmaster did when he Aogged
the boys. that "it is more blessed tC
give than to receive"
Well, l kept the boy with me til
he was well and strong, and one morn
ing called him TO me, and in a SCI
speech, Ia junior exhibition, said;
"AIr. Newsboy, it is high time thai
you should begin again the voyage o
active life, and this morning | am go
ing to cut you adriit. Here's little
dosh to help you along in your travels
at first, and do you be careful that yoI
don't make a bad use of it. Befor,
you go want you to promise me tina
you will behave yourself, be nm orna
ment to society, and all that sort 0
things, will you p
He said yes, of course, a dozei
times, and after hearty shake of thu
hand and a hasty "Goodby, Sam, h
disappeared down the college stairs
Time passed along, | graduated
settled in business, married; but stil
never once heard of my boy, and a
last he and the occurrence We're for
gotten
Five years ago this winter my bust
ness called me TO the West. 1t proye'
a sorry journey to me- l lost m,
Z trayeling-sack, containing valuables &
{ n considerable amount; my journe.
: had been wild goose chase withou
= the shadow of success, and Just abou