The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-24
THE BEGGAR-B BOY AND HIS ANGEL.

A miserably-clad beggarboy was frozen to
death on last Wednesday night, (January I'd
He was found by butcherson his way to mar
ket. early on Thursday morning, sitting on the
stems at the entrance of the Circle, public res
erraion between "the Six Buildings" and
GEORGETOWN, on the Pennsylvania Avenue. His
r.tle dog was licking his face and hands, man
Testing the most intense agony for his dead
master.
The friend who told me this, said the boy
odan came to her kitchen door for aims. She
o,.s day asked him his name and residence, and
Of his parents. He promptly told her his name
and residence, which was near the Convent in
GEORGETOWN; and when she said, =" will some
time come out and see your mother" he replied,
lyon can 90, lady, but you will never wish to
CO., but once. have no father, but John Hen
Ole lives at my mothers"
A. other times, when filling his wallet, my
friend sought to know something of this boys
home but he was silent usually; and, from all
sbe could gain from him, she inferred that his
home was made wretched by the cruelty Of
.Iobn Henge and his mothers unkindness !;
that this boy was a beggar, to supply the wants
e tbi. man and his miserable mother.
Last Wednesday night was intensely cold.
The stars shone ike diamond sparks. This
p25r boy had been making his rounds, and was
returning late at night, followed by his dog,
with an almost empty wallet.
Is the beggar-bOy came up the Avenue, and
..assel Wizards Hotel, he saw its many guests
happy in the warmth and comforts of wealth
lie stopped on the pavement, and begged for
money, Tor he dared not go home without the
means 10 buy at least pint of whisky, and he
hal only one cent in his pocket. But it was
freezing cold, and those alighting from car
RACES hurried into the hotel, and those coming
out could not be induced to unbutton their
coats to get to their pockets, and so the poor
Dos utterly failed of success.
Sheltered by the Treasury, he ran along, shv-
erins, with Carlo, who, impatient of delay, was
always running ahead; but when the boy came
round the corner of the Presidents square. he
crossed the Avenue, and, looking up at the win
does Of the wealthy, he said, 40 how cold it is !
have nothing in my pocket, nothing in my
bAg and John IIengle will say have spent all
have begged to day, and will kick me out of
doors. @. if had been born in one of these
houses How bright and warm they look
They have rich heavy curtains, hanging loose,
ibat not so close but | can see through the
chinks There are two boys and three little
girls living in that house, for have seen them
all 50 nicely and warmly dressed, in cloaks and
iur Capes, and mittens and gloves on their
hands, going out to walk but have not but
ton oa my shirt nor jacket, to keep them button
ed. Mother would not sew them on, and | have
10 hold my Jacket together all the time. o.,
what Joy it must be TO be loved To have
sweet, kind mother to kiss, and to have brothers
and sisters TO play with, and to sleep with, in
nice beds with plenty of blankets, and to have
Santa Claus come down the chimney on Christ
mas night, with all sorts of pretty presents. My
mother does mt love me, and John Hengle hates
me Carlo here jumped upon his master, who
now ran along till he came under the shelter
us Os
booking up said to himself, "This is big
house, but nobody lives here, only single gen
ieman. o, if were but his son i should be
happy. so happy but there's no place in this
world for me. Why was / born? / will ask
nav sunday School teacher to tell me, if | can
again get my clothes fit to go to school. l wish
had died when | was q little baby-then
should have gone to heaven; now, when die,
where shall | go? To heaven? How cold
the stars look. Can heaven be up there?"
" les! my boy whispered his good Angel.
Heaven is on high, and you will one day reach
IT'S mansions OF blessedness, where the depth of
present wretchedness will enhance an eternity
&" 10Y. Cheer up, and hasten home! See
Carlo is impatent-he banks, runs on and re-
turns, aud barkS again."
The little boy FASTENED onward, seeking the
shelter OF the buildings on the north side of the
street, until, passing from under the protection
Afforded by the six Buildings" he became
exposed to the sweeping winds pouring down
rom the heights of Georgetown and Kaorama
henumbed and bewildered, he ran forward till
he came to the Circle, with its high iron fence,
aud made for the gateway, to gain the direct
path across it, but the iron gate would not
move; chilled and despairing, he sat himself
down on the stone step. The little dog barked,
"nd' by such eloquence as he could command,
prayed his master TO get up and go on, but the
boy Needed him not.
ne Guardian Angel whispered him to rise
anu hurry homewards-not to go to sleep, on
the peril OF his life. To all these monitions and
PromPhngS, the boy murmured his evening
prayer:
Vow lay me down 10. sleep
pray ihc Lord.-.my sOul..to keep;
iHu diebeiore wake,
pray NE Lord.--my soul To take
he Angel could do no more. His influences
Jailed 10 move the soul of the boy With ear
nest scrutiny, he looked in upon the boy, whose
thoughts like figures thrown upon screenl
passed under the inspection of the Angel. All
ready was the boy among the sunny DAYS of his
Sh'ldhood-birds were singing in the trees, and
butterflies of inconceivable beauty were hntter-
ing about from flower to flower, for he was in
d, beautiful garden, and music filled the air.
Inc Angel well knew his boys hour had come,
'l' there was no murmur in his seraph-soui
against Gods inscrutable providence. lie had
Witnessed the many miseries of his charge with
5he intense sympathy of his angelic nature, but
Ns could say, | can wait The Judge of all
Inc earth will do right
10 him the future was all unknown. but he
wei knew the Messenger Of the Highest would
sum be at his side. And, as the pulse of the
10y was fiuttering, he listened if, perhaps, some
Sea'ed citizen would come speedily, and yet
iIescu I the dying child. But no sound was
, .eAfg, but the soughing of the winds through
enc Instant forest trees. Carlo became more
h bnl more frantic His yelping bark short and
Incl but full of meaning, would have spurred
~, ~ Tue distant traveller; but there was no ear
- near. and, poor dog he did what he could
ny ncNing the hands and face of his young
- p~"lltly came Messenger from the Throne
10, zoo bringing with him robes of light, and
N'ood before the boy.
lon come, said the Messenger, "to. wake this
10y 20 immortal life."