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

THE MATCH GIRL Of KENTUCKY.
BY FRANCIS $. osGooD.

The voice was clear ana glad as inc
winds, and Russell Hartley turned 10 sec
from whence it proceeded; little bare
footed girl, about ten years old, with the
sunnicst, sweetest face he had ever seen
was tripping just behind, and, as he
turned, she held up her matches with
such winning. pleading, heavenly smile
in her blue eyes, that he boug ht nearly
all she had nj once.
Her hair fell in light waves rather than
curls, nearly to her waist, and a hole in
her little straw hat let in sunbeam up
on il that turned i, halfto gold.
In spite of the child's coarse and tat
tered apparel. in spite of her lowly oc.
cupa,ion, her manner, her step, her eX.
presson; the very tone OF her voice un'
conciously betrayed native del'cacy
aud refinement, which deeply interested
the high bred youth whom she addressed
lmpellsd by aa.isresistablc impulse, he
lingere by her side as she proc eeded'
"What is your name, my child !! he
virginia, sir, what is yours ?"
"Hartley-Russel Hartley" he re-
piled, smiling al her artless aud native s,,
SIMPLICITY; anil where is yonr home :!
"Oh, have no home, at least not
much of one. sleep in the barns here
and again she looked up in his lace
with her happy and touching smile
"And your mother p =,
In an instant the soft how was shal
owed and the uplil,cd eyes gllsie"el will
81 will tell you all about it, if yor
will come close to me; don't like tt
talk loud about it," she replied in low
lalterng tones. ,..,
Russel Hartley took her little sun
burnt hand in his, and bent his head II
earnest attention.
nWe had been on the great ship eve
so many days, mother, and father and
and all the other people; and one n'sh
we were in the room they call the lad'e
cabin, and mother had just undressei m
and | was sitting on her knee sins!n
the little hymn she had taught me, an
she had her arm around my neck-mot'i
a, loved me ah! so icari y--and she wa
so swee, and gool, nobody will ever b
so good to me again !" and here the l''!l
creature tried to repress a sob, and VII
el her eyes with her torn apron. awe
and so was singing my pretty hymn
Orold tn Apostle walked the wave'
As seamen walked the land,
mower was near him stlons to save,
For Jesus held his hand
Why should fear when dangers near'
I'm safe on sea or land.
For I've in heaven Father dear,
And he will hold my hand.
Though on dizzy height, pcrchance'
With falering feet stand,
No dread shall dim my upward glance
For God will hold my hand.
But oh! if doubt should cloud the oay'
And sin beside me stand,
Then frmest, LEST LOSE MY Way
NV father, hold my hand!
All at once there was dreadful conf
seJ sound; rumbling crashing, shflc
ing noise-a terrible pain, and then
aWoke up, and there was on a bed IN
strange room, and some people stan
inr oy the fire talking about steamoc
tba, had hurst her boiler the day belo
and found that had been washed
shore. and that Mr.. Smith had found
and taken me home 10 his wife, and
had nut me into a warm bed and tried
rouse me; bu, she couldn't until wo
up myself the next day. And when
cried for my own sweet mother, tt
looked sad. and said she was drown
and | should never see her again
And then | wanted to be drowned
but they said that was wicked,
was sorry said SO, for | would'not
wicked for the world. Mother alw
loved to have me good; and so alw
tried to be as happy as they told m
must, but could not-lor great wi
Il use to pine so at night for her a
around me! At last found a.ltIle c'
fort in doing just as she would like
have me, and in knowing that she &C
see me still and in talking TO ner; ar
used to sing my little &ymn upto he
heaven, Just as did when sat on
knee, and sing it now every nigh
Mr.. Smith and his wife both died
left me all alone again; but | am ha
ever sad now, for am most alv
good, and you know good people
moi not be unhappy;" and the beautiful
ING smile shone again through her
osrinr tears as she finished her sill
story. :;
own eyes were moist, and bending d
he kissed the innocent cheek OF the
orphan, and bade her 60 with him,
he would give her money to fe'd
clothe herself.
But the child drew gently, and 81
vha, proudly back and said earne
"Oh! | never take money as g.
mother would not like it," Then
sing ,enderly the gentle hand that
held hers, she TIPPED lightly arod
corner, and a moment after, tia
heard her soft, silver, childish voice