Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-04-05
A GOVERNOR TAKEN FROM A CRATE.

was making the tour OF tho city, in
pursuit of truants and little wanderers,
one Sabbath morning a scoro of years
ago, when ho found littlo boy asleep
IN 4 crate on one Of tho wharvcs.
Ho shook tho crate, and pair of
bright eyes opened and flashed upon
him, with look Of surprise and tim.
id bashfulness.
"Wby do you sleep hero ?" inqui-
red the old man. "Bccause l have
no homc," said the child.
Who're is your fathcr?"
"I don't know, sir, L hain't seen
him for long tipc, never since he
told mother he wouldn't como home
again"
Where is your mothcr?"
"Shc is doad."
"So you have no homc-no father,
no mothcr-and live from land to
mouth in the street, and sleep in 4
crate"
eyes, sir. sell soap and matches,
and sleep here"
Would you like to have home,
and go to school and grow up to be t.
good and brave and useful man 7"
" Yes, sir"
"Conc along with me, 1 will take
you to my own house, and feed you
and clothe you, aud send you to
school if you prove TO be rs l thinll
you arc, good and faithful boy"
AS the old man said this, he dashed
a tear from his eyes, with his coat
sleeve, Tor the boy was the very i'm
age Of his own sweet child, who had
died but Il few years before. Lifting
the lad tcnderly out of the crate, he
led him TO his own pleasant home:
where he washed and conbcd and then
dressed in Il suit Of clothes formerly
worn by the son Of the philanlhro-
list.
70 shorten the story, which has in
it material enough for volumc-thc
good old nan gave tho lad ill tic
advantages afforded by tho schools Of
ne s'ci,y of c.u.ches," and then gave
hiln clcll:ship in his store, for he
was wcli-to--do merchant.
After several years Of faithful ser
vice, the young nan expressed q
wish TO engage in business on his
own account, or in some other way TO
cx:cud his usefulness.
" l will start you in business" said
the old MAJ On certain COZ ditions."
Z "Please stute them," remarked the
young man with smile ; for he sup
posed his beucfactor was about TO
perpotratc, a joke at his expense.
81 will start you in business, if
you make three promises" coutin-,
ucd the old man.
Pray what promises do you wish
me to maker"
; r." Ono is, that you will never
swear"
"Agrecd"
"Another is, that you will never
drink rum"
"Agrecd."
"The other is, that you Will have
nothing to do. with politics"
Agreed"
Truo TO his promise as the ste cl to
the star, the old mun furnished his
cicrl with capital and start. u him in
business in ono cf the western States.
The young merchant was very a:tcn-
tive TO his business, and his habits Of
industry and ao5riety were crowned
with good fortune which generally
accompanies virtue, couragc, enter.
prise, and Intelligence. A few years
ago, be paid'a visit to his venerable
friend in Brouls!yn-fcund him the
Same kind-heartcd and genial gentle.
man that he Has when he fist led
bim from tho crate on the. wharf to
the pleasant cottage on tho avenue.
81 am dellg ghlcd to see you," rcmark-
ed the old man. "May 1 ask you if
you. havo kept the pledges you gavo
;,ne, when you suggested to me the idea
OF, starting business on your own ac-
eount7 arc you a temperance man p
. @"I have not tgsted-a drop Of any
kind Of Intoxicating liquors since !
promised you I would not, and you
know I bad no sacrifice TO mako in
keeping that5pron,iso, forsI never was
accustomed to the nse Of such liquors;
and I do not furnish them 60 my guests,
nor to persons in my employment"
> t1eGood boy, give me- yearhend and let
maSshake it again. How about that
promise not to dsc 'prIfane speech