Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-05-16
From Life Illustrated.
1 DIDN'T NOTICE.

Iotfered TO amuse il, or hold it for her few
minutes, that she might have little time
to rest and refresh herself, but sat with
your husband, laughing and chatting all
the way, as unconcerned about the happi-
ness OF those around you as if the car had
been freighted with wax figures, while
/ she, poor woman, was obliged TO travel
alone, with the care of child. Why
did you not do as you would that others
should do unto you, and put under her
burden zone of your fingers" to cheer her
weary heart?
didn't notice. No, you didn't. That
little beggar girl held her bare feet under
her tattered frock as well as she could so
you shouldn't notice, and she pressed her
bony fingers on her azure eyes, that heav-
ems own blue, which the great Master
painted there, should be dimmed by her
tears. When you refused her a bit of
bread, and gave her stone," ''stone
cold" reproachful look, which made her
little shivering form shrink away under
her threadbare shawl, you didn't notice
You didn't notice that aged man who
was walking down Washington Street
with tottering steps and heavy satchel
in his hand, when you brushed by him so
rudely as to knock his staff from him, but
let him tremble with his load. Why did
you not slacken your pace, and carry his
bundle few blocks, speak to his aged
heart word of cheer, and learn of him.
perchance, how look the portals of the
heavenly city?
You didn't notice that applc-woman,
with her halt-starved child, who tried to
offer you her fruit. You would have no.
ticed had she beena congressman" with
oranges Why did you not buy an APP
pie of her and give it to the first ragged
boy you met? Did you ever feel and
realize two cents worth of pleasure? Did
you ever see two cents worth of hope
lighting up a care-worn, sun-burned.
wrinkled old face? What a rainbow, that
Two cents worth of joy beaming out Of
the dark eye ofthat ragged boy, two cents
worth of eloquence and gratitude flowing
from his lips What germ is hidden
there ! and how do you know but two
cents would have fostered and called into
action the genius of Newton or the be-
nevolence ofa Howard? But you didn't
notice. You rushed on with dollar over
each eye, in "brown study" how to get
two more to make your blindness.
You didn't notice. But the bell tolled.
and the tired woman laid down her little
cherub in the arms of the death angel,
for she had no spot on earth where to Law
its head, and he flew gently off with it
through the pearly gates, and placed it on
the downy pillow Of Jehovah's love-
then she came back to her stone couch
by the wayside to await his return. But
there are guardian angels, transplanting
angels, transporting angels, who do notice.
And when the seraph choir chanted that
mothers welcome to her Fathers great
house, so full of mansions, when they
sang the jubilant song Of victory over
death, as she pressed the babe again to
her bosom, you did not hear the music
The rattle Of almighty dollars" drowned
the sweet melody Of that heavenly "ex-
celsior," and its harmonies were lost TO
your soul forever
You didn't notice that little beggar
giri, grown to womanhood, when size
came off your marble steps without get
ting "a place" though you long ago left
a reference at the intelligence Office for a
seamstress, bat your miss did notice her
forlorn condition, and their faded dress
and thought she wouldn't doi Disheart-
ened, the poor girl turned away. and gave
up the struggle. You didn't noiiee where
she went, but your son did and when
night dropped her sable pail over your
great city, he went out, unnotieed By
you when she began 10 roll Il up, aad
let in the gray dawn, be came in unno-
tieed By youi
/ You didn't notice an aged man being
carried TO the Potter's field, who died at
the hotel last night from anxiety and
over-exertion, in yainly trying 10 search
out and rescue a long long lost daughter
in a large city Bot the archaneel win.
I You didn't notice an old apple-woman
who ''went up for six months because
she stole penny loaf to keep her child
from starving, bui police officer did.
Wonderful reformers, wonderful reiorma-
ton
You didn't notice a dark-eyed youth at
at the prisoners bar yesterday TO receive
ten years IN the State Prison Tor forgery.
0 no, you didn't notice and 20 two cents
worth of kindness, two cents worth Of aid