St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-11-23
THE BOY AND A NEEDLE.


Samuel Richter, in Dantzig. aud asked
the book-keeper for aims.
s'You will get nothing here" grumbled
the man, without raising his head from
his book "Be OFF,
Weeping bitterly. the boy glided toward
the door at the moment that Herr Richter
entered.
'What is the matter hereW he asked,
turning to the book keeper.
'sA worthless beggar boy" was the
mans answer; and he scarcely locked up
from his work.
In the meanwhile, Herr Richter glanced
toward the boy, and remarked that, when
close to the door, he picked something
from the ground. ''Ha! my little lad,
what is that you picked up?' he cried.
:. The weeping boy turned and showed him
q needle.
"And what will you do with it?' asked
the other.
"My jacket has holes in it," was tho an
swer, 81 will sew up the big ones"
Herr Richter was pleased with this re-
ply, and still more with the boys inno-
cent, haL some face. 'But are you not
ashamed, J" he said, in kind though seri-
GUS tone, "you, SO young and hearty, to
beg? Can you not work ?"
''Ah, my dear sir, replied the boy, 81
do not know how; and I am too little yet to
thresh or fell wood. Ny father died three
weeks ago, and my poor mother and little
brothers have eaten nothing these two
days. Then | ran out in anguish and
begged for aims. But, alas, single peas
ant only gave me yesterday piece of
bread. Since then l have not eaten
morsel."
Il is quite customary for beggars by
trade to contrive tales like this; and this
hardens many heart against the claims of
genuine want. But this time the mer-
chant trusted the boys honest face. He
thrust his hand into his pocket, drew forth
q piece of money, and said:
s.There is half crown. Go to the ba-
ker's and with hall. the money buy bread
for yourself. .Hapther. and your broth
ers, but bring ack the other half to me-"
The boy took the money and ran joy
fully away.
"Well,' said the surly book keeper, ''he
will laugh in his sleeve, and never come
back again.
"Who knows2 ' replied Herr Richter.
And he beheld the boy returning, run
ming quickly, with large loaf of bread in
one hand, and some money in the other.
"There, good sir" he cried, almost
breathless, ssthere is the rest of the money"
Then, being very hungry, he begged at
once for a knife, to cut off piece OF
bread. The book keeper reached him in
silence his pocket knife.
The lad cut off slice in great haste.
and was about to bite upon it. But sud,
denly he bethought himself, laid the
bread aside, and folding his hands,
rehearsed a silent prayer. Then he fell
to his food with hearty appetite.
The merchant wss moved by the boy
unaffected piety. He inquired after his
family and home, and learned from his
simple narrative that his father had lived
in q village about four miles from Dant
zi,s, where he owned a sma house aud
farm. But his house had been burned to
the ground and much sickness in his family
had compelled him to sell his farm. He then
hired himself out to a rich neighbor; but,
before three weeks were at an end he died
broken down by grief and excessive toll.
And now his mother, whom sorrow had
thrown upon bed of sickness. was, with
her four young children, suffering the bit.
terest poverty. He, the eldest, had re-
solved to seek for assistance, and had gone
at first from village to village, then had
struck into the highroad, and at last, hav-
ing begged everywhere in vain, he had
come to Dantzig.
The merchants heart was touched. HI
had but one child; and the boy appeared
to him as draft at sight, which Provi
dence had drawn upon him as test Of
his gratitude :,
Listen, my son." he began "have you
then, really wish to Learnt"
eOh, yes; I have, indeed" cried tn,
NJ L 4ho Ho$a al oHr5
and should know great deal more, bu
at home had always my little brother t.
carry. for mother was sick in bed
Herr Richter suddenly formed his reso
linton. "Well, them" he said, ''if 20,
are GOOD and honest and industrious, vii
take care of you. You shall learn, hav
meat and drink and clothing, and in tim
earn something besides. Then you cal
snnport your mother and brothers, also"
The bows eyes flashed with Joy; but il
a moment he cast them to the ground, an
said sadly, "My mother all the while ha
nothing to eat.
At this instant, as if sent by Providence
an 1nhabitant of the boys native vlllag
entered Herr Richter's house. This ma
confirmed the lads story, and w1lllngl
consented to carry the mother tidlngs o
her son Gottlieb, and food, and smal
sum Of money from the merchant. At tn
same time Herr Richter directed his book
1 keeper to write letter to the passor 9
the village, commencing the widow to hi
Z cara with an additional sum enclosed 70
the poor family, and promising turtle
assistance. n..n.
once furnished the boy with decent clothes