Year: 1862

/
some pieces of silver from his pocket, here
are three dollars, take them and run inn
mediately for physician"


Henry's eyes flashed with gratitude
he received the money with stammering
and almost inaudible voice, but with a
look of the warmest gratitude he vanish
ed. The benevolent stranger instantly
sought the dwelling of the sick widow.
He entered little room in which he
could see nothing but few implements Of
female labor-a miserable table, and an
old bureau, and little bed in which the
invalid lay. She appeared weak and al
most exhausted, and on the bed at her
feet sat little boy crying as if his heart
would break.


Deeply moved at the sight the stran-
ger drew near the bedside of the invalid,
and feigning to be a physician, inquired
into the nature of her disease. The symp-
toms were explained in few words, when
the widow, with a deep sigh added: 40,
my sickness has deeper cause, and one
which is beyond the art of physician to
cure. am mother-a wretched moth
err l see my children sinking daily deep
er and deeper in want, which l have no
means of delivering. My sickness is of
the heart, and death alone can end my
sorrows; but even death is dreadful to
me, for it wakens the thought of misery
into which my children should be plunged,
it." Her emotion checked her utter
ance, and the tears flowed unrestrained
down her cheeks. But the pretending
physician spoke consolingly to her, and
manifested so warm sympathy for her
condition, that the heart of the poor wo-
man throbbed with pleasure that was
unwonted.


"Do not despair" said the stranger, " of
recovering, and preserving life so pre-
cious to your children. Can l write a
prescription here?"


The poor widow took little prayer
book from the hands of the child who sat
on the bed with her, and tearing out a
blank leaf, 81 have no other" said she,
+" but perhaps this will do


The stranger took pencil from his
pocket and wrote few lines upon the pa
per-


"This prescription" said he, "you will
find of service TO you. If it is necessary
| will write you second. have great
hopes of your recovery"


He laid the paper on the table and de-
parted. Scarcely was he gone when the
eldest son returned.


"Cheer up, dear MOTHER" said he, GO
ing to her bedside and atfectionately kiss
ing her. "See what kind, benevolent
stranger has given us. 1t will make us
rich for several days. 1t has enabled us
10 have physician, and he will be here
in moment. Compose yourself dear
mother, and take courage"


"Come nearer, my son." answered the
mother looking with pride and affection on
her child. "Come nearer, my child, that
/ may bless you. God never forsakes the
innocent and good. o, may he watch
over you in all your pathsl A physician
has just been here. He was stranger,
but he spoke 20 me with compassion and
kindness that were balm to my heart.
When he went away he left prescription
on the table, see if you eau read it."


Henry glanced at the table and started
back; he took it up, and as he read it
through again and again, a cry Of wonder
ful astonishment escaped him.


"What is it, my son?" exclaimed the
widow, trembling with an apprehension Of
she knew not what.


"Ah, read, dear mother? God has
heard u.s."


The mother took the paper from the
hands of her son, but no sooner had she
fixed her eyes upon it than any God"
she exclaimed, ait is Washington p and
fell back fainting upon her pillow.


The writing was nn obligation-for it
was indeed he-from which the widow
was to receive the sum of one hundred
dollars from his own private property, TO
be doubled if necessary.


Meanwhile the expected physician made
his appearance, and soon woke the moth
er from her fainting fit. The joyful sur
prise, together with good nurse with
which the physician provided her, and a
plenty of wholesome food provided her,
soon restored her to perfect health.


The Influence of Washington, who Wis
tied them more than once, provided fol-
the widow friends who furnished her with
constant employment, and her sons when
they arrived at the proper age, were plac.
ced in respectable positions, where they
were able TO support and render the re
mainder of their mothers life comfortable
and happy.


Let the children who read this story.
remember, when thinking of the great
and good Washington, that he was not
above entering the walls of poverty and
carrying joy and gladness to the hearts Of
its inmates. This is not fictitious tale,
but only one Of a thousand incidents which
stamp him one of the best of men.
| -- -----


81 COME with the olive branch in one
hand and the Constitution in the other