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2i6 Old-time Schools and School-books
children. One cold morning in the winter, a small boy came along, with a saw on his arm, and wanted this lady to hire him to saw wood. She said, one of her neighbors would like to saw the wood and she did not wish to hire any body else. " O dear," said the boy, "what shall I do ? My father is blind, mother is sick, and I left my sister crying at home, for fear poor ma will die. I take care of them, as well as I can, but they have nothing to eat." Mrs. Corbon had never seen this lad before; but she perceived he was a boy of uncommon goodness. He shivered very much with the cold ; for he was but thinly drest, and his ear locks were white with frost. The lady asked him to come in and warm himself. Are you not hungry, said Mrs. Corbon ? Not much ma'am. I had some potatoe for dinner yesterday. Did you not have supper last night ? No ma'am. Nor breakfast, this morning ? u Not yet: but no matter: I shall get some by and by. If I try to do well, God will protect me : for so my precious mother says. I believe she is the best woman in the world. If I did not think she was, I would not say so." " You are a brave lad," said the lady. u I will be your friend, if you have not another on earth; " and the tears sparkled in her eyes as she gave him a biscuit with a piece of meat, on a small plate. Thank you, ma'am, said Frank; if you please, I will keep them to carry home. Don't you think, ma'am, that any body will hire me to saw wood ? Yes, my dear little fellow, she answered, I will give you money to saw mine. He thanked her again, and ran to the wood pile to begin his work. The lady put on her cloak and went out among her neighbors. She told them Frank was one of the best boys she had ever seen, and hoped they would do something to help the little fellow provide for the family. So they came to her house, where he was, and one gave him a six cent piece, another a shilling, and a third twenty-five cents, till they made up nearly three dollars. They pre- |
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