Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-03-19
A Good Deed in Season
BY VIRGINIA P. TOWNSEND.

- I1hOlN4A z 4OmAoLSO.
Get away with you. you dirty old beggar-
boy. I'd like to know what right you have
to lock over The fence at our fowersr The
speaker was little boy not over eleven
years old, and though people sometimes call
ed it handsome, his face looked very harsh
and disagreeable just then.
He stood in beautiful garden, in the
suburbs of the city; and it was June time,
and the tulips were opening themselves to
the sunshine. Oh, it was great joy to look
at them, as they bowed gracefully to the
light, with carnations. The buds fanked
either side OF the path that cu.led around a
small arbor, where the young grape clusters
that lay hidden among the. large leaves
wrote e beautiful prophecy for the autumn
A white DaIing ran in front of the gar
den, and over this the little beggar boy, SO
rudely addressed, stood Leaning He was
very lean, very dirty, and very ragged. ]
am afraid, dear children, that you would
huve turned sway in disgust from SO repul-
sve spectacle, and yet God aad the an
gels loved him.
He was 'ooking with all his soul in his
eyes on the beautiful flowers as they rocked
to and fro in the summer wind, and his
heart sofened as he leaned his arm on the
railing, and forgot everything in that long
absorbing gaze. All, it was seldom the beg
gar boy saw anything very good or beauti-
ful, and it was sad his dream should have
such rude awakening.
The blood rushed to his face, and a glance
full. of evil and defiance flashed into his
eyes. But before the boy could retOrt, lit
tie girl s2rang out from the arbOr and look
ed eagerly from one child to other. She was
very fair, with soft hazel eyes, over which
dropped long shining lsshes. Rich cur IS
hung over her white shoulders, and lips
were of the color o. crimson tulip bios
SONS.
How could you speak so cross to The boy,
Hntonp she asked, with a tone OF sad re-
proach quivering through the sweetness ef
her voice. 'I'm sure it doesd't do US any
harm to let him look at the flowers, ii he
| likes
Well, Helen,' urged the the brother, a
little Modified and ashamed, i don't like to
have beggars gaping over the fence; it locks
so lew.
| Now that's a notion of yours, Hinton
I'm sure if the flowers can do any body any
go, d, we ought to be very glad. Little soy, ,
and the child turned to the BOY and address,
ed him as courteousty as ifhe were prince,
'I'll pick you some OF the tulips, if you'll
wait a moment
Helen, | do believe you are the funniest
girl. that ever saw said her brother as he
turned away, and with low whistle saun-
tered down the path, feeling very uncomfor-
table, for her conduct was stronger re-
proof to him than any words could have
! been.
Helen plucked one of each specimen of
the tulips, which made quite a variety, and
gave them to the child. His face frightened
as he received them, and thanked her.
Oh! the little girl had dropped pearl OF
great price into the black turbid pillows OF
the BOYS life, and after years would bring
them up, beautiful and fair again.
Twelve years passed. The little blue
eyed girl had growa into tall. gracefu.
woman. One bright June afternoon she
walked with her husband through the gar
den, for she was Oh visit to her PARENTS
! The place was little changed, and the tulips
had opened their lips of purple and gold to
the sunshine, just as they had done twelve
years before. Suddenly they observed a
! young man in worknan's overalls, leaning
over the fence, his eyes wandering eagerly
from the beautiful flowers to herself. He
had frank, pleasant countenance, and there
was something in his manner that interested
the gentleman and lady.
Look here, Edward she said, 'PI pluck
some of the flowers 1t always does me
good to see people admiring them and re-
leasing her husbands arm she approached
the paIing, saying. Are you fond of flow
ers, sir! 1t Will give me great pleasure to
gather you some.'
The young man looked a moment very
earnestly into the smooth, sweet face
Twelve years ago this very month, said
he, in voice deep and tremulous with feel
ing, q stood here, leaning on this ruling, a
dirty. ragged little beggar boy, and you ask
ed me this very question. Twelve years age
you placed the bright flowers in my hand
md they made man Of me. Your face has
been light all along the dark hours of my
life, aad tais day that little beggar boy can
stand on the place, and say to you, though
he is an humble, hard-workiug man. yet
thank God. he is an honest one, too
! Tear-drops trembled like morning dew on
the shining lashes of the lady, as she turnet
% her husband, who had joined her and lis
tened in astonishmeRt to the workman:
words. God she said, put it into my child
heart 20 do that little deed of kindness, ant
now see how very great is the reward which
He has given me!'
Aud the setting sun poured a food Of
rich, purple light over the group that steot
there-over the humble workmen, over th,
beautiful lady, and over the proud looking
gentlemen by her side. Although it was
picture for a painter, the angels who look
ed on it from Heaven, saw something NOR,
than picture there. :i, &c.. r.
The Female Form.