The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-24

with me, and eat it the first spare moment. .
So he passed from the dining-room to the
office, and looked then around for his visi-
tor. lie had time to set the custard-cup
on the mantle-shelf and lay the spoon
across it, before he discovered any one in
the room, so completely did the great,
leather-coversd, stuffed easy-chair hide the
little form behind it. It was small boy,
very poorly clothed, but with neat patches
on his knees and elbows, which spoke of
motherly care. His face was pale with
pain, but there was q resolute look in his
brave eyes, which showed soul stronger
than the pain.
"Ah, there he is!'' cried the doctor.
well, my little man, what can do for
you ~ And he seated himself in the large
chair, to bring himself more on level with
the little pale face.
'Please sir, my hand" he replied, COM
ing in front of the doctor, and 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 the express
office, sir, and box slipped and hurt me. y
The doctor went to work at once with
utmost gentleness to bind up the poor little
hand, but muttering, "Pshaw what does
the express office want of such o child :?
You ought to be at school,"
"But ! must be earning something, sir !;
Pm poor"
"Pshaw," muttered the doctor again,
"what should such child earn? You
ought to be at school, say. Who brought
you here? ?"
''Nobody, sir. / saw your sign out,
and | came over here myself. But, sir,n
he continued in a piteous tone, III can
not pay you. | have no money, Pm a
poor"
"Ah, well, no matter; we'll see to
that" interrupted the doctor in a CHEEKY
voice. But the child continued:
81 havn't any money, Pm poor widow,
SIR" but here the doctor who had Just
put on the. last slip of plaster, leaned back
in his great chair and burst into a hearty
laugh, to the surprise of the little boy, who
raised his large sad eyes to the Doctors
face wonderingly. Just then young
girls face peeped in at the open door, at
tracted by the unusual sound of mirth in
the office. ''See here, daughter! My
boy, tell the lady what you are"
"'m poor widow, ma'am," repeated
the child, innocently, and the doctor
laughed again, right merrily."
"Poor child said the girl, 81 suppose
he has heard his mother say that, and he
thought he shared her lot in all things. A
good, manly little fellow" she added,
pushing the hair back from his forehead
with kindly touch, and she helped to
bind up his poor hand with soft, clean
linen.
Then the "little widow" was set in the
large armchair, and treated to the doc
tors nice custard. When it was finished,
the doctor said, snow, my boy, the bug
gy is at the door, | am going your way,
and | will take you home to your mother"
Ills mother was indeed "a poor widow"
and this was her only child. Under the
Doctors care, the boy soon recovered the
use of his hand. Further prescriptions fol-
lowed as to schooling for the doctor had, a
way of administering TO peoples misfor-
tunes as well as to their bodily ailments; and
as time went on, the " little widow" as the
good old man used to call the child between
himself and his daughter, became the doc
tors Office boy with good prospects of be-
coming his assistant at last Congrega-
tioRdltst.