Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1866-10-18
The Secret.

ter morning, as they were working in
the garden. 81 hear that You are at
the head OF yosr classes, and this IS
to express my satisfaction at your pre-
gress."
Some days afterward, as The two boys
were in the library, he said to them:
''You have not told me how you spent
your gold picccs.'
Il have not spent mine yet" said
Edward
"And yours, Clarence
at has MI gone, father"
"Indeed! And what have you TO
show for it:.p
Nothing, SIR"
Clarence bent his head modestly, but
without shame; the manlincss in his
tone convinced his father that all was
right.
And now, though.Clarencc supposed
his secret TO be safe from all but the
eye Of his Father in heaven, we who
watched him through all, will relate il
in confidence to our readers:
The day on which he received the
gift was clear and frosty. 1t was De
ccmbcr, and though the sun shonc, it
had TO power upon the icicles which
fell from the trees in showers. The
air was hcalthful and exhilerating to
the well-clad, but to the poor, unpro-
tccted child of want il came too Keen
~. Clarence hurried on, with skates
flung over his shoulder, to join ska
ting party. His hands were thrust in
to his coat pockets, "a he pressed on,
when he felt his aim seized from be-
hind.
"Quick! quick. come quickr said
little bare-fboted boy, half frantic with
grief: ~ believe mymother is dying.r
Clarence obeyedimpuIsively, while
the boy, clinging to his coat, dragged
him on.
The home, if such it could he called,
was not far distant, and the scene
which presented itself on his entrance
was awful, indeed. y woman, sur
rounded by three or four children
screaming in terror, was lying on her
miserable bed, with her clinched hands
fixed i'm an immovabe clasp.
az will go for the doctor,n said Clar-
cncc, and remembering that he had
seen physicians house on his way,
he ran with all speed to summon him
The doctor followed him directly, and
Mt once administered to the poor suffer
or. The poor mother had toilcd until
over-cxcrtion and starvation brought
her TO hcr'present state. The children
were thin and only half-clsd, and no
fire OH the hearth.
care YOU hungry?' Clsrence asked.
"Yes, very hungry"
"And cold, too he said, and with
heart bleeding at the sight Of such des-
titution, he hurried To a cook-shop close
lv. His gold piece was in requisition.
Bread and hot coffee. in abundance
soon drew the little furnished creatures
t. q corner of the hovcl, where they
.atisficd their hunger and hushcd their
cries. For full hour the agonics of
the poer mother lasted; then she lay
motionless from utter exhaustion, and
fell into profound slumber. a por-
ton of the gold piece yet remained,
. y ,.fn
\ smile stole over the face Of the ply
sician, but there was tear in his eye,
and he looked at him earnestly.
"God bless you! my noble little fel-
low he answered, as he laid his hand
upon his head. "Keep your money
for other good purposes. | never saw
YOU before but / think we shall meet
again.
He shook him warmly ~ the hand
and disappeared.
Clarence went also, but returned in
an hour, bringing with him pair %
new shoes for each OF the eldest chil
dren. These exhausted the money IN
had with him. While celebrating OF
what further he could do, the doctor
carriage appeared AT the door, and tn
, doctor himself springing out hastily
took out from it packages OF clothing
, etc, ample for their present wants.
"uerc," said he, to the eldest. girl,
child Of ten years. "drcs' your brothc.'
and sisters, and see il your little hand
can make the room comfortable"
The childs eye Frightened, for foo
had strengthened, and his cheerfl
i tongue encouraged her. She was
a once busily employed. He smiled co..
= daily, as he discovered Clarence, an
r ssid
~ told YOU we should meet again.
] The doctor visited the family daily
e until the poor and grateful widow W;
. restored. and able to take care OF h'
:. little oncs: then his wife provided en
Ic ploymcnt for her, and she required '
10 further assistance.
l. -Four weeks had passed, when Cla
l. cucc's father encountered DR.. s.
4. "Mr. Mitchell, what n noble spec
G. men of Immunity YOU have I'm tn
ic young son Of yours. ] congratula
n YOU on being his father. Has he To
YOU of his recent encounter with me
u, "Not 4 word.'
IN as it possible: he : noble lit
fclloww
l.. -o,,.,l "a Mr. Mitchell ev