The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-08-23
Tie Little Stranger.

As Doctor Byron was one day passing
10 the house, be was accosted by a very
little boy, who asked him if he wanted
any sauce, meaning vegetables. The
doctor inquired if such q tiny thing was
market man. "No, sir, father is" was
the prompt answer. The doctor said,
"BriDg me in some squashes," and he
passed into the house, sending out the
change. In few moments the child
returned, bringing back part of the
change; the doctor told him he vas
welcome to it, but the child would not
take it. back, saying his father wonld
blame him. Such singular manners in
q child attracted his attention, and he
began to examine the child attentively.
He was evidently poor: his little jacket
was pieced and patched with almost
every kind of cloth, and his trowsers
darned with SO many colors it was diff.
cult to tell the original fabric, but scrup.
ulously neat and clean withal. The boy
very quietly enquired the scrutiny Of the
doctor while holding him at arms
length and examining his face. at
length he said:
gym seem nice little boy !; won't
you come and live with me, and be a
doctor?"
eyes, sir" said the child.
Spoken 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 wanting to
see the doctor, and would not tell bis
business to any one else.
"send him up" was the answer; and
in a few moments he recognized the boy
of the squashes; he was dressed in a
new though coarse suit of clothes, his
hair very nicely combed, his shoes
brushed up, and little bundle tied in q
homespun handkerchief on his arm.
Deliberately taking off his hat, aud lay.
ing it down with his bundle, he walked
up to the doctor saying.
"Ibave come, sir"
"Come for what, my child?"
"To live with you and be a doctor"
said the child, with the utmost naicete.
The first impulse of the doctor was to
laugh immoderately; but the impertur-
bable gravity of the little thing rather
sobered him as be recalled, too, his for
mer conversation, and be avowed be felt
he needed no addition to his family.
"Did your father consent to you com.
ing?' he asked.
"Yes, sir"
"What did he say?
II told him 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 as my clothes were
ready"
"And your mother, what did she say ~
"She said DR.. Byron would do what he
said he would, and God had provided
for me-" And said he, Il have, on q
new suit Of Clothes" surveying himself,
"and here is another in the bundle" undo.
ing the kerchiefaud displaying them, with
two little shirts white as snow, aRd q
couple of neat checked aprons, so care.
fully folded, it was plain none but q
mother would have done it. The sensi
bilities of the doctor we're awakened te
see the fearless, the undoubting trus
with which that poor couple had betowed
their child upon him, and such child
His cogitations we're not long; ht
thought of Moses in the bulrushes aban
doned to Providence and above all ht
thought of the child that was carried int
Egypt-and that divine Savior had said
"Blessed be little Children" and h'
called for his wife, saying, Susan, dear
1 think We pray in church that God vii
have mercy upon all young children"
ITO be sure we do," said the wonder
ing wife; "and what then?"
"And the Saviour said, 'WhosoeveI
receiveth one such little child in hi
name, receiveth me-, Take this child il
his name, and take care oil him."
From this hour the good couple receiv
ed him to their hearts and home. 1t die
not then occur to them that one oftht
most eminent physicians and beat men O.
the age stood before them in the person
of that child it did not occur to then
that this little creature thus thrown upor
their charity, was destined to be thei'
staff and stay i'll declining age--a protec
tor to their daughter, and more than sor
to themselves all this was then uure
Yealed but they cheerfully received the