The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-10
IN UNEAPECTBEe FRIEND.
A BEAUTIFUL TALE,
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A BEAUTIFUL TALE.
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g It must benny child" said the.noor
widow, wiping away the tears Which
slowly tricl<led down her wasted face. I
am too sick 20 work, and You cannot.
surely, see ne and your iittie brother
starve. Try and beg few siliIIiHos;
and perhaps by the time that is gone i
may be better. Go, Henry, my dear,
grieve to send you on such aa errand,A
but it must be done.oo
The boy, a noble looking little fellow
OF about ten years, started up, and throw
ING his arms about his mothers neck,
left the house without q word. He did
not hear the groan Of anguish that WAS
uttered by his par ut as the door closed
behind him, and it was well that he did
not, for his little hea1t WAS already fit to
burst without it.
1t Was by-street in Philade lphia, and
as he walked to and fro Oh the sidewalk,
he looked first at one person and thenat
another, as they passed him, but no one
seemed to look kindly upon him, and
the longer he waited, the faster his eour-
age dWindled away, and the more diff
cult 1T became to muster resolution to
beg. The tears were running fast down
his cheeks, but nobody noticed them, Or
if they did, nobody seemed to- care, for
although clean, Henry looked poor and
miserable, and it is common for the poor
and miserable to cry.
Everybody seemed in q hurry, and
the poor boy was quite in despair, when
at last he espied gentleman who SEEM
ed to bo very leisurely taking morning
walk. He was dressed in black, wore .
three cornered hat, and had a face that
was as mild and benignant 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
We're quite swollen and red, and his
voice trembled; but that was with weak
ness, for he had not eaten for twenty
four hours. AS Henry, with low fall
tering voice, begged for a little charity,
the gentleman stopped, and his kind
heart melted with compassion as he
looked into the fair countenance of the
poor boy and saw the deep blush which
spread over his face, and listened to the
modest, humble tones which accom-
panied his petition.
. You do not look like a boy that has
been accustomed to beg his Bread" said
he, kindly, laying his hand on the boys
shoulder, what has driven you to this
step?"
Indeed" answered Henry, his tears
beginning to flow afresh: Indeed, L
was not born in this condition. But the
misfortune of my father, and the sick
ness of my mother, have driven me to
the necessity noW."
Who is your father - inquired the
gentleman, still more Interested,
My father was a rich merchant OF
this city, but he became bcudsman fog Il
friend who soon failed, and he was en-
tirely ruined. He CT uld not 1--WE long
after this loss, and ia one month he
died Of grief. and his death was more
dreadful than any of our trouble. Ny
mother, my little brother and myself
soon sank into the lowest depths OF
poverty. My mother has until now
managed to support herself and my
little brother by her labor, and | have
earned what 1 could by shoveling snow
and other work that l could find to do.
Bar night before last my mother was
taken very sick. and has since become
so much worse that, "-here the tears
flowed faster than ever-' that | fear
she will die; can not think OF any enc
in the world to help her. l have not
had any work for several weeks. l
have not the courage to go toany Of my
mothers old acquaintance and tell
them that she has ,ome to need and
charity. l thought you looked like a
stranger, sir, and something gave me
courage to speak to you. Oh! sir, do
pity my mother"
The tears and the simple moving lam
guage of the poor boy touched chord
in the breast of the stranger that was
accustomed to frequent vibrations.
Where does your mother live, my
boy ?" said he in husky voice, is it
far from here ?"
"She lives in the last house on this
street, sir" said Henry. You can see
it from here, in the third block, on the
left hand side"
Have you sent for a physician ~
No SIR" said the boy sorroWfully
shaking his head, 81 had no money to
pay either for a physician or medicine"
Here" said the stranger, drawing
some pieces of silver from his pocket,
6 here are three dollars, take them and
run immediately for a PHYSICIAN
Henry's eyes flashed with gratitude !;
he received the money with a stammer-
ing and almost inaudible voice, but