The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-04-01
Miscellaneous.

THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL OF KENTUCKY
BIZ FRANCIS q. osGooD.

BIZ FRANCIS .. osGooD.
six for Rp! Matches! Maiches!--'I'he voice was
clear and glad as birds, and Russell Hartley turn-
ed TO see from whence il proceeded; little, bare
footed girl nbout ten years old, with the sunncst,
sweetest face he had ever seen tripping just be-
hind him, and, he turned. she held up her match
es>with such winning, pleading, heavng smile in
her blue eyes that he bought nearly all she had at
once. .. . ,..... d.. ..-. .e ..,.. .s
Her fair hair fell in soft light waves. rather than
curls, nearly to her waist, and hole in her little
straw hat let in sunbeam upon il that turned half
TO gold. ...
In spite Of the chiIds and battered apparel,
spite Of her owly occupation her manner, her STEP
her expression. the very tones Of her yoc" unronsci
0usly betrayed native decacy and refinement,
vnich deeply interested the high bred youth whom
she addresaed lmpe!ed by an Irresistible impulse,
ne fingered BY her side she proceeded. 'Wbat 10
your name, my chiId'' he asked ......
Virginia. air. What is yoursi'
Hurley r ussell Hartley he replied. smiling at
her artlcss and native smplicty 'and where is your
home p
'Oh! have no home, a; least not much or one
sleep in barns about here and again she looked up
in his face. with her happy and touching smile.
.'And your motherl' %
In an instant the soft brow was shadowed, and the
upned eyes glistened - h tears. 1893 --
4 will tell yon all about IT, If you will come close
to don't like 10 talk about it,, she replied, in
low and faI,erng tones
Russell Fiartle y took her little ,unburnt 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 and all the other people,
and one night we were in the room they chilled the
Ladies' Cabin, and mother had JUS, undressed me,
and was sitting on her knees singing the little hymn
she taught me and she had her round my neck
mother loved me-oh so dearly, and she was SO
good !-nobody will ever be good again" and here
the little tried TO suppress sob, and wiped
her eyes with hor torn apron. well, and so was
just singing my pretty hymn,
I'li know no fear when dangers near.
na I'm safe ON eea or land,
For I've, in heaven. Father dear,
And he will hold my hand; W 80 ..,t
All at once, there was dreadful, confused sound,
rumbling crashing, shriekng nose--a terrible pain,
and them woke up, and there was on bed in n
strange room, and some people standing by the fire
talking about steamboat that 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 in warm
bed and tried 10 arouse me; but she could not until
woke up myself the next day. And when cried for
my own mother, they looked sad, and said she was
drowned and that should never see her again And
then wanted TO be drowned too, but they said that
was wicked, and was sorry had said 80, for l
would not be wicked for the world Mother always
loved TO have good; and se tried 10 be- happy as
they told me must; hut could 'nt--not Tor great
whle-l used to pine at night for her dear arms n
round me! Al ias, found little comfort in dong
Just as knew she would like to have me- Sin know
ing that she could me still, and in talking to her;
and used sing my little 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 I am almost always good, and you know
good people must not be unhappy, and the beautiful
loving s,e shone again through her lingering tears,
as she finished her simple story.
r usseIl wa, touched to the heart. His own eyes
were moist. and bonding down, he kissed the inno-
cen. cheek Of the lite orphan and babe her 60 with
him. and he would give her money to feed and clohe
herself. i..1 ls' ,.. ..' '' .
But the child drew gently yet somewhat Prondiy'
back and ssid earnestly, oh! Inever take money
as a Elf; mother would no, like H. Then kissing
tenderIy the gentle hand ,hat still held hers she trip
ped lightly round a corIsr, and, al moment after,
Hartley heard her soft. svery, childish treble far in
the Instance, singing. Matches, matches! Six for
6p Who'll buy my matches '-matches. ho!'
Russell Hartley kept that sweet picture in his soul,
undilnmed through years of travel aud change. and
care He visited with enthusiasm, the noble CALLER
les OF painting and sculpture in England, Fiance, and
Italy. and many gem of art was eushrined and hal