Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-03-21
THE HERALD
VIRGINIA,
The little Match girl Orkemlucky
DY FRANCIS s. osooop.


by FRANCIS S. osooop
"Six for ftp six for a fp matches match
es" The voice was clear and glad as birds,
and Russell Hartley turned TO see from whence
it proceeded; little barefooted girl, about ten
years old, with the sunniest Sseetea face he had
ever beheld. was tripping JUS behind, and as he
turned she held up her matches with such win I.
ming, pleading heavenly smile in her blue eyes,
that he bought nearly all she had at once.
Her fair hair fell in soft light waves, rather
than curls, nearly to her waist, and hole in her
lile straw hat lie, in sunbeam upon il that turn
ed it half TO gold.
In spite of the chid's coarse and tattered appar.
81, in spite Of her lowly occupation, her manner,
her step, her expression, the very tones Of her
voice unconsciousy betrayed n native deIcacv
and refinement, which deeply interested the high.
bred youth whom she addressed. Impelled by
an irresistible impulse, he fingered by her side
as she proceeded. what is your name, my
child ?" he asked.
"Virginia, sir. What is yours2"
"Hariley-Ru.sell Hartley" he replied, smil-
ing at her artless and naive simplicity; land
where is your home2"
"Ohl have no home at least not much of one
| sleep in the barns about here" and again she
looked up in his face, with her happy and touch.
ing smile
In an instant the soft brow was shadowed and
the uplifed eyes glstened with tears
81 will tell you all about it. if you will co
close to me. don't like to talk loud about it."
she replied in low and faltering tones.
Russell Hartley took her little sunburnt hand in
his, and bent his head in earnest attention.
"We had been in the great ship ever so many
days mother, and father and I, and all the other
people and one night we were in the room they
called the Ladies' Cabin, and mother had Just un-
dressed me, and was sitting on her knee singing
the little hymn she taught me, and she had her
arm round my neck-mother loved mc-oh so
dearly--and she was so sweet and good i-nobo-
dy will ever be so good to meiagain' and here the
Lale creature tried To- rePress a sob, and wiped
her eyes with her torn apron. "Wcll, and so
was Just singing my pretty hymn,
I'll know no fear, when dangers near,
I'm safe on sea or land,
For I've, In Heaven, Father dear,
And He win hold my hand
A Il ut once there was a dreadful. confused
sound, a rumbling, crashing, shrieking noise
terrible pain. and then-I woke up and there |
was on bed in q strange room, and some people
standing by the fire, talking about steamboat
tina. had burst her boiler the day before, and
found that had been washed on shore and that
Mr.. Smith had found me, and taken me home to
his wife, and she had put me into warm bed and
tried to rouse me but she could Mt till woke up
myself the next day. And when cried for my
own sweet mother, they looked sad, and said she
was drowned, and should never sec her again
and thea wanted 10 be drowned :oo but they
said that was wicked, and was sorry had said
so, for would not be wicked for the world
Mother always loved to have me good; and so
tried to be happy as they told me | must but
couldnt-not for great whiie-I used TO pine SC
nj pioht "a her dear rms around mo Al last
1 found little comfort in doing just as l knew
she would like TO have me, and in knowing she
could see me still, and in talking to her; and
used to sing my little hymn to her up in heaven
just as did when I sat on her knee, and sing il
now every night Mr.. Smith and his wife both
died and left me all alone again but am hardly
ever sad now, for am almost always good, and
you know good people must not be unhappy and
the beautiful, loving smile shone again through
her lingering tears, as she finished her simple s,o
ry.
eyes were moist, and bending down, he kissed the
innocent cheek Of the little orphan, and babe hel
GO with him, and he would give her money tc
,ciothe and feed herself
But the child drew gently, yet somewhat proud
ly back and said earnestly, "Oh l never take
money as a gif; mother wonld not like
it" Then kissing ,enderly the gentle hand thai
still held hers, she tripped lightly round corner
and moment AFTER Hartley heard her soft, silvery
childish treble far in the distance. singing match
cs, matches! six for fpl who'll buy my match
,esl-matches, no ~
Russell Hartley kept that sweet picture in hi
soul, undimmed, through years oftravel and chang,
and care He visited, with enthusiasm, the nobI,
galleries Of painting and soul pture in England
France, and Italy. and many gem of art wal
enshrned and haliowcd in the MOSAIC tablets o
memory, but there was none to rivnl the gem O.
natare--the ma,chlcss little match-gir Of Ken
lucky with her fair hair streaming on her scan
" red cloak, the glad and innocent smile in he
childish eyes, and the lovely sunbeam stealing
through the hole in the old straw hat TO lcbt a.
with a message from Heaven. The lovely head q
the orphan girl That beautiful raw of l;gb, =
made more beautiful BY its chosen resting nj, ce
giving and receiving grace lit seemed q svmbo
ofthe Fathers love for the poor little mo,berles
wanderer Il was only the hole in The hat Ina
Ie, in the sunshine--it was her poverty and he
lonely. lowly state, tina, made her especially n,
child Of His divine pity and tenderness and they
Ike he sunbeam, changed to gold her daily care
and smiled through every cloud that crossed he
liule heart