New Orleans daily crescent., 1857-07-27
The Beggar Boy.

sect away with you, you dirty old beggar boy. I'd
1 like to know what right you have to look over the
fence at our flowers n The speaker was little boy
not more than eleven years old and though people
sometimes called it handsome, his face looked very
harsh and disagreeable just then.
he stood in beautiful garden, just in the suburbs
of the city, and it was June time and the tulips
were opening themselves to the sunshine. o. it was
great JOY to look at them as they bowed gracefully
to the light with their necks of crimson of yellow
and carnation. The beds hanked either side of the
path that curved around small arbor, where the
young grape clusters that lay hidden among the large
leaves, wrote beautiful prophecy for the autumn.
white paling ran in front Of the garden, and over
this the little beggar boy so rudely addressed, was
leaning. He was very lean very dirty, very ragged
| am afraid you would have turned away in disgust
from 50 repulsive spectacle, and yet God and the
| angels loved him!
He was looking with all his soul in his eyes on the
beautiful blossoms, they swayed to and fro in the
summer wind until his heart softened while he
leaned his arm on the fence railing and forgot every
thing in that long absorbed gaze! All ! it was sci
\ dom the beggar boy saw anything that was either
very good or beautiful, and it was sad his dream
| should have such a rude awakening.
The blood rushed up to his face, and glance full
Of evil and defiance flashed into his eyes, But before
the boy ould retort little girl sprang out from the
arbor and looked eagerly from child to the other
She was very fair with soft hazel eyes, over which
dropped long shining lashes. Rich curls hung over
her almost bare white shoulders; and her lips were
How could you speak so cross to the boy, Hin
ton e she asked, with tone sad reproach CULVER
ing through the sweetness of her voice. I'm sure
doesn't DO US IS any harm to have him look at the
"Well, Helen,' urged her BROTHER slightly notified
and ashamed, /" don't like to have beggaTs gaping
over the fence 1t looks SO low"
aNow that's notion Of yours, Hinton. I'm sure
be very glad. Little boy" (and the child turned to
the beggar boy and addressed him as courteousy as
though he had been prince) "Ill pick you some of
the tulips, if you'll wait moment.n
Helen, | do believe you're the funniest girl that
ever lived !" calculated the child's brother as he
turned away, and with q low whistle sauntered down
the path feeling very uncomfortable for her conduct
was a stronger reproof to him than any words could
have been.
Helen plucked one of each specimen of the tulips
and there was great variety of these and gave them
to the child His face frightened as he received
them and thanked her.
Q, the little girl had dropped "pearl of great
price into the black, turbid pillows of the BOYS life,
and the after years would bring it up, beautiful and
fair again.
Twelve years had passed. The little blueeyed girl
had grown into tall graceful woman. One bright
June afternoon she walked with her husband through
the garden, for she was on visit to her parents.
The place was little changed, and the tulips opened
their lips of crimson and gold to the sunshine lust as
they had twelve years before. Suddenly they OBJ.
served young man in a workman's overalls leaning
ofel viz lelct, his eyes following eagerly from the
beautiful flowers to herself He had frank pleasant
eountenance, and there was something in his manner
that interested the gentleman and lady.
"Look here, Edward" said she, ,'Il pluck some of
the flowers. Il always does me good to people ad
she approached the palng (and the smile round her
lips was very like the old, child one) saving, care
you fond Of flowers sir? 1t will give me great plea
sure to gather you some"
The young workman looked moment very earnest
iy into the fair, sweet face.
Twelve years ago this very MONTH !" he said in A
voice deep and yet tremulous with feeling 81 stood
here, leaning on this railing dirty, ragged little
beggar boy; and you asked me this very question,
Twelve years ago you placed the bright flowers in
my hands, and they made me a new boy, ave and
they made man of me, too. Your face has been
light, ma'am, all along the dark hours of nv life
and this day that little beggar boy can stand on the
old place and say to you, though he's an humble and
man, yet, thank God, he's an honest
one."
Teardrops trembled like morning dew on the
shining ashes of the lady, she turned to her hus
band, who had Joined her, and listened in absorbed
astonshment to the workman S words God" said
sne pat 1T into my child heart to do that little deed
9l kndness and see now how very great is the reward
he has given me.''
ana the setting sun poured food of rich purple
sht over the group that stood there over the work
man IN ms blue overalls over the lady with her
soiden har and over the proud looking gentleman at
ner sue athough 1t was picture for painter the
VIM iooked Gown on it from heaven saw some
'hing more than picture there.
.....#
LITTLE GIRLS. There is something inexnressihlv
t,Ovn