Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-06-25
Nobody's Child.
nY MRS. MARIANNE pENIsoN.


The daylight plays in the old alley as well as it
can for the dustheaps and tall black houses. Here
| and there throughlthe tanof wind, sun and lay.
ers Of dirt, CLEANS white spot like the leaf of
lilly, telling that beauty is not wholly banshed,
even from here. "A child has fallen over yon bro
ken doorstep. ltsleeps, but not unmatched, for
| the homely mother leaves her suds to steal now
and then quiet look, and wish he may sleep till
her toll is over. From little tongues the Iol of the
| blasphemer summons kindred-s spirits, and begIim-
ed imps play toss penny and root the DIRT deeper
into their sallow cheeks.
Nought disturbs this old alley save poverty and
CRIME. Intemperance swaggers and drunkenness
staggers, throwing its lean hand against the rat
thing window panes, and crushing in the Obi hat
crowns that line broken apertures.
Here comes a group worth studying. A boy
with sunny locks, leading his sister from The par
ish school. Poverty may be his heirloom, but
virtue locks hands with its mengre mate, and may
carry him safely through a perilous e-journey..
'Please-rm Peggy's little boy what takes in
ironing and washes. l and sister goes to SCHOOL,
Behind them, with slower step, an eye like a
hawk, his short, crisp curls clinging close TO his
brown forehead, comes another little urchin. His
eye has brightened-perhaps at the sound of a kind
voice, and he nervously fingers his old rags.
Who can but give kindly wish to the neglect
ed one? So we part a smile between them aud
ask hun too-and you my little fellow, whose chill
are you?'
Seel his head doops; the bold light fades from
his eye; the joyous curve of his lip changes 10
grief. He half looks up again, and a tear Strem-
bles on his dark lashes-
| tPlease-I amt nobody's child"
How often that plaintive voice rings on my eur
like the low cryof the turtle dove. Visions oil
neglected graves it brings. heaped in the poofs
corner-of children clingng to the skirts OF strange
garments, weeping at the harsh voice OF forced
charity-shripking from the uplifted hand of the
| cruel task master.
Nobcdy's child !
What fhis shrinking limbs stiffen with tie cold?
Who will lear the battered garments from her own
| M iahi mn h0Iu to- thar nl,n her I'll
| Nobudy
Who, when the sneer and taunt strike colder
than death against the grieving heart, pours the
soft balm of divine love on the cruel wounda
Nobodyl
Who, when The vile lay unholy hands upon him,
and drag him to the dark haunts of sin, will snatch
lnm from ruin at the peril OF her own life7
| Nobody
The poor day worker may hover like an angel
about her treasures--eyen in the midst of misery
and polution-saving them from all; but he is no.
! body's chilli
Oh, heaven pity and guard him!
u1-The following ues on Bcnevolence contain more
point than long sermon which has been preached
BENEvoLENCE.
Benevolent man was Absalom Bess,-
| He blazed right up like rocket
He felt for all who meath poverty's smart
But never felt in his pocket.
Yet all said he was au excellent man
For the poor he'd preach, for the poor he'd pan,-
To better them he willing;
But the eldest one who had heard him pray,
And preach for the poor in pitiiuI way,
Couldn't remember, exactly, 10 say
lie had ever given shilling.
an excellent man Absaom I'css;
And the world threw up its hands to bless.
Whenever his name mentioned.
Hut he died one day. he did, and o!
lie went right down 10 the shades below,
| " hero all are bound, fear, TO go,
| Whoa only good intentioned.