Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-02-07

head, as he threw off the mass Of tam
gled curls. and his bold black eyes fell
before their familiar stare.
Ha ha 7 said the richly clad youth.
carelessly, I've got brother only Eve
years old, at home, who can read better
than that. A big boy like YOU ought at
least TO know your letters. Why don't
you go to schoolp
TO school, echoed Julia, sneeringly, |
do you suppose he could get into any
decent school 7 his name ought 10 be patch
work ha ha! poor thing she contin-
ued, with mock pity. our stable boy
dresses better than that
The lad, at her tone of commisseration,
sprang TO his feel, and bent upon the
brother and sister such glance Of def
ance. indignation, and scorn, that they
instinctively hurried onward though
the girl turned once more mockingly
round. and gave utterance 10 light, ban
tering laugh.
Still the poor lad stood-wounded-
wounded 10 the heats core-stiII he
gazed after them, his full lips quivering
with his mental anguish, his black eye,
through the misty drops that hung trem-
bling on bis lids, flashing fire, as though
they would seattle and blast the selfish
1 pride ofthose thoughtless children then,
turning, he hurried up three broken steps
into dim entry, flew along dark pas
sage, and entering cheerless room,
: flung himself upon the uneven floor, and
I wept burning tears of grief and shame,
) The parlors of stately mansion or
: Beacon street, Boston, were brilliantly
illuminated. The owner Of the princely
r tenement had issued cards for fashion
8 able soiree; the hour had arrived, anc
p the guests were assembling:
The rich and the great were there
but, CONSPICUOUS among all, and conver
}, sing with the ex-President of the Unite,
d States, the elder Adams, stood noble
1f looking man, in the bloom and vigor c
T. manhood. His face was intellectual
/! beautiful, and his high altitude comman
le ding, yet extremely graceful.
A 'All the evening murmured a fash
e ionable, yet lovely lady, TO Mr.. Adams
as be turned towards he., have bee
striving to gain an introduction TO Nj
Is distinguished guests; but he ha
been so surrounded-now, however, h
stands alone. should esteem il a rar
. honor to speak with him, but for a mC
y ment.'
- You shall have that pleasure sal
? the ex-President, smiling; and turnin,
a he presented the beautiful and fascina
II ing wife of millionaire TO the talente
(, stranger
~ we have met before, madam sal
Il the gentleman, bowing low, TO conceal
at strange expression that stole over h
IN features.
/ have forgotten the lady made a
a swer, III her sweetest tones.
rs i have not--we have met before /; iu
as twenty years ago. he continued, sti
IL keeping his piercing eyes upon her ia,
es 1--WE met in little lane, narrow, r
on lpuIsiVe place, where the cries Of hung
n resounded often upon the still air. al
en- where rags, misery and filth met the II
weller at every step
n He paused-and she gazed more cur
rd ously upon him.
ID Perhaps you do not remember 4
ne time, the Place-perhaps you do not I
Iat member how two pampered children
ne wealth passed along that lane-it m
be you forget the poor outcast, graspii
at science (though then scarcely CT
OF scious) with his untutored mind. T
ch laugh Of deIision that was then flung /
ne on this lonely heart-for l was Ii
child--roused the latent FIRE Of ambiti
ne within my breast and,' he continu,
'ht more-softly, i thank you for the taur
's and the scornful word they were e,
le- my incentives in my upward path to
'ey nor; had but to think of them, and I
eie soul was neryed anew. thank you
them : and triumphant smile illumir
ne ted his splendid countenance.
an. The lady, faint, mortified, glided aw
ell, from her rebuker aud in less than
Iet- hour sat, humbled and weeping, in
own proud mansion. She had wish,
ear nay, coveted, just one little word, fr,
the being who, in her naughty childho,
OF she had derided and despised for his
ess. verty-and she had been repaid W
ers, contempt. though smoothly worded a
air, del;cately expressed, by The neeIec
Hn- bov whose name now rang the wo
ano through.
III vi; Have a care, then, sons and daught
So Of plenty.
did Scorn not. the child of poverty, v
unp with pensiYe eye and lifted hands, t.
wiz up the rugged heights of Parnassus,
cared for and unaided. Though clotl
face in rags. he may gain the dizzy heis
con. while you, decked in the meaner pi
,at phernalia of wealth. humbly grope all