The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-06-27

used to say he would hold those in ever
lasting remembrance who forget not the
widow and the orphan and tears of min
gled gratitude and delight were showering
| fast down the little fellows face as we
parted.
"The next morning, Hattie, I received
that letter which summoned me to my
dying fathers bedside. / had, of course
no time to fulfill my engagement with the
little orphans, in whom I had become SO
greatly interested; indeed, the mournful
circumstances which drew me once more
to the home of my childhood banished
them from my. mind.
"If you will look down to that time
my little sister, you will remember that
April was weaving her green carpet over
the meadows before we parted, and / re-
turned to the city to complete my studies,
and then to enter that service in which,
before my fathers dying bed I had SOL
emnly pledged myself to spend all the life
that God should grant me.
=" had forgotten the name of the boys
residence, but l know that made several
attempts to discover it after my return to
the city, all of which proved Intellectual.
at was the sunset of a bright day in
the early May-time, and even the great
city looked fairer for the sunshine that
plated the housetops with gold, and swept
the golden flakes and dimples along the
ipavements up which was passing with
some fellow students to supper.
+" Now, Marshall remember to call for
us in time, for the lecture commences at
seven, and it viii certainly be crowded,
called out one of my companions, as we
reached a corner where our paths diverged
II bowed my assent and adieu, and was
hurrying forward, when my coat was sud-
denly grasped, and an eager but timid
voice said, Please, sir, is your name Mar
shall2' e 5
q turned and looked at the speaker
it was little girl, apparently about ter
years of age; her long curls falling in q
bright, tangled mass about her small, sor.
rowful looking face, while her large blue
eyes were fastened, with kind of painting
eagerness, upon my own.
Yes, that is my name. And wha
do you want with me, my little grip
queried, greatly surprised at this singular
encounter. @
!" oh, sir, do you remember little bo,
whom you met one evening last winter
who told you he had sister Nelly, and
the mystery was at once cleared up.
Yes, remember it all, interrupted
And you are Nelly, 1 supposep and
surveyed the child with enhanced interest
Her ragged garments her pale, mournfu
face, bore a very legible history of sharl
poverty and bitter suffering.
oh, l am so glad, sir!' and the ligh
that broke into the little careworn face wa
i beautiful to behold i was almost sure
must be you when the gentleman callet
your name, and you looked just as Will,
said you did. Oh, sir, have watched 70
you SO many days had almost given vi
hoping
Poor child have been out of town
or would have come to you as I prom
ised. But where is Willy? and what d,
j you want Of me?' ! was well nigh ashamed
after the latter question, her poverty an
! swered it plainly
".Oh, sir, Willy is sick, very sick; an,
his face looks so white lately, l fear he i
4 going home to mother sometimes. Yo
see got better after you sent me the or
anges, and Willy bought me some medi
cine with the money you gave us, and W
paid the rent for three months, SO the wo
man let us stay there. But one day abou
. a month ago, Willy was out all day in th
cold rain selling papers, and he's bee
getting worse, and he's altered so now you
hardly know him. But he's wanted to Sc
t you SO badly that he talks about it all tn
time in his sleep, and for the last two Q
r three days he has been so wild about
3 that / have been out looking for you a
! day, and I couldn't bear to go home 9
$ night, for Willy would spring up in the be
. and cry out SO loud, "Nelly, have yo
seen him?" and when / shook my head b
+ would lie down with such a look that
would go off in the corner and cry a
r alone, II made my heart ache so to see i
I But now Willy will be SO glad! Oh, pleas
: wont you go and see him?'
I see, Hattie, that your eyes are grow
Q ing moist with tears; and if you coul
}! have heard the simple touching path'
with which the fair child told her sad st
o Try, you would have answered as I di
0 yes, Nelly, l will go now
!. Willy, Willy, I've brought him. II
; little hand which had guided me so car
e fully up the dilapidated stairs was wit
6 drawn as the little girl broke into that o
) attic chamber, her eager, joyous ton
making the bare walls ring again-I'
u brought him, 1've brought him. s
u "The dying daylight looked with
le sweet, solemn smile into the room, who
le entire destitution one glance revealed
le me. I had not time for another, for
child's head was lifted from miserah
st mattress in one corner. l came forward
III pair of attenuated arms were stretch
W out. and those large burning eyes we
m g. Hr I,