Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-03-16
The Little Widow"

with "a sigh OF satisfaction, we nave
disposed of the roasted chicken with
ont single interruption. Now tor
the baked custard."
But as he spoke the office bell rang,
and he rose instantly, they yet nntasted
custard in his hand.
"Now, father" exclairhcdthe young
girl opposite him, his only companion
at the little dinner table, "why need
you go. Eat, your custard. Whoever
it is can wait few minutes
No dear,n he said, "pain finds it
hard to wait. Whoever it is may be
suffering. The custarl can wait, III
lust take it with me, and eat it the first
SPARE moment" So he passed from
the dining-roOn To the office, and look
ed then around for his visitor. lie
had time to set the custard cup on tile
mantle shelf and lay the spoon across
IL, before he discovered any ohe i'll the
ROOM, SO completely did the gieat,
Iea,ther-covered, stuffed easy chair hide
the little form behind it. 1t was a
small boy, very poorly clothed, nut
with neat patches oil his knees and
elbows, which spoke of motherly care.
His face was pale with pain, but there
was a resolute look IN his brave eyes,
which showed asoul stronger than the
pain.
"Ah, There he is p cried the doctor.
~ Well, my little man, what can do
for you s~ Aud he seated himself in
the large chair, to bring himself more
upon IA level with the little pale face.
Please sir, my hand" he replied,
coming i'm front OF the doctor, aud
holding out his right hand, crushed
and bleeding.
"Why, why that's bad! How did
you do that, my boy%
81 was trying to help at theexprcss
office, sir, and box slipped and hurt
lne.r
The doctor went to work at once
with utmost gentleress to bind ap the
poor little hand, but mutteriny,
g Pshaw !! what does the express osfice
want with such chiidi You 0asiit
to he at school,"
bat | musr he earh,lg 50 nethiis,
sir; Pm poor"
.Pshaw,r muttered the docSor ag ,in,
"what should suoh c.lial ezra fou
ought to be at school, say. VINO
brought you here!
" Nobaiy, sir. saw your sign out,
and l came over here myspf. Bat
sir" he continued in "A piteous tone.
81 cannot pay yon. l have no money,
I'm pecr--"
.Ah, wel4, no matter, well see 20
that interrupted the doctor in a
CHEEKY voice. But the child cOHtia-
ued:
81 haven't any money. Fm poor
widow, sir but here the doctor who
had just put OH :he last slip OF plaster.
leaned back in his great char. and
burst into hearty laugh, to the sar-
prise OF the little boy, who raised his
large sad eyes to the doctors face
wonderingly. just then ay",,ng girls
face peeped in at the open door, at
tracted by the unusual sound of mirth
in the office, {" See here, daughter! !!
Ny bey, tell the lady what you are"
Elm poor widow, MAN, REPEAT
edthe child innoceHtIy, and the doctor
laughed again right merrily. so isiH
aPoor child,' said the girl, snip
pose he has heard his mother say that,
and he tlseught be. shared her lot in
all things. A good, manly little rel
low, she added, pushing the hair back
from his forehead with kindly tonch,
and she helped to bind mp his poor
hand with soft, clean iiMe,t.
Tisen the ss little widow was set in
the large arm chair, and treated to the
doctors nice custard. When it was
finished, the doctor said, /" New, my
boy, the buggy is at the doo-, am go
ing your way. and will take you
home to your motber."
His mother was indeed "pocr
widow" and this was her only child.
Under the doctors care the boy soon
recovered the use ofhis hand. Further
prescriptions followed as to schooling
for the doctor had way Of minister
ing to the peoples misfortunes as well
as to their bodily ailments, and rs
time went on the "little widow as
the good old man used to call the child
between himself anu his daughter, be
.