Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-04-24
An Unexpected Friend.

'It must be, my child ~ said the poor
widow, wiping away the tears which slowly
trickled down her wasted cheeks There
is no other resource | am too sick to
work, and you cannot surely see me and
your little brother starve. Try and beg
IA few shillings, and by the time that is
gone [ may be better. Go, Harry, my
dear-I grieve to send you on such an er-
rand, but it must be done.
The boy, noble looking little fellow of
ten years, started up, and throwing his
arms fondly around his mothers neck,
left the house without a word. He
did not hear the groan Of anguish that
was uttered by his parent as the door
closed behind him. and it was well that
he did not, for his little heart was ready
to break without it. 1t was a by-street in
Philadelphia, and as he walked the street
to and fro on the sidewalk he looked first
at one person and then at another, as they
passed him and the longer he waited the
faster his courage dwindled away, and the
more difficult it was to muster courage to
beg. The tears were running fast down
his checks, but one noticed them, or if
they did nobody seemed to care for al
though clean, Harry looked poor and mis-
erable, and it is common for the poor and
miserable to cry.
/ Everybody seemed in hurry, and the
poor boy seemed quite in despair, when at
last he spied Il gentleman who seemed to
be very leisurely taking morning walk.
He was dressed in black, wore Il three-cor-
nered hat, and had face th&t was mild
and benignant u an angels. Somehow
when Harry looked at him he felt all his
fears vanish at once, and instantly ap-
preached him. His tears had been flowing
80 long that his ewes were quite red and
swollen. and his voice trembled, but that
was with weakness for he had not eaten
for twentv-four hours As Harry. with a
low, taltering voice, begged for little
charity, the gentleman stopped, and his
Kind heart melted with compassion a he
looked upon the fair countenance Of the
poor young boy, and saw the deep flush
that spread over his face, and listened to
the modest humble tones that accompanied
his petition.
=. You do not look like boy that has
been accustomed to beg his bread said
he, kindly laying his hand on the boy
shoulder. what has driven YOU to this
step
= Indeed. answered Harry. his tears be
einnin. to flow atresh, indeed | was
not born in this condition. But the mis-
fortunes Of my father. and the sickness Of
my mother. have driven me to the necessity
row"
Who Is your father D." inquired the
gentleman. with still more interest.
Nv father was rich merchant Of this
city, but he became bondsman for friend
who soon after failed. and he was entirely
ruined. IL could not live after this loss
and in one month he died Of grief, and hi
death was more terrible than any trouble
NJ mother my little brother and myself
soon sunk into the lowest depths OF power
IT, Nv mother has, until now, managed
to support herself and my little brother by
her labor and have earned what caul,
BY shoycling snow and other work that
could find to 10. But night before las
mother was taken very sick. and She ha
: since become 80 much worse here tn,
tears poured faster than ever. do tea
She will die cannot think OF any way IL
the world 10 help her. have not had any
work TO do for several weeks. | have no
had the courage to 90 to any Of my moth
ers's old acquaintace>, and tell them tha
She had come to need and charity.
thought YOU looked ike a stranger, an,
something in your face overcame my shame
and gave me courage to speak to YOU. .
sir. do pity my poor mother :"
The tears. and the simple, moving Ian
: euace Of the boy, touched chord in tn,
strangerthat was accustomed to vibrations
Where does your mother live, m,
boy! " said he in husky voice; Is j
far from here ?"
She lives in the last house on thi
: street, sir," replied Harry. You ca
Il see it from here in the third block, on tn
' left hand side
: Have You sent for physician?"
u =. No. sir said the poor boy, sorrow
fully shaking hi- head /" | have no none
T. either to pay for physician or medicine.
: :. Here" said the stranger, DRAWN
pieces Of silver from his pocket her
7 are three dollar, take them and run in
: mediately and get physician.
: iiarry'e eyes flashed with gratitude; h
/. received the money with Il stammering an
inaudibe voice. but with look of tn
; warme~t gratitude, and vanished
o sought the dwelling of the sick widow
J He entered Il little room in which he coul
l. see nothing but Il few implements of femal
o labor, Il miserable table, an old bureat
/ and a little bed which stood III one corne
on which lay the invalid. She appeare
II weak and almost exhausted and i'll he
e bed, at her feet, sat a little boy, crying a
: if his heart would break.
d Deeply moved at the sight, the strange
c drew near to the bedside of the invaliC
d and fei@ningto to be Il physician, inquired int
y the nature Of the disease The symptom
2 were explained in Il few words, when til
= widow, with Il deep sigh, added: :" Oh, 81
my sickness has deeper cause and is beyon
!" the art Of the physician to cure. am
g. mother-wrctched mother | see my chi
II dren sinking daily deeper and deeper int
l. want, which have no means Of relievin;
II Ny sickness is of the heart, and deaf
alone can end my sorrows; but even deaf
II is dreadful to me-for it awakens ii
h thought Of misery into which my childre
4 would be plugged
le Her emotion choked her utterance, an
tears flowed unrestrained down her cheek
le But the pretended physician spoke 50 COZ
st soingly to her, and manifested so warm
C. sympathy for her condition, that the heal
Il, of the woman throbbed with pleasure tn,
re was unwonted.
DO not despair said the benevolel
stranger; think Of preserving life th
We is so precious to your children. Can
r write prescription here ?''
ne The poor widow took Il little pray
Il