The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-09-10
THE DALI Y DISPATCH.
THK UMBRELLA GIRL.

THE UMRRkLLA GIRL.
Isaac T Hopper, tho well known Quaker phIlan.
thropist was emphaticaily the friend of the friend
iess and sedulously devoted his long life to deeds
Of benevolence. Untold numbers of persons
have been rescsad from misery, degradation and
ruin, oy ME Kind assistance. snpport and counsel
aud now live to bless their benefactor The fol.
lowing interesting tale Of truth showed how ten.
derry he wcoed wanderer. back TO virtues path
and how tenderiy he rehuked those who meditated
the destruction Of the poor aud the lowly.
Ayouns girl. the only daughter Of poor wi.
dow, removed from the country to PHILADELPHIA, 20
earn her living by covering umbrellas She was
very handsome; with glossy black hair, large bea.
ming eyes, and 'lips like wet coral" She was
just at that acceptable age when youth is ripen.
ing into womanhood; when the soul begins to be
pervaded by that restless principle, which impels
poor humanity to seek perfection in union
At hotel near the store for which she worked,
an English traveller, called Lord Henry Stuart,
had taken lodgings. He was a strikingly hand.
some man, and of princely carriage AS this dis.
tinguished stranger passed to and from the hotel.
he encountered the umbrella girl and was attract
ed by her uncommon beauty. Ke easily traced her
to the store, where he soon afterwards went to
purchase an umbrella. This was followed bv the
presents Of flowers, chats by the way side. and in
vtations to walk or ride all of which were crate.
fully accepted by the unsuspecting rustic for she
was ignorant of the danger Of city as were the
squirrels of her native field. He was merely plav.
ing u Rduie teEupoI6Ty cACltement. She, with
headful of romance, anda heart melting under
the influence of love, unconsciously endangerine
the happiness of her whole life.
Lord Henry invited her to visit the public gar.
dens on the Fourth of July. In the simplicity of
her heart she believed all his aatternr professions
and considered herself his bride elect; she there.
FORE accepted the invitation with innocent frank.
ness. But she had no dress t to appear in on such
public occasion, with gentleman of high rank
whom she believed to be her future husband -
Ia fhac rrhf lxyad hos L
eyes were unfortunately attracted by a beautiful
piece of silk belonging to her employer. Could
she not take 1t without being seen, and pay for it
secretly, when she had earned enough money ?
The temptation conquered her in moment of
weakness. She concealed the silk and carried 1t
TO her lodgings. 1t was the first thing she had
ever stolen, and her remorse WAS painful She
would have carried it back, but she dreaded dis
coyery. She was not sure that repentance would
be met by spirit of forgiveness.
On the eventful Fourth of July she came out in
her dress Lord Henry complmented her ON her
elegant appearance, but she was not happy. On
their way he talked to her in q manner that she
did not comprehend. Psrceiving this he speke
more explicitly. The guiltless young creature
stopped and looked into his face with a mournful
reproach, and burst into tears The nobleman
took her hand kindly and said, :" My dear, are you
an innocent girlf
81 am, am" she replied with convusive sobs
"Oh, what have 1 ever done or said tha: you
should ask me such question:"
The evident sincerity of her words stirred the
deep fountain of his better nature. eff you are
innocent said he, God forbid that should make
you otherwise-but you accepted my invitations
and presents SO readily that supposed you under
stood me-"
"What could understand" said she, Except
that you intended to make me your wife2"
Though reared amid The proudest distinctions of
rank he felt no inclination to smile. He blushed
and was silent. The heartless conventionalites
of the world stood rebuked in the presence Of af
fectionate simplicity. He conveyed her to her
humble home, and bade her farewell, with a thank
full consciousness that he had done irrstrevable
injury to her future prospects. The remembrance
of her to him would be as the recollection of the
past years butterflies With her the wound was
deep In the solitude of her chamber she wept
in bitterness of heart over ruined air castles. And
the dress she had stolen to make an appearance
beftting his bride Oh, would not the heart of
the poor widowed mother break, if she should
ever known that her child was thicfa
Alas, her wretched forebodipgs proved too true.
The silk was traced to her; she arrested while
on her way to the store, and dragged to prison
There she wept incessantly. On the fourth day
the keeper called upon Isaac T. Hopper and in.
formed him that there was girl in prison who ap-
peared to be utterly frisndless and determined to
die by starvation. The kind hearted friend imme
dately went to her assistance. He found herly-
ing in the cell, with her face buried in her hands;
sobbing as if her heart would break He tried to
comfort her, but could obtain no answer.
"Leave us alone" said he to the keeper, "per-
haps she will speak to me, if there is no one to
hear" When they were alone together, he put
back the hair from her temples laid his hand kind
ly ON her beautiful head, and said in soothing
tones "My child, consider me as thy father. Tell
me all thou hast DONE II thou hast taken this silk
tell me all about it: will do for thee as ! would
for my own daughter, and doubt not can help
thee out of this difficulty"
After a long time spent In affectionAte entreaty,
she leaned her young head on his friendly shoul
der and sobbed out "Oh, wish was deadi what
will my poor mother say when she knows OF my
disgracei =
know it," replied he. Alluring her by this hope,
he gradually obtained from her the story of her &C.
quaintance with the nobleman. He bade her be
comforted and take nourishment, for he would see
that the silk was paid for, and the prosecution
Withdrawn
him the story. This is her first offence said
he. "The girl is young, and she 10 the child of a
poor widow. Give her q chance to retrieve this
enc false step, and she may be restored to society,
art paid for the silk" The man readily agreed to
withdraw the prosecution, and said he would
have dealt otherwise with the girl if he had known
| all the circumstances Thou shouldst have in.
Hopper. by this kind of thoughtlessness many
| a young creature Is driven into the downward
path who might easily have been saved'
The kind hearted man next proceeded to the
hotel, and with quaker simplicity OF speech in
quired for Henry Stuart. The servant said his
lordship had not risen. 'Tell him my business is
of Importance" said Friend Hopper The ser.
want soon returned, and conducted him to the
chamber The nobleman appeared surp rised,
that a stranger in the Quaker costume, should
thus intrude upon bis luxurious privacy. When
he heard Of his srrand, he blushed deeply, and
frankly admitted the truth Of the girls statement.
His benevolent visitor took the opportunity to
"bear q testimony against the sin OF protigaey.
He did II In such kind and fatherly manner that
the young mans heart was touched.
He excused himself by saying that he would
not have tampered with the girl If he had known
her IN he yirtuous. 81 have done many wrong