Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-07-10
The Littlo Stranger.

THOUGH q man OF very strict principles,
no man ever enjoyed a joke more than Dr.
Byron; he had vast fluid of hJImor and
ready wit, and with children, particularly,
he loved to chat fhmiliarly and draw them
out. As he was one day passing into the
house, he was accosted by . very little
boy, who asked him if he wanted any
sauce, meaning vegetables. The doctor
inquired if such q tiny thing was market
man. "No, sir, my father is" was the
prompt answer. The doctor said Bring
me some squashcs," and passed into the,
house, sending out the cllasneu. fii 4 feW.
moments the child returned, bringing
back part of the change. The doctor told
him he was welcome to it; but the child
would not take it back, saying his father
would blame him Such strange manners
in child attracted his attention, and he
began to examine the boy attentiveiy. lie
was evidently poor; his jacket was pieccd
and patched with every kind OF cloth, and
his trowsers darned with so many colors
that it was difficult to tell the original
fabric, scrupulously neat and clean withal.
The boy very quietly endured the scrutiny
of the doctor. while holding him at arms
longth and examining his face At last
he said; 49,,
"You seem nice little boy. Won't
you come and live with me, and be a
doctor?"
eyes, sir" said the child.
"Spoken like man." said the doctor,
patting his head as he dismissed him.
A few weeks passed on, when one day
Jim came to say there was little boy
with a bundle down stairs, waiting TO see
the doctor, and would not tell his business
to any one else T
"Send him up" was tho answer; and
-, e. 10,
of the squashes; but no squash HIMSELF as
we shall see; he was dressed in new,
though coarse, suit of Clothes and his hair
very nicely combcd, his shoes brushed up,
and little bundle, tied in II homespun
checked handkerchief on his arm. Delhi
erately taking of his hat, and laying it
down with his bundle, hewalked up to the
doctor, saying;
i have come, sir.
"Come for what, my child?"
"To live with you, and be a doctor,n
said the child, with the utmost nGicett0.
The first impulse of the doctor was TO
laugh immoderatcly; but the imperturba-
BILE gravity of the little thing rather
soborcd him, as he recalled, too, his former
conversation, and he vowed he never felt
so perplexed in his life. At the timc he
| felt he needed no addition to the family.
| Dlu 1bul AitAANA SCASN--N ~ ' NNA NChA~
ing?" he asked
ayes, sir"
"What did he say?"
al told him that you wanted me to come
and live with you and be doctor; and he
said you were very good man, and
might come ms soon us my clothes were
ready"
And your mother-what said sheyn
"She said DR.. Byron would do just what
he said he would, and God has provided
for me-" "And," said he, f have on
new suit of clothes" surveying himself,
"and here is another in the bundle" un
doing the handkerchief and displaying
them, with two shirts white as snow, and
a couple of neat checked aprons, SO care
fully folded it was plain none but mother
would have done it.
The sensibilities of the doctor were
| awakened to see the fearless, the undoubt
ing trust with which the poor couple had
bestowed their child upon him, and such
q child
His coritations were not long; he
thought of Moses in the bulrushes, aban-
doned to Providence and, above all, he
thought of the child that was carried into
Egypt, and that the Divine Savior had
said "Blessed be the little children" and
he called for the wife Of his bosom, saying,
Susan, dear, / think we pray IN church
that God will have mercy upon all young
| children"
"To be sure we do" said the wonder
ing wife, "and what thenP
HAnd the Savior said; 'Whosoeyer re-
ceiyeth one such little Child in my name
receiyeth me- Take this child IN Ills
name and take care of him ;2nd from that
hour this good couple received ii.niheir.
hearts and home,
1t did not then occur To them thnl# n
of the most eminent physicians and best
men of the age stood before them In ti|,,l
person of that child. II did not occ,sSr
Ithem that this little creature, ti,lfs thrown
upon their charity, was destined to be
their staff and stay in declining age. apro
tector and more than son to themselves.
all this was then unreYealed but thee
cheerfully received the child they hclievei
Providence had committed to lhoir care
and if ever beneficence was ftnalrlled q
was in this instance bdRliiy Ciftle.
MIR. BURLINGAME says the Chine q have
more books, encyclopedias, pamphlets.
magazines, &c, than any Othof neonle
I.... II ~.