Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-09-06

bic far in The distance, singin' Match.
cs! matches! six for ftp! Who'll buy
my matches, ho -
Russell Hartley kept that sweet picture
in his soul, undimmcd through years OF
travel, and change, and care. He visit.
ed with enthusiasm the noble galleries OF
painting and sculpture in England,-
France and Italy, and many gem Of art
was enshrined and hallowcd in the mu.
sic tablets Of memory, ,bu, there was none
to rival the gem Of naturc--the match
less little match gi,l of Kentucky, with
her fair hair streaming on her scan'y rcd
cloak, the glad and innocent smi 10 in
her childish eyes, and the lovely beam
stealing through the hole in the old straw
hat to light as a message from heaven
the lovely head Of the orphan girl. The
beautiful ray Of light made more beau.
tiful by its chosen resting place, giving
and receiving grace, it secmcd symbol
Of the Fathers love for the poor mother.
less wandcrcr. 1t was not only the hole in
the hat that let 10 the sunshinc-it WIS
her pocerty and her lonely lowly state,
that made her especially the child Of His
divine pity and tenderness; and they,
like the sunbeam, changed TO gold her
daily care, and smiled through every
cloud that crossed her little heart.
Seven years few by--on butterfly
wings 10 Joy and thoueh,essncss, on la
den ones 10 sorrow and 'hopc def.rred'-
and our Virginia, now lovely girl of
seventeen, had earned money enough by
her bewi,ching way of offering matches
for sale, to introduce herself as pupil
10 one Of the first boarding schools OF
the country, not 10 commence but TO I'm.
ish her education; for with a passionate
love of books, she had found means to
cultivate her tastes aud talents in many
ways.
The lovely and lonely lite orphan
had struggled with hunger and cold,and
la,igucs, with temptation in most II lluf'
ing, bcguIing forms, and evil in 'hou'
sand shapes, yet she had kept the heav'
cnlv sunshine of her soul pure aud un'
clou led through it all. She had never
taken money as gift or bribe.-She had
assisted from her ill3 store many &
child of misfortune, still humber thar
herself, anI with faith, truth, and purity
an angel guard around hcr-by the
Iight of her own innocent smiles, she sll
dcd like a star through the ga,herln:
clou Is unframed, unstaincd, unshadow
cd. In the words OF our beautiful poet
"Peat { charmed the street beneath Ter feet
And honor charmed the arr
md music-,he music Of her own swec
hart and silver voice, went always wit
ncr thro' the world.
r 1t was on the evening preceding tha
+, on which the annual ball of the schoo
+, took place. The young ladies were dis
5 cussing round the schoolroom fire til
C dresses they were to wear. Virginia,
. little apart, listened to them, and ha
d wlshc she had fairy mother, like CI'
!. lcraIla's, to deck her for the festival
5 Pearls, diamonds, japonicas, sat'ns, Ia
e ccs velvets! She, alas! ha none oilhcs'
e She had only the plain white dress i
}. which she was crowned Queen OF Ma
Il the spring preceding. 1t wa, very plal
- not even bit Of trimming around Il
throat.
"And what are you going to wea
Miss Lndcnl" said one of the arlst
Gratis of the school, turning with VIII
she fancicd to be an imperial air, towar
the young stranger.
Virsinia blushed, and said simpl
"my white muslin
"Anl what ornamenls!'
Virginia smiled. "Oh, | can fit
some brisht autumn leaves for wreath
Imogcnc Gray would have glveh h
diamond necklace for such blush al
L. smile, for her own salow cheek was ne
er Illuminated; but she snccred neveri
less at the white muslin and garlanas
leaves, and lcigncd no further queslio
n. Virsina's delicate and sensitive sp
b it felt the sneer intensity, and she !
II The room with swelling heart and tear
a ewes. Once safe, however, in the as
~ INN of her own little chamber, peace {
~, scenled like dove into her soul, a
"a m anef undressing she knelt in her nj.
m robe by the side Of her bel, and said
No No prayer, and sang her childish hymn:
he III know no fear when dangers near,
TO I'm safe on sea or land,
Ike For Eve in heaven Father dear,
And he will hold my hanl.
,ev Doubt and danger were nearer I'll
ed she thought, but her little hand was h
- by One who avouM not let her tdH.
m. she rose from her devolions she saw
mi the first time, box on the table by
bc bed. 1t was addressed on the cover, S
avs ply, "Virginia.". She opened it wont
avs Ing, and found a set of exquisite pearl
,c namcn,s for the arms neck and head
,ile Her little heart beat with girllsh
rms LIGHT. She hurried 10 the glass
nm. wound around her hair chain oil 81
to white gems, less fair and pure than
mid innocent brow beneath. Next she ba
ID | her graceful arm, and placed brac
" in there. How exquisite!y the delicate
her namen,s became hef ch''u's'' , wynn
t. She thought she had never looked
and nrettv-not even when she used TO d
rdlv her hair with wild flowers by
Ways clear pool IN inc "oo"s' % ni. r. 9no v, v,
must wear them TO inc paii! Du' ""o ~
low. have sent them? Again she locke
lin. the box, and this time she saw
mile meaning beneath the cotton wool