Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
LITTLE. CHARLIE.

Ncllch up inc loHoWlhS rtlrool tncurciCSn loliicIs'
from Fanny Fern. 1t is one OF the most touching
leaves that has dropped from her penn
1 am one Of that prosecuted class, dcnuminated sold
maids BY going quietly about the world, taking
care not to joSlc my neighbors, ur hit against ,tin.pi
their rough angles, l managed 10 bc cheerful, content.
ed and happy. In my multitudinous migratious, !
have had some opportunity to study human nature
Lately, | have become 4 temporary innate fa crowd.
ed boarding house. My little room las already begun
to look quite komc-like. The cheerful sun las expand.
ed the fragrant flowers | love So well to nurture; ny
canary THRILLS his satisfaction in n gayer song than ever
and my pictures, books and guitar, drive ''dull care
away" aud bcguile many a pleasant hour. And now,
my heart has. found a few objects ofin.errst. .lvenn-
ttced on the stair case, and in the hall and lobby, alovcly
child, who seemed wandering about at his own sweet
will; sometimes sitting YEARLY on the stairs, almost
asleep; then lettering ntthc kitchen doof!wGtclingt H.
operations of the cook; then peeping into the half npel
dior Of the different apartments. As by q rule OF the
house, .sno children were permitted at the table, il
was some time before | could ascertain who claimed
this little stray vail. One morning. attracted by the
carol of my canary, he vGnturcd to put his little curly
head inside my door. He needed Il little urging to en-
ter, for he read, with n child's instinct, his welcome in
my face. An animated conversation soon ensucd
about birds, flowers and pictures-his large blue eyes
growing bright, and his cheek flushed with pleasure,
as story followed story. while he sat On my knee. At
length i said to him, Charlie won't mama BE- anxious
about you, if You stay solong?'
"3h, no." said he, Lizzie don't care"
"Who is Lizzie
"N nv, luy mamma. she don't care, II m only
out Of the way. Lizzie made ms this pretty dress"
said he. holding up his pretty embroidered irocl;: '.but
Lizzie don't know any stories, and she saws I'm Il
bore. What is II bore ~ said the sweet clild rs he
looked irIlstingly in my face.
Never mind, now,' said l t~cartully: ''you may
stay with me whenever You like, and We will bc very
good friends"
The dinner bell sounding, a saily dressed young
"Charlie! Charlie!'' When / apolosizccd for keeping
him she said, carclessly rs she rt-arrangcd her brace
lets, 20, it don't signify, il you can, have patience
with him. he's so tircsolnc with his questions, I've
bought him heaps of toys but he never wants 10 play,
and is forever asking me such Old-tashioned questions.
Keep him and welcome when You like, but take my
word for il. You'll repent your %bargain!' and she trip
ped gaily down 10 dinner. Poor little Charlie! Time
is plenty 10 dust all those silkcn ~ringlc:s; time to
embrpdicr,al those little gnv lrcssbs time to liiircr
ill midnight over the last new novel but for the soul
that looked forth from those. deep blue eyes, no thine
to- SOW the good sced-no time to watch lest the enc
nv should '.sow tarcS.'
From that time, Charlie AMI I were inscparablc.-
The thnugltless mother, we'll content 10 pass her time
dcvourinG ul sorts of trashy literature, or in idle Cos
sip with her drawing room companions. The young
father, weary with business troubles. conlcntilg linn
pclf with Il quiet good night ald closing the day by
n visit 10 the theatre or concert room. Poor Charlie,
meanwhile, put to bed for Satc-kccping, would lie
hours, tossing restless, fronside to si'lc, "witli nothing
but. his lread,' as she mnoctntly said to me: What II
low to sit by his side and beguile the lonely hours
There | learned 10 understand the meaning of our So
viour's words, 'For of such is the kingdom of Heaven
In his clear, silvcry tones, he would repeat after ue,
"Our %fathcr," asking me the meaning vi every peti-
ton: then he would say "Whv don't yout tell Lizzie!
Lizzie don't know any prayers"
One night | sang him these lines : : .-"''
Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood,
Stand dressed in living green y
he raised himself in bed, while the tears trcmbled on
his long lashes, and said, 30, sing that again-it seems
as if I saw a beautiful picture! Then taking my gli-
tar. I would sit BY his bedside, and watch the blue
eyes druop aud grow heavy with slunbcr, rs l sang TO
him. And abe whose duty, JOY, md pride it should
have been to lead those little feet to Him who bidlcth
'little children come" was in~dolcntly fundamentally
bound III howcry letters of her owu weaving, ullnind-
full that I'M angels destiny was entrusted to her care
less keeping.
Little Charlie lay tossing in his litrle bed, with II
high fever. 1t is needless to tell of the hold he had
upon my heart and services. His childish mother, ci-
:Icr unable or unwilling, to see Ills danger, had left
me in charge of him-drawn from his side by the ut
fractions of Il great military ball. i changed his heat
ed pillows, gave him the cooling draught, bnthcd his
icverish temples, and finally, ut his request, rocked
him gently to quiet his rcstlcssncss. He placed his
little arms curclesslv about my neck, and siiil, iecbly,
'.sine to me of heaven" When | finished, he looked
~languidly up, saving, where's Lizzie ~ and us the
words died upon his lips. his eyes dropped, his heart
hutsere' like Il prisone,l bird, and li,tio Charlie was
counted one of the heavenly fold. As l closed his
ewes, and crossed the dimpled hands peacefully upon
his little breast, his last words rang fcnrfully in my
ears-"Whcre's Lizzie