Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-05-30
From Graham's Magazine.
06i,4i,uo, tie GsGo >0(6oteG- GIT
OF RBMp " OIzWs
DIT FRANCES $. osaooD.

d itiloJ odIciOOtSu gnu uDuut lCH years
old, with the sunnest, sweetest face he
had ever seen, was tripping just behind,
and as he turned, she held up her match
es with such winning, pleading, heaven.
ly 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 he little straw hat let in sun
beam upon it that turned it half to gold.
In spite of the child's coarse and latter
ed apparel, in spite of her lovely occupa.
ton, her manner, her step, her expression,
the very tones of her voice unconsciously
betrayed native dellcacy and refinement,
which deeply interested tho kigh-bred
youth whom she addressed. lmpeled
oy an irresistible impulse, he fingered by
her side as she proceeded. "What is
your name, my chld?" he asked.
"Virginia sir. What is yours?"
"Hartley-Russell Hartly," he replied,
smiling at her artlessness and simplicity;
"And where is your homer"
ooh! have no home. a. least not
much Of a one, sleep in the barns about
here" and again she looked up in bis face
with her happy and touching smile.
"And your mother?"
In an instant the soft blue eye was sha.
dowed, and the uplilted eyes glistened
with tears.
Il will tell you all about it, if you will
como close to me. don't like to talk
loud about it," she replied in low and fall
tering tones.
Russell Harty took her little sunburnt
| hand in his, and bent has head in earnest
attention.
ave had been in the great ship ever so
many days, mother, and |, and all the 9TH
er people, and one night we were in the
room they called the Ladies' Cabin, and
mother had just undressed me, and was
sitting on her knee singing the little hymn
she taught me, and she had her arm round
my neck-mother loved me- oh! so
dearly-and she was so sweet and good!
nobody will be so good to me again!''
and here the little creature tried to repress
sob, and wiped her eyes with her torn
apron. "WelI, 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 will hold my hand
All at once, there was dreadful, confus-
ed sound rumbing, crashing, shrieking
Eoise--a terrible pain, and then-l woke
up, and there | was on a bed in a strange
room, and some people standing by the
fire, talking abou, steamboat that had
burst her boiler the day before, and
found that had been washed ON shore,
and that Mr.. Smith had found me, and ia
ken me home to his wife, and she had me
in warm bed and tried to rouse me; but
she couldn't 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 see
her again! And then | wanted TO be
| drowned too, but they said that was wick
ed, aud was sorry said SO, for | would
not be wicked, for the world! Mother al
ways loved TO have me good; and so
tried to be happy as they told me must;
but | could nt-not for a great while--l
used TO pine so for her arms round me! AT
last, found little comfort in doing just
as knew shc would like to have me, and
in knowing she could see me still, and in
talking TO her; and used to sing my lit
tic hymn to her up in heaven, Just as did
when sat on her knee, and sing it now
every night. Mr.. Smith and his wife
both died and left me all alone again; but
| am hardly ever sad now, for am al.
most 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 story.
Russell was touched TO the heart. His
own eyes were moist, and, bending down
he kssad the innocent cheek OF the little
orphan and babe her 60 with him, and he
would give her some money to clothe and
feed herself
But the child drew gently, yet some
what proudly, back and said earnestly,
ooh never take money as a gift; moth
or would not like it," Then, kissing ten
derby the gentle hand that still held hers,
she tripod lightly round the corner, and a
moment after, Hartley heard her soft, sill
very, childish treble, far in the distance,
singing, "Matches! matches Six for ftp!
Who'll buy my matches!--maiches, ho!'
Russell Hartley kept that sweet picture
in his soul undimmed, through years Of
travel and care. He visited with enthu-
siasm, the noble galleries OF painting and
sculpture in England, France and Italy,
and many gem Of art, was enshrIned
aud halowed in the mosaic tablets Of
memory, but there was none TO rival the
gem of natve-the matchless little match.
girl of kentucky! with her hair streaming
on her scanty red cloak, the glad and in.
nocent smile in her childish eyes, and the
lovely sunbeam stealing through the hole
in the old straw bonnet hat to light, as
with message from Heaven, the lovely
head of the orphan girl. That beautiful
raw Of light! more beautiful by its
chosen resting place, giving and recelv
ing gracel-it seemed symbol oil a Faith
er's love for the poor little motheres'
7. y h hi, IN ns