Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-07-29
The Little Stranger.

o Though man OF very strict prlncl-
pies, no man ever enjoyed a joke more
than Dr. Byron; he had vast fund of
humor and ready wit, and with children,
particularly. he loved to chat familiarly
and draw them out. AS he was one day
passing into the house he was accosted
by very small boy who asked him if he
wanted any sauce, meaning vegetables.
The doctor inquired if such tiny thing
was market man. "No, sir, my father
is," was the prompt reply.
% The doctor said, "Bring me some
squashes," and passed into the house,
sending out the change. In few mo-
ments the child returned, bringing back,
parts 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 man.
ners in a child attracted his attention,
and he began to examine the boy 'atten-
lively. He was evidently poor; his
jacket was pieced and patched with
every kind of cloth, and his trowsers
darned with SO many colors that it was
difficult to tell the original fabric, scru-
pulously neat and clean withal. The
boy very quietly endured the scrutiny
of the doctor while holding him at arms
length and examining his face. At last
he said ;a,f5sq esigsr 5s4 l8s. si6
"You seem nice little boy. Won't
you come and live with me, and be doc
tor?'hae band no9g.'7 .sP.- 'ssf} 'es
s.Yes, sir" said the child.
"Spoken like man." said the doctor,
patting his head as he dismissed him.
3 A few weeks passed on, when one day
Jim came to say there was little boy
with bundle down stairs, waiting to see
the doctor, and would not tell his busi-
ness to any one else.
"Send him up," was the answer and
in a few moments he recognized the boy
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 combed, his shoes brush
ed up, and little bundle, tied in a
homespun checked handkerchief, on his
arm. Deliberately taking off his hat,
and laying it down with his bundle, he
walked up to the doctor, saying:
81 have come, sir"
."Come for what, my child"
"To live with you, and be a DOCTOR, -
said the child, with the utmost maiUete.
The first impulse of the doctor was to
laugh immoderately but the imperturb-
able gravity of the little thing rather So
bered bim, as he recalled, too, his former
conversation, and he vowed he never
felt SO perplexed in his life. At the
time he felt he needed no addition to the
family. = 4
-ae.Did your father consent to your
coming 2" he asked.
7s.Yes, sir" a-5.ala
'.What did he sayf' s.
81 told him that you wanted me to
come and live with you and be doctor /;
and he said you were very good man,
and 1 might come as soon as my clothes
wtre ready"
"And your mother-what said she p
"She said DIR. Byron would do just
what he said he would, and God has pro-
vided for me-" "And," said he, !" I
have on new suit of clothes," survey
ing himself, sand here is another in the
bundle," undoing the handkerchief and
displaying them, with two shirts, white
as snow, and couple of neat checked
aprons, SO carefully folded it was plain
none but mother would have done it
The sensibilities of the doctor were
awakened to see the undonbting trust
with which the poor couple had bestowed
their child upon him, and such child
His cogitations were not long; he
Thought Of Moses in the bulrushes, aban.
doned to Providence; and, above all, he
thought ofths child that was carried into
EovUt, and that the Divine Saviour had
said BLESSED be the little children p
and he called for the wife ofhis bosom.
saving, ASusan. dear, I think we pray
in church that God will have mercy upon
all young children"
ssTo be sure we do, said the wonder
ing wife, .and what them" ''
aAnd the Saviour said 'Whosoeyer