The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-01-06
As You Have Opportunity.

/
and said" Do you want boy, sir
! Without lifting his eyes from the paper,
| Mr.. Frazier answered =" No to the appli-
cant, and in rather rough way.
Before the lad had reached the street, con-
science had compelled the merchant to4isten
to rebuking sentence.
' You might have spoken kindly to the
poor boy, at least said conscience. This
is an opportunity"
Mr. Frazier let the paper fall before his
eyes, and turned to look at the lad BE was
small-but clean. The merchant tapped at
one of the windows of the countingrOOm
and the boy glanced back over his shoulder
A sign from the merchant caused him to
return
What did you say, just now2
Do you want a boy, sir The lad re-
peated the words he had spoken hesitatingly,
few minutes before.
Mr. Frazier looked at him with a sudden
ly awakened interest He had fair, girlish
face, dark brown eyes and hair, and, though
slender and delicate in appearance, stood
erect with a manIness 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
battle of life.
Take chair" said MIR. Frazier, an in
voluntary respect for the lad taking posses
sion of his mind.
The boy sat down with his large, clear
| eyes fixed on the merchants face.
How old are you? "
al was twelve last month, sir" replied
the boy.
What splendid eyes" said the merchant
to himself And I've seen them before,
dark and lustrous as momans.
Away back in the past the thoughts of Mr.
Frazier went born on the light from those
beautiful eyes; and for some moments he
forgot the present in the past But when he
came back into the present again, he had q
softer heart toward the stranger lad.
You should go to school year or two
I" must help my mother" replied the lad.
Is your mother very poor2
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 interrupt
ed him.
1 don't want boy myself" said Mr.. Fra
zier, but maybe / can speak a good word
for you, and that would help, you know.
think you would make honest and useful
lad. But you are not strong
Oh, yes, sir, l am strong And the
boy stood up in a brave spirit
The merchant looked at him with stead
lily increasing interest
:" What is your name 2 " 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
expression. For long time he sat still and
silent-so long that the boy wondered
L fofh liy-JTo n
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
frmer
In London, sir"
How long sinceEou came to America "
Two years.
Have you been in this city ever since ?"
No, sir. We came here with my uncle
year ago. But he died month after our
arrival"
There came enother long silence, in which
the iaG vas not able to see the mercha2t
countenance. But when he uid look at him
again, there was such new and kind ex-
preston in the eyes, which seemed almost
to devour his face, that he felt assurance in
his heart that Mr.. Frazier was O good man,
and would be a 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
lad to see what he was doing, he enclosed
two or three bank bills.
Take this to your mother" he said,
! handing the note to the lad
IOu Il try and getme place, sir, won t
you ? The little boy lifted to him ap-
| pealing look.
4" Oh, yes. You shall have a good place.
But stay you have not told me where you
! live"
at No.-Melon street"
! Very we'll" Mr.. Frazier noted the street
| and number. And now take that note to
your mother
The merchant did not resume his news
] paper after that lad departed. He had lost
/ his interest in its contents. For time he
sat with his face so that no one saw its ex-
/ preston. If spoken to on any matter he
answered briefly, and With nothing Of his
usual interest in business. The change In
him was so marked that one of his partners
asked him if he were not well. Feel a
little dull" he evasively answered.
Before his usual time Mr. Frazier left his
store and went home. As he opened the
door Of his dwelling distressed cries and
sobbing of a child came with an unpleasant
sound upon his eaas He went up stairs
Win TWO OF LnItC lOliE 5bA4ACS "4A SlltCAC
the nursery from which the cries came
What is the matter, darling he said
as he caught the weeping one IN his arms
4" What aiIs my little Maggie
"Oh, papal papa sObbed the child cling
ing to his neck, and leaning her wet face
close to his.
Jane" said Mr.. Frazier, looking at tho
nurse and speaking with some sternness o
manner, why Is Maggie crying in this
manner2" The girl was not excited bu
pale.
She has been naughty, was the answer
No, papal / amt been naughty" said
the child, indignantly, l don't want 20 stay
here all alone and she pinched and slapped
me so hard. Oh pa 1" And the childi
wall rang out again, and she clung to hi;
neck sobbing.
Has she ever slapped OF pinched You be
fore asked the father
: She does it most every day" answered.
the little girl
Why haven't you told me ?"
She said she throw me out Of the win