The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-03-06

gin AND PHLANTHRopY-A True TALE
~ I. MARIA CHILD.

long ago 'aStoung girl the only daughter Of a
widow. She came from the country, and was
m ignorant of the dangers of the city as the
SQUIRRELS OF her native fields. She had glossy
black hair, gentle. beaming eyes, and slips Ike
wet coral" OF course she knew that she was
beautiful; for when she was chlld strangers
often stopped as she passed, and exclaimed, "How
handsome she 4" And as she grew older, the
Young men gazed on her with admiration. She
was Door, and removed TO the city to earn her
living by covering umbrellas. She was Just OF
that susceptible age when youth is passing into
womanhood when the soul begins to be pervaded
bv athat restless principle which impels poor
humans to seek perfection ia union" e.8
Al the hotel opposite Lord Henry Stuart, an
ENGLISH nobleman, had at that time taken l0dg-
inps. His visit to this country is doubtless well
tion at the time. He was peer of the realm,
descended from the royal line, and was, moreover,
strikingIy handsome man, of right princey car
rage He was subsequently, a member OF the
British Parliament, and ia now dead.
AS this distinguished stranger passed to and
from his hotel he encountered the umbrella girl
and was impressed by her uncommon beauty
He easily traced her to the opposite store, where
he soon after went to purchase an umbrella
This was. followed up by presents Of flowers,
chats by the wayside, and invitations to walk OF
unsuspecting rustic. He was playing game for
temporary excitement she, with head full Of
romance, and heart melting under the influence
of love, Vas internationally endangerlng the hap
piness Of her whole life.
Lord Heary invited her to visit the public gar
dens on the Fourth Of July. In the simplicity OF
her heart, she believed all his dattering profess
sions, and considered herself his bride elect; she
therefore accepted the invitation with innocent
frankness. But she had no dress fit to appear on
such public occasion with gentleman OF high
rank, whom she verify supposed to be her des-
tined husband While these thoughts revolved
in her mind her eye was unfortunately attracted
BY a beautiful piece of silk belonging to her EN-
pluyer. All, could she not take it without being
seen, and pay for it secretly when she had earned
money enoughi The temptation conquered her
ia a moment of weakness. She concealed the
silk, and conveyed it to her lodgings. 1t was the
first thing she had ever stolen, and her remorse
was painful She would have carried it back
but she dreaded discovery She was not sure
that her repentance would be met in spirit Of
forgiveness. s. sss n. ....s3 ss. "a s-
On the eventful Fourth of July, she came out
in her newdress Lord Henry complimented her
upon her elegant appearance but she was moi
happy On their way to the gardens, he talked
to her in manner which she did not comprehend.
Perceiviag this, he spoke more explicitly The
guieless young creature stopped, looked in his
face with mournful reproach. and burst into tears
The nobleman ,took her hand kihdly and said
= ny dear, are you an innoce0t girl !" am,
/ "a, }" replied she, with convulsive sobs. IA.
what have ever done, or said, that you should
ask me that 7" Her words stirred the deep foUn-
tains of his better nature. IF you are inno-
cent" said he, 4 God forbid that should make
you otherwise. But you accepted my invitations
and presents so readily, that supposed you to
understand me-" "What could understand, 4
said ehe, "except that you intended to make me
your wife :" Though reared amid the proudest
distinctions of rank, he felt no inclination to smile
He blushed and was silent. The heartless con-
ventionalities of life stood rebuked in the pre-
sence of affectonate simplicity. He conveyed
her to her humble home, and babe her farewell,
with thankful consciousness that he had done
NO irretrieyable injury to her future prospects.
The remembrance of her would soon be to him as
the recollection Of last years butterflies. With
her, the wound was deeper. In her solitary cham
Der she wept, in bitterness of heart, over her
ruined air-castles. And that dress, which she
had stolen to make an appearance BETTING his
bride /! Oh, what if she could be discovered! And
would not the heart of her poor widowed mother
break, If she should ever know that her child
was 4 thief! Alas, her wretched fnrebodings
were too true. The silk was traced to her; she
was arrested on her way to the store, and dragged
TO prison. There Sne refused ali nOuIl5hment,
and wept necessarily.
On the fourth day. the keeper called upon Isaac
T. Hopper, and informed him that there was
young girl in prison, who appeared to be utterly
friendless, and determined to die by starvation.
The kind-hearted old gentleman Immediately went
to her assistance. He found her lying on the
floor of her cell, with her face buried in her
hands, sobbing as if her heart would break. He
tried to comfort her, but could obtain no answer.
Leave US alone," said he to the keeper. T" Per-
haps she will speak to me, if there is none to
hear" When they were alone together, he put
back the hair from her temples, laid his hand
kindly on her beautiful head, and said in soothing
tones, "My child, consider mo thy father
Tell me all thou hast done. If thou hast taken
this silk, let me know all about it. will do for
thee as would for daughter; and doubt not
that can help thee out of this difficulty
hAfter long time spent in affeciionate entreaty,
she leaned her young head on his friendly shoul-
der, and sobbed out, oh, wish was dead.
Al