Washington telegraph., 1851-01-15
INTELLECT IN RAGS.
! STORY FOR YOUNG AND OLD.

.lono the streets of Boston, one sunshi.
new day, on their way to school, chatting
As they went, and apparently enjoying
themselves rignt merrily.
A late rain had given coating of mud
N the red brick sidewalks, SO the children
,rod daintily; the older one, slight and
delicately formed girl, with a merry dark
eve, and full rich ringlets. carefully lift
ing her soft SHINING garments. that they
might not be soiled, by contact with the
wet earth ,
And now, their way led through a
dark. damp alley, where the sunbeams
grew sickly, and paled into dinness, as
thew touched the heavy and tainted at
mosphere. though. perchance. long times
between. they melted into shadows upon
,be golden hair of some poverty clad in
fant. for many such sa; in the broken
doo-ways of that comfortless city lane.
The hoy aud girl moved slowly on
,y,rd their white brows bent downward.
their bright eyes searching for the hidden
nave stones; vet ever and anon some
ouick laugh at the lud,crous figures that
a,ted across their path, would throne
their smooth cheeks with dimples.
"Don't you hate such dirty places Ju-
lia?" said the boy, as few drops, not OF
CRYSTAL, stained the glossiness OF his rich
attire: "don't you wish sc aool was at the
other end OF the lane!
"It's perfectly horrible" answered TIE
beautiful young creature, with light
laupt;-"dear do look at those creatures;
thew can have no sensibility, no refine
ment; how dirty. how contemplate they
are-well, thank goodness, that a0e were
born rich. e-..
"Stop. julie, hash! yonder is something
to excite our laughter, l warrant you.
Ha. ha. boy larger than myself and ne
appears to be picking out letters on that
scrap of paper-bah." ..s..
"Stand still, Arthur, do. and let's hear
him; we can wait a moment.
A few PAGES before them sat boy OF
some thirteen years, hatless, shoeless, and
with very scant frock and trousers, The
latter mass o! patches. His hair tan
oiled and thick, hung over his downcast
ewes, and his hands. stained aud rough
with labor, grasped little piece OF news
PAPER, which he had evidently picked up
out of the mud. So absorbed was he Ill
his task, that he did not notice the fair
and high bred young strangers who
stood regarding him with lhoughtless
but subdued mirth.
Hark! the boy, leaning his brown face
on his clenched hands, murmurs uncon-
sciously aloud-"b-l-e-n-Ao, not that
yes; no''-a deep drawn sigh. then again
-'b-l-a-n;" long pause-'oh! dear, l
have forgotten; 1 shall never, never read
like Barney" s... ......+
As the poor child exclaimed thus, he
lifted his eyes sorrowfully, from the tat
cred bit of printing; his gaze fell upon
the listeners, whose beautiful lips were
curled with scornful smiles. A flush of
crimson started to his swarthy cheeks,
mounting to the top of his forehead, as
he threw off the mass Of tangled ourls,
aud his bold black eyes fell before their
familiar stare.
1--we got brother only five years old
al 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 SCHOOL,
"To school," echoed Julia, sneeringy,
"do you suppose lie could 60 into any
decent school! his name ought TO be patch
work; ha. ha. poor thing" she continued.
with mock pity, "our stable boy dresses
better than that
The lad, at her tone of commiseration.
sprang to his feet. and bent upon the
brother and sister, such a glance OF deh-
auce, Indignation, and scorn, that they
instinctively hurried onward; though the
girl turned once more mockingly round,
and gave utterance 20 light banterng
laugh.
Still the poor lad stood-wounded to
the hearts core-sti.l he gazed after
them, his full! lips quivering with his
mental anguish, his black eyes. through
the misty drops that hung trembling on
his lids, flashing fire, as though they
would seattle and blast the selfish pride
of those thoughtless children; then turn
ing he hurried up three broken steps
into dim eutry, flew along dark pass
age, aud entering cheerless room. flung
himself upon the uneven floor. aud wept
burning tears Of grief and shame.
The parlors of stately mansion on
Beacon street, Boston, were brilliantly
illuminated The owner of the princely
tenement had issued cards for fashiona-
ble soiree, the hour had arrived, and the
guests were assemb bling.
The rich and the great were there, but,
conspicuous among all, and conversing
with the ex-president of the United
States. the elder Adams, stood noble
looking man in the bloom and vigor OF
manhood. His face was intellectually
beautiful, and his attitude commanding,
yet extremely graceful.
"All the evening"" murmured fash
ionabe yet lovely lady, to Mr. Adams, as