True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-06-10
The Beggar Boy.

you have TO look over the fence at our
fowers!" The speaker was little boy
not more than eleven years old, and
though people sometimes called it hand
some, his face looked very harsh and dis
agreeable just then.
He stood in beautiful garden, Just in
the suburbs Of the city; and it was June
time, and the tulips were opening them
selves to the sunshine. OF! il was great
joy to look at them as they bowed grace
fully 10 the light with their necks Of
crimson, Of yellow, and csrnation. The
beds ffanked either side Of the path that
curved around a small arbor, where the
young grape clusters that lay hidden
among the large leaves, wrote beautiful
prophecy for the autumn.
A white paling ran in front Of the
garden, and over this the little beggsr
boy, so rudely addressed was leaning
He was very lean. very dirty. very rag
ged. / am afraid you would have turned
away in disgust from SO repulsive spec
tacle, and yet God and the angels lOyed
him
He was looking with all his soul in his
eyes on the beautiful blossoms, as they
swayed 10 and fro in the summer wind.
and his heart soltened while he leaned
his arm on the fence railing, and forgo,
everything in that long absorbed gael
All! it was seldom the beggar boy saw
anything that was either very good OF
beautiful, and it was sad his dream should
have such rude awakening.
The blood rushed upto his face, and
a glance full Of evil and defiance flashed
into his eyes. But before the boy could
retort, a little girl sprang out from the ar
Dor and looked eagerly from one child t.
the other. She was very fair. with sof
hazel eyes, over which dropped long
shining lashes. Rich curls hung oveI
her almost bare, white shoulders, and hel
lips were the color of The crimson tulip
blossoms. @
"How could you speak SO cross to the
boy, Hinton!" she asked with a tone Of
sad reproach quivering through the sweet.
ness OF her voice. "I'm sure it doesn't
do US any harm to have him look at the
flowers if he likes" f p
"Well, Helen" urged her brother,
slightly mollifed and ashamed, II don't
like to havebeggars gaping over the fence.
1t looks so low" .A'. q
"Now, that's notion Of yours, Hin
ton. I'm sure, ii the flowers can do any.
body any good, we ought TO be very glad
Little boy"-and the child turned to the
beggar boy, and addressed him as cour'
teously as though he had been prince
III pick you some Of the tulips if you'll
wait moment" 'tt
"Helen, l do believe you're the funni
est girl that ever lived!" calculated th'
child's brother, as he turned away, ant
with low whistle sauntered down tht
path, feeling very uncomfortable-for he
conduct was stronger reproof 10 hin
than any words could have been.
Helen plucked one of each specimen o
the tulips, and there was great variety
of these, and gave them 10 the child
His face frightened as he received then
and thanked her. e
o! the little girl had dropped "pearl o
great price" into the black turbid billow
Of the boys life, and the after year
would bring itup, beautiful and fair again
| Twelve years had passed. The it'll
blue eyed girl had grown into tall
graceful woman. One bright June after
noon she walked with her husban
through the garden, for she was on a viz
it to her parents. The place was li!tl
changed, and the tulips had opened thei
Hips Of crimson and gold to the sunshine
just as they had twelve years before
Suddenly they observed young man i
workman's blue overalls, leaning over III
fence, his eyes following eagerly from th
beautiful flowers TO herself. He had
frank, pleasant tcountenance, and there WI
something in his manner that inlsreste
the gentleman and lady. ,
"Look here, Edward" said she, III
pluck some Of the flowers. It alwa,
0 does me good TO- see people admiril
: thenl," and then releasing her husband
arm, she approached the paling. saying
and the smile round her lies was We
: like the old, child one-"Are you fond
i flowers, siri /. will give me great pie
sure 10 gather you some." VI
!, The young workman looked nome
q very earnestly into the fair, sweet face.
II Twelve years ago this very month
: he said, in a voice deep yet tremulo
with feeling, II stood here, leaning
j. this railing, a dirty. ragged little begg
ss boy; and you asked me this very questio
= Twelve years ago you placed the brig
is flowers in my hands, and they made !
a new boy--aye, and they made m
i'd Of me, too. Your face has been a ligl
ne ma'am, all along the dark hours Of i
ht life, and this day that little beggar b
be- can stand on the old place and say toy,
i'll though he's an humble and hard work.
or man, yet, thank God, he's an honest on.
or Tear-drops trembled like morning q
on the shining lashes Of the lady, as ]