Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-06
MISCELLANY.
As YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY.

As YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY.
Mr.. Frazier sat reading, in his count
ing-rOOm. He was in the midst of piece
of interesting news, when a lad came To
the door and said-''DO yOu want boy,
sir?"
Without lifting his eyes from the pa
per, Mr.. Frazier answered mo. to the
applicant, and in rather a rough way.
Before the lad had reached the street,
Z conscience had compelled the merchant
to listen to a rebuking sentence
'sYou might liave spoken kindly to the
poor boy, at least said conscience.
''Thisis an opportunity"
Mr.. Frazier let the paper fall before
his eyes, aud turned 10 look at the lad
He was small but clean. The merchant
tapped at one of the windows of the
cOunting-room, and the boy glanced back
over his shoulder A sign from the mer-
chaht caused him To return.
What did you say just nOw?"
"Do you want boy, STRIP The lad
repeated the words he had spoken, hes
itatingly, few minutes before.
Mr. Frazier looked at him with sud
denly awakened interest. He had a fair,
giTlish face, dark brown eyes and hair.
and though slender and delicate In APP
peaFance. stood It, with a manliness
of aspect that showed him To he already
conscious of duty III the world. But there
did seem to be much of that stuff in
him that IS needed for the battle Of life
Take a chair" said Mr.. Frazier. an
involuntary respect for the lad getting
possession of his mind
The boy sat down, with his large, clear
eyes liked ON the merchants face
How old are you?"
r-''I was twelve last month, SIR replied
the boy
What splendid eyes" said the mer-
chant to himself ''And I've seen them
before, dark and lustrous as a wOman's y
Away back in the past, the thoughts of
Mr.. Frazier went, borne on the light from
those beautiful eyes; and for some mo-
ments he forgot the present in the past.
But when he came back into the present
again, he had softer heart towards the
stranger lad.
''You should go to school for year or
two longer" he said.
Il must help my mother replied the
lad
rs yoHr mother very pOor?"
Yes, sir, and she's sick"
The lads voice shook little, and his
soft, wOman's 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. 81 don't want a. lad
myself" said Mr. Frazier, ''but maybe /
can speak a good word for YOU. and that
would help, you know. 1 think you
would make an honest and useful lad
But you are not strong"
''Oh, yes, SIR, I'm strongr' And the
boy stood up IN brave spirit
The merchant looked at him with a
steadily increasing interest
"What Is your name?" he asked
Charles Leonard, sir a.
There was an instant change In the
merchants manner, and he turned his
face so far away that the boys eyes could
not see It's expression. For long time
he sat still and was silent-so long that
the boy wondered.
IT'S your father Iiving?" 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
firmer.
I'm London, sir.
leap
Two years"
Have you been in this city ever
since?" ----- --.--
mo, sir. We came here with my I'M
Gle a year ago But he died a month af-
ter oUr arrival. ="
There caIne another long silence. in
which the Lad was not able To see the mer-
chants cOuntenance. But when he did
look at him again, there was such a new,
kind expression In his eves.-wirich seem
ed almost to devonr his face, that he fell
assurance IN his heart that Mr. Frazier
was good man, and would be friend
to his mother
''Sit there for a little while" said Mr..
Frazier, and. turning TO his desk, he
wrote a brief note, in which, without
permitting the had to see. what he was
doing. he enciosedtwo or three bank-bills.
~ FAKE this 10 your mother, . he said,
handing the note to the lad. ag7a
l-- 'i'1ssYeu1lo try and get me a place, sir,
won't you" Fhe little bey--lifted to him
an appealing looks'2 !
"a s.sOh, yes, You shall have n good place.
-Bnt stay; you have not told me where you
I g hve-ss-a Gs-dw azs u47gsr -
- 1Ls,4t No. IL Melon street.l,Tsi
49, .esVery we'll Mr.. Frazier noted the
street ana number 'sAnd now take that
note to your mother"
The merchant did not resume his news
paper after the lad departed. He had lost
his interest in its contents For a time
ne sat with his face SO that no one saw
IT'S expression. If spoken to on any mat
Ter he answered briefly, and with moth
ing OF hls usual interest in business. The
ehange IN him was SO mGrked that one