Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-04-11
From Grahams Magazine.
VIRGINIA,
The Little Match.Girl of Kemfuckv.
BY FRANCES S. osooop.

oio y anu husSeii Hartley turned TO see from
whence II proceeded liule bars-looted girl,
about Ten years old, with The sunnies, sweetest
lace he had ever seen, was tripping jus, behind
and as he turned, she held up her matches with
such winning. pleading, heavenly smile in
her blue eyes, that he bought nearly all she
had al once.
Her fair hair fell in soft light waves, rather
than curls, nearly TO her waist and hole in
her lille straw hat let in a sunbeam upon i,
that turned it half to gold.
In spite Of the child's coarse and ,atered ap.
Parel, In spite of her lewly occupation, her
manner, her step, her expression, the very
| tones OF her voice unconsciousIy betrayed ma
live delicacy and refinement, which deeply in.
tsrested the high-bred youth whom she ad-
dressed. lmpelled by an irresistible impulse,
he fingered by her side as she proceeded
" What is your name my child ?" he asked.
Virginia, sir. Wha, is yours?"
=" Hariey-RusseIl Hartley" he replied,
smiling at her arlless and native simplicity !;
:" and where is your home? 2"
"Oh! have no home, at least not much
of a one. | sleep IN The barns about here"
and again she looked up in his face, with her
happy and touching smile
"And your melher!"
In an instant the soft brow was shadowed,
! and the uplifed eyes gistened with tears.
:" will tell you all about it, if you will come
close 10 me. don't like TO talk loud abou, it,"
she replied, in lew and faltering tones.
Russell Hartley took her little sunblirnt hand
in his, aud bent his head in earnest attention.
" We had been in the great ship ever so ma
nv days, mother, and father, and |, and all the
other people, and one night we were in the
room they called the Ladies' cabin, and mo-
ther had just undressed me, and | was sitting
on her knee singing the little hymn she taught
me, and she had her arm around my neck
mother loved me-oh so dearly--and she was
so sweet and good nobody will ever be so
good TO me again :" and here the lne creature
Iried 10 repress sob and wiped her eyes with
her Torn apron. "Wei, and SO | was just
singing my pretty hymn,
know no fear, when dangers near,
I'm safe on sea or land,
For I've, in heaven, Father dear,
And He will hold my hand;
All at once, there was a dreadful, confused
sound, rumbling, crashing, shrieking noise
a terrible pain, and them woke up, and there
was on bed in strange room, and some
people standing by The fire, talking abou.
| steamboa, that had burs, her boiler the day be-
fore, and found that had been washed on
shore, and that Mr.. Smith had found me, and
taken me home TO his wife, and she put me in
a warm bed and tried TO rouse me; but she
couldni ill 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 her again And then
| wanted to be drowned too, bul 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 he happy as they told me | must; bu,
couldni--not for great while used TO pine
so at night for her dear arms around me? Al
last, found lille comfort in doing just as |
knew she would like 10 have me, and in know
ing she could see me still, and in talking to
her and used 10 sing my lille hymn 10 her
up in hearen, jus, as did when sat on her
knee, and | sing i. now every night. Mr..
Smith and his wife both died and left me all
alone again. bul am hardly ever sad now for
am almost always good, and You know good
people must not be unhappy" and The beau'i-
fu, loving smile shone again through her lin
gerins tears, as she finished her simple story.
Russell was touched TO The hean. His own
eyes were moist, and bending down, he kissed
the innocent cheek Of the hule orphan, and
badc her 60 with him, and he would give her
money TO clothe and feed herself
But The child drew gently, yet somewhat
proudly back, and said earnestly, "Oh! | never
take money as a gift; mother would NOT like H."
Then, kissing lsnderIy the gentle hand. that
still held hers. she tripped Lightly round cor
ner, and, moment afer, Hartley heard her
soft, svery, childish treble, far in the distance,
singing, Matches, matches Six for ftp
Who'll buy my matches matches, ho!'
Russell Hartley kept that sweet picture in
hi. soul undimmed, through years OF travel and
change and care. He visited, with enihusi-
asm, The noble galleries Of painting and scnlp-
,ure IN England, France, and Italy, and many
gem of arl was enshrined in the mosaic tab
let's of memory, bu, there was none 10 rival the
gem of naturc--lhe matchless lille mach-gIr
of Kentucky, with her far hair streaming on
her scan,y rcd cloak, the glad and innocent