Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-24
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
The Test of True Friendship.
A SHORT BUT TRUE STORY.

A SHORT BUT TRUE STORY. 4
THE hand that wiped away the tear Of want, t
The heart that melted at auothe4s woe, |
Were his, and blessings fOlOwcdfim' t
David Wsssssls h@ss Of |
hearts. There was neither mete nor bound
to his benevolence, except inability. And
happy we're any men who had a 1.-THE of
the prayers that were offered up for the
welfare Of my friend, by the unfortunate
and wretched whom his hand had relieved.
Ispeak of prayers-for it was the only
reward he obtained; I mean hcre-but |
forgot.
David was paying his attention to an ex-
cellent young lady of his native city. She
was wealthy, beautiful and accomplished,
and consequently had many suitors.-
Among them were richer and nobler lin ex-
traction | mean) and handsomer men than
David Wentworth; n'ineporte, there was a
kind Of frank-heartedness about my friend,
that could not fail to bring him somewhere
near the heart Of his mistress, even if an
emperor had been his rival.
The young lady hit upon a project to put
the characters of her lovers to a test. She
had found q poor widow with q family in
distress, in one of her benevolent excur-
sions, and the idea occurred to her that it
would be a good opportunity to ascertain
what sort of stuff her lovers hearts were
made of. Letters were forthwith indited,
setting forth the good woman's tale, and
forwarded to the different gentlemen in the
widows name, requesting al answer and
assistance.
The first reply was a lecture OF. idleness
and begging, and concluded with the infor-
formation that the writer was not accustom-
ed to give to those he did not know. This
was from a $4,000 a year. The second
advised her to apply to some of the be-
n%evolent societies whose business it was to
relieve those who were truly in want. This
was from one who had a great reputation
for benevolence-who had taken a leading
part in the several charitable associations,
and whose pharasaical liberality had beer
blazoned in the Gazette. The lady thought
that interested as he was in the success o.
those institutions, he displayed a very
c~ommendable reluctance about taking The
} business olt of theft hands. A thirc
TrUm- u gvv5ko~-I1asn 4A~A~ass Liza q
a fellow-enelosed her five dollar bill Will
! his compliments. Several took no motto
of the poor woman's petition. But Their
: was another answer which the lady rea
with far different feelings. 1t was from
David, from $500 a year-and | need no
!: say, like himself kind and consoling. !
q spoke of the writer's narrow means, th
> rule he had adopted, unless persuaded
the object, and requesting an interview
v If said he, [ find myself otherwise I'LL
# able to afford the assistance you require,
trust it may be of service in interestin
others in your behalf
Nor was this mere profession. For
y was but a few weeks before the widow foun
herself comfortably located, and engage
in a thriving business, commenced by til
re recommendation, and carried on by the a
of my friend. And all this was done
q genuine scripture style. There was l
sounding of trumpets-and the right bar
knew not the doings of the left. But
= ladylove was a silent observer of his co
duct, and he received many a kind CLAN
IS; from that quarter, of which he never ST
nd pected the cause. She began to think til
the homage Of a spirit like his was not
be despised and she felt something We
ls' much like a palpitation of the heart as S
or questioned herself respecting his int
tions.
~ Such was a train of thought which v
one evening, as is often the case, intern
ars ted by a call from the person who had be
to its cause. Hour after hour passed by Il
a; night, and still David fingered. He COZ
not tear himself away. 'She is a m
yer fascinating creature thought he, and 6
me as she is faithful. Can she ever be min
An and a cloud came over his features and
en- sat for a moment in silence.
ell. This suspense must be ended he
length thought. He started as the eli
NV told eleven.
lyI you will certainly think me i~nsufera
her tedious said he with a faint smile, 8 b,
a of have been SO pleasantly engaged as to t
heir no note Of time. hhd the sin of
icy, trespass on the rules of good breeding n
tbe lie at your door. Besides, | have len!
,lv ened this visit he continued after a pa
under the apprehension that as it has b
Yell, the happiest, it might also be the las
A might ever be my good fortune to er
with Miss H.
odIy Inc Iady looked at MIN with some
~ prise.
title may said he, 'the matter rests
yourself. Will you forgive my presu
leart ton? know that others perhaps I
thy worthy of you, at least nobler and we;
holy Ter and higher in the worlds esteem
Eme; striving for the honor of your hand.
rciss yet I cannot restrain myself from ma
has an avowal which though it may be futi
and yet but a deserved tribute to your wo
hast The lady did not swoon or turn
Thy But a flush of qualification passed owe
.eIteT face, and lighted her eyes for a momel
ernai She frankly gave him her hand and
h the ed up archly in his face. "The frie1
i me the fatherless and the widow she
Tired David blushed) scaDnot fail to m;
their constant lover and husband
NIGEL -~~~-
ur.- pGr@ Wa hova on1u rooo. - H. H. 4.