Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1867-08-21
BREAD UPON THE WATERS.

stumbled over something lying upon the
sidewalk. As / was just beginning my jun
ior year,and had consequently given up the
sophomore idea that swearing was mark
of superior manhood, without so much as a
blessing upon careless watchman, bent
down, and after little examination found
| had stumbled over one of the city news
boys. He was almost frozen; so, wrap
ping him up in my heavv cloak, carried
him with some difficulty up the long hill,
and soon had him in quarters something
warmer than those in which | found him.
1t was long time before the boy became
conscious of his whereabouts, but when his
delerium was over and he sat before my
face wrapped in warm dressinggown, |
ascertained how it happened that | found
him asleep on the sidewalk.
He told his story in few words: He
was alone in the world father and mother
were dead, and he was shifting for himself.
He had been unsuccessful in the sale of his
papers that day, was hungry, thinly dress
ed, and the wind blowing very cold he had
crouched down moment on the corner to
shield himself from the cutting wind, and
fallen asIeep-and in that state l found him,
l thought the little fellow was fibbing to
me when he began about his father and
mother and | watched to see ifhe wouldn't
bring himself out some way before he had
finished. lie was bright little fellow
thin, indeed, and very pale-but he did
have keen black eve, and no mistake
His story, short as it was, was not ended
before l, feeling sure that he was not falsI
flying to me, had decided what should do.
The next morning, measuring the length
breadth and thickness of my newsboy, |
went down street to my tailor's, obtained
suit of clothes which he CHANGED to have
on hand, which with few changes proved
to be just the thing, purchased a pair of
shoes which exactly fitted the measure |
had in my pocket, and returned to my room
before the lad was awake, You ought to
have seen how be opened those eyes and
stared at me, at the room, at everything,
and have watched the shadow of perplexi
ty, astonishment and delight that fit across
his face as the recollections Of the last few
hours came back.
"Well, my man." said I, chow do you
feel? Well enough to get up and see if
these traps are anywhere near the size of
that body of yours?'
lie was out of bed in a fash, and in a
very short time was dressed in his new suit.
All but he did look well as he stood there
so neat and trim, and SO thankful, withal,
that felt as the schoolmaster did when he
ffoggcd his boys, that ait is more blessed
to give than to receive,
Well, l kept the boy with me until he
was we'll and strong, and one morning l call
ed him to me and in set speech, a la junior
exhibition. said:
"Mr. Newsboy, it is high time that you
should be beginning on the voyage of ac-
tive life, and this morning I'm going to cut
you adrift. Here's little cash to help you
along in your travels at first, and you be
careful that you don't make bad use of il.
Before you 60 I want you to promise me
that you'll be honest and industrlous-will
you?-that you'll behave yourself always :;
be an ornament to society, and all that sort
of thing-will you?
He said yes, of course, dozen times,
and after shake of the hand and hasty
good bye, Sam," he disappeared down the
stairs.
Time passed along. I graduated, settled
in business, married; but still never once
heard of my boy, and at last he and the oc-
currencc were forgotten.
Five years ago this winter my business
called me to the West 1t proved sorry
journey. l lost my travelling sack con-
tanning valuabes to considerable amount;
my journey had been wild goose chase,
with not the least shadow of success, and
Just about discouraged | started for home.
Misfortune did not desert me here. On
seeking my wallet found that it had been
stolen, and that had not dollar in my
pocket. / have faint recollection of not
feeling particularly amiable at that time.
"Out West" in those days was something
different from what it is now from the same
West where you rail over the ground at the
rate of forty miles an hour; and out West
with not dollar, and no means of commu-
nication but line of snail-paced stage
coaches, was anything but delightful.
The coach for the East was just starting,
and having watched it out of sight went
into the tavern and sat down to think how
I was to get out of the difficulty. | had
been sitting there some little time when a
man who had been warming himself with
his back to the fire drew a chair near mine
and, after a little chat of the weather, sur
prised me by asking if | wasn't M. of Prov
idence, r. |. | told him | was, and before
/ could return the compliment of asking
his name he said:
"Do you remember boy whom, when
you were student at the University, you
found almost frozen in the streets of Prov
ideIce? Do you remember that promised
you.-for am that boy-to be an honest,
industrious man, to behave myself, and be-
come an ornament to society? Yes sir, |
am that boy, and can say without denial
that am an honest and successful man,
and that whatever am morally or socially
am indebted to you for it 5" and he shook
my hand as only grateful man can. Then
he told ME what he had been about all