Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-07
Tho Orphan Boj-Thc Rich Man.

INC Orplan Boy hc iitch Man.
Twenty years ago, in a plain coffin, few
Kind nejghbors lowered to the grave all that
remained Of a widow. Her husband had five
years before died druukard. For five years
she had toled to give her son food, clothes
aud the rudimenis Of an education. For five
years had she battled with the world. work
iDg beyond her strength for living.
She had been tho wife Of drunkaid.-
Then she was looked upon as the widow of a
drunkard. Her boy was looked upon as the
child Of drunkard. So the widow was not
invited into so-caled society The boy, upon
whose head was resting the sins of his iather,
was often cuffed, kicked and sncered at by
other boys, as it he were to blame for what his
poor, weak father had been
When the little funeral was over with aud
the procession had broken up, the boy return.
ed TO the small house which once had beer
his home. 1t was silent, even as the grave
A kind woman, poor as his mother had been
took him to her home, though she could il
afford to. The furniture was sold to pay th'
funeral expenses, and the boy was left u
eleven years Of age without dollar.
For three years he found home in th
family of rich man. He was the erran'
boy for three rich sons, always working be
yond his strength. He was used more like
dog than like the good boy he was. Ear )
and late he attended to the wants Of hi
young masters, always being considered a.
little beggar, in debt to his benetactors 70
leaving in him even the breath Of life. iii
clothes were poor. coarse and few. His lif
was sorrowful one. His happiness was 5
the future-lhen in the past, thinking Of hi
mothers care and love. lie remembered be
kisses, her care. her prayers. snd bore "
trials with ten times. the fortituslg shown b,
manu- mon wbn,vD' 'iBer.,..i -ssi'-rl--.>--l A..
their pockets, as ~ 4 were she duty Z
men to help men Who vii. rot help them
selves
One day the poor orphan boy left the roo
which for three years had sheltered him, q
begin life for himself. He walked man
miles over the hills Of New England Stat
to fud a home in machine shop. a hem
for here his heart was with the new bu-i
ness he was learning. kind employe
spnle to him words Of encouragement II
told him that he too had been poor boy One
had been an apprentice-ever a worAe
aud now the proprietor He said what ma
had done man might do. Tneu the poor boy
was happy. A new life opened before hiH
The spirit Of his mother seemed TO be vt
aud about him all the time. 1t was like
grateful presence and he kept within it. IL
built castles in the air and imagined hi
mother lived 10 them, awaiting his coming
He worked lie studied He tried to be
come more aud more worthy the kindness o
his employer, who from day to day increase
his interest in the poor orphan as be saw hi'
stndous, earnest, saving aud determined
be true man. Whatever work was give
him to do was performed without murmn'
His lessons were learned we'll. lie was no
4 above his business even in the lowest branch
. rs, as too many are, but rightly consderc
all work honorable. When his companion
/ dissiputed he remained in the shop at worl
= When they speut nights in revelry he speI
his in study When they squandered the
0 money, as being theirs, they had right
5 do, he left his with his employer, aud receive
= interest thereon. Not much TO be su c, hl
{ little saved is better than much wasted
!. At last he had his trade SO well learu'
}. that no one could instruct him more, The
e he tried the harder to instruct hlmself \
e content with doing we'll he wanted to do be
l. Ter. Aud he did lie thought lie planue
il lie invoked the spirits Of knowledge, al
| they oame TO him with hints, IDEAS aud su
ID geslious He put these into shape and u
X lie went on from one success TO anoth'
D. guided by lamps held By invisible hands
b, aided by thought from invisible brains.
ID asked aud received, till at last his employ
OF looked to the once poor orphan apprentice
- advice aud instruction.
e. Men said he was genius when he was L
ee stndent, aided by invisible assistants. "
Id ever delight to SOW good seed on well prepar
10 ground.
D. Now he is a rich man. Rich in love
Y. others. lie has succeeded to the business
his employer. Some of his old associates NJ
ht work for him. lie gives instructions to DO
y who are poor as he once was, but who ha
the pluck to work and the courage to Ia
ID care Of themselves, with the view TO heeoml
I'd good men. lie has fine home, aud 10 II
Y room which he calls his mothers. Here
he has placed many things he knew she llk
&c when the times were 70 hard with her th
no were not to be had. Here he studies. aud
his soul holds sweet converse with her "
,k was so good and so kind to bim. In thoug
a he tells her of his successes, TO be told IN
mn turn that she knows OF them all-that oil
20 she has helped him to strength because
K. wanted to be strong Of heart.
as Sitting in our private room the other d
of he told Of his early days, his trials, his p
Ia. ,rty aud his struggles, aud how they !
ng strengthened him. Early thrown out VI
,r the sea of life, braver than his Infatuated
an her, he had determined upon success aud !
". achieved it, just as every poor boy in the Ia
NJ. can do. even if hd has no parents or no
M, other than in the future and Of bis own .
IA king.
Of, Take courage, boys. Yo- may be po
nv but what of that ? You may be taiherl
ii. aud motherless, but cannot DO iriendless
.-...lranl wa mn