Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-07-04
MfsrrIIanRous.
From GrahGm's Wagering,
4 yIR GINA. /
LITTLE MATCH GIRL or sxnsFucKY


Six for a fpt! Six for fpl Matches.
matches The voice was dear and as
glad as birds, and Russell Haaiis turn
ed to see lrom'w benceiii proceeded; lit,
tie, bare footed girl. about tea years old,
with the sunniesi, sweetest lace lie bad
ever seen, vas tripping just bshind, and.
Is he turned, she held up The matches
with such winning. pleading heayenly
smile in her blueteyes, that he bought
nearly all she bad al once.
Her fair hair fell in soft lisbt waves.
rather thar cofls nearly 10 her waist. and
hole 10 her little straw hataletiin sun.
beam upon il tina, turned il half,o gold.
10 spite Of the 1child's coarse and latter
ed apparel in spite OF her lowly occupa.
ton, her manner. hersiep, her expression.
the very tones of her voice unconsciously
betrayed native delicacy and refinement.
which deeply interested the lIish-bred
youth whom she addressed. aImpeIled by
an irresistible impulse, he fingered hy her
side as she proceeded I'LL
What is your ma ne, my chiIde' he
asked. LII
Virginia. sir. What is yoursi'
'Harily- Russell Hsrly.' bsareplied
smiling at her arless and native simblici-
ty; and where is your homer 81
Oh / have no home. at leastfno, much
Of one. sleep in the barns abant here,
and again she looked up 10 his face, with
her happy and touching smile.
And your molbers
In an instant the -ssGs -.-v--,..S IL -
ed, and the uplilied eyes glisttned sith
tears.
/ will Tell you all about it, ID you will
come close TO me, | don't like toftslk tbpd
abou, it. sheIeplied, liz low and ALTERING
tones.
Russell Harily took her little6sunbprut
hand in his, and bent his head ii esrhest
attention.
We had been in the great ship svet so
mary days, mother and father: and | bnd
all the other people, and one night I've
were 10 the room they called The LADIES'
Cabin, and mother had just undressed ass,
and was sitting on her knee singing he
little hymn she taught ne, and she bad her
arm round my >Heck-mother loved mtt
OIL so dearly and she was, so sseel and
good nobody viii ever be 80 coed 10
me again i,-snd here the little creature
tried. to repress sob. and wipedber EYES
with her torn apron. well, and 30 Vas
just singing my pretty hymn, III
III know no fear, when'danger's near,
I'm safe on sea- or lsEdSk II
For I've 10 heaven. Father dear
And He will hold my hand.
All at once, there was dtesdfal. coh.
fused sound.. rumbIing. crashing. Shrek.
ing uoise4asterri5le pain, and then /
woke up, and there | was on bed ia a
strange room, and some people standing
by he fire, talking about steamboat 1 At
had burst her boiler the day before. and |
found that had been washed 90 sbofh,
aud that Mr. Smith had found me, and ID.
ken me home 10 bis wife. and she bad ppl
me into warm bed ADD tried 10 roqse
me; but she couldn't till ] woke up lie
next day. And when cried Tor ny c "
sweet mother, they looked sad, and sd
she was drowned. and should never see
her again And then j wanted 10 Re
drowned too. but they said that was wick
ed. and | was sorry had said SO. foEl
would not be wicked for the world
Mother always loved to have me good !.
and so cried 10 be happy as they told RE
must, but couldn'I-not for 4 great
while used 10 pine so at night for hsr
dear arms round me At last. ! found i
little comfort 10 doing just as knew she
would like 10 have me, and 10 kbowiue
she could see me STILL and, in ialkihg 10
her; and T used TO sing my little by mo p
her up 10 heaven. Just as did WhenH ~
on her knee, and sing ii now every night
Mr.. Smith and his wife both died.and len
me 81 alone again; but | am slmost Il
ways good. and you know good people
must not be unhappy. and The beaulifdl
loving smile shone again through lhe liu-
gering fears, as she flushed her Pimpls
little story f
Russell was touched 10 heart. His 5wh
syes were mont and. bending ao#a BE
kissed the innocent cheek Of the Iilils or,
phan. and babe her 60 With him, and he
would give her money to eio,he pad feed
herself. 81
But the child drew gently, yet sogne-
what proudly. back. aud said tsFnsslys
oh never take meney as giti smH,h-
er would not like It, Then. kissipe lem
Derry the gentle hand. thai sin hee htFss
she iripped lightly round the corner. and.
a moment after. Hsrily heard BET shlk
siIvery. childish treble far in the disis1es,
singing. Matches, matches i-rpeicAes,
DO :.