Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-01-21
THE LITTLE STRANGER.

DIR. Byron he had vast fund of humor
and ready wit, aud with children, particu-
larly, he loved TO chat familiarly, and
draw them out As he was one day
passing into the house, he was accosled
by very little boy, who asked him if he
wanted any sauce, meaning vegetables.
The DR.. inquired II such tiny thing was
market man. "No, sir; my father is."
was the prompt answer.
The Doctor said, Bring me in some
squashes," and passed into the house,
sending out tho change. In few
moments the child returned, bringing
back part of the change. Tho DR.. 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 child attracted his attention,
and he began to examine the boy at-
tentively. He was evidently poor; his
jacket was pieced and patched with every
kind of cloth, and his irowsers darned
with so many colors that it was difficult 10
tell the original fabric, but scrupu|ously
neat and clean withal The boy very
quietly endured the scrutiny OF the
Doctor, while holding him alarms length,
and examining his face. At last he said /:
"You seem nice little boy. Won't
you come and live with me. and he n
doctor?"
"Ycs. sir,r said tho child.
Spoke 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 bundle, down stairs. waiting
to see the Doctor. and would not tell his
business to any one else.
"Send him up" was the answer; and
in few moments he recognized the boy
of the squashes (but no squash himself,
as we shall see J he was dressed in a
new, though coarse, suit of clothes, and
his hair very nicely combed, his shoes
brushed 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
mp to the Doctor. saying
Il have come, sir
Come for what, my child?'
ITO live with you, and be n doctor,
said the child, with the utmost Hatrctc.
The first impulse of the Doctor was to
laugh immoderately but the impcrtrrb E
able gravity of the little thing rather
sobered him, as he recalled, too. his
former conversation, and he vowed he
never felt so perplexed in his life. Attic
time he felt he needed no addition to his
family.
"Did vour father consent TO your COM
ing?" he asked
"Yes, sir.n
"What did he say'"
II 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 as soon rs my clothes
were ready"
"And YOUR mother what said shc?n
"She said DR.. Byron would do just
what he said he would, and God had
provided for me. And" said he, 81
have on new suit of clothes" surveying
himself, land here is another in the
bundle" undcing the handkerchief and
displaying them, with two shirts, white
ms snow, and n couple OF neat checkered
aprons. so carefully folded it was plain
none but n mother would have done it.
The sensibiltics Of the Doctor were
awakened 10 see the fearless, the I'M
doubling trust win which the poor couple
had bestowed their child upon him, and
such child. His cogitations were not
long he thought of Moses in the bulrush-
es. abandoned 10 Providence and above
nil. he thought OF the child that was carried
into Egvpt. and that the Divine Saviour
had said. blessed be little children :" and
he called for the wife ofhis 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
inc wife, land what them"
"And the Saviour said, 'Whosoever re-
ceiyeth one such little child in My name
receiyeth Me- Take this little child in
His name and take care OF HIM." And
from that hour this good couple received
him TO their hearts and home. 1t did not
then occur to them that one Of the me st
eminent physicians and best men OF the
age stood before them in the person oi
that child; it did not occur to them that
this little creature, thus thrown upon their
charity was destined 10 be their stan ana
stav in declining age-a protector and
more than son to themselves; all this was
then unrevealed but they cheerfuliy re-
ceiyed the child they believed Providence
had committed to their care; and II ever
beneficence was rewarded, it was in tins
instance.
There is nothing that helps man IN
his conduct throu h life more than
knowledge of his own characteristic
weaknesses, which guarded against, be-
come his strength. as there is nothing
that tends more to the success OF man S
.