Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-06-29
The Child Angel.

fashionable house OF resort in a town on the sea
shore, very popular watering place, famous in
the annals of the wealthy. 1t stood not far
from the brink of the sounding sea, and COM
mauded a prospect OF surprising beauty.
Among the very select few who came here
for the purpose ot invigorating aud improving
health, were young couple by the name of
Hay den. Harriet. the wife, was an interesting
woman, not yet thirty years OF age, with quiet
gentle manner, aud voice whose every tone
was mlsic She was New England woman,
of Puritan extraction, and sweet, practical
Christian. But the sweetest creature in this
beautifl group was Autoinette Hayden, child
of three6ears. She was not in flouDces, or la
ces, or ribbons. Her little limbs were untettered
5y fashion, and had the treest play; her ways
we're all Natural her walk and talk and play
we're rs ach;ld's walk and talk and play should
Oe.
Loose Fen was an uncouth caricature of hui
man being OF some sixteen years OF age, sleuch-
ing in his dress, dirty, sometimes ragged, bear
ing all the gibes put upon him with sullen aud
stOical silence. Loose Ben shuff1ed, looked sus-
piciously Ut everybody from under his eyebrows,
shrank from every human voice, never seemed
10 care whether they called him fool or kDave,
aud only caredto gather his loose limbs t0geth-
er, in some sunny place, after his services were
over for tue day, and think-wbat could the
poor outcast thnk2 He was German, and
possibly never Iuew his parentage he would
not say whetherhe had any father or mother
Ii was his duty t3 make fires in the rooms OF
those who Were i3vallds, in the early morning
aud for this purp>Se the father OF little Antoi-
nette employed han for, though it was summer
vet the chlll air o the sea made the early morn
ing raw and cold.
So. with All arntul of wood, Ben wended his
way 10 No. 56, Arge room On the second floor
AS he entered, Mr., Aayde glanced up from bis
dressing table, anl followed his lazy motion.
with his eye for amoment Little Antoinette
sat on the floor bi the bedside, halt covered
with the lace curtains that fell like spray over
her spiritual face snd figure. She too, looked
On earnestly, susperding her play for moment,
and then as his lalbr progressed, she stood by
his side. He gaze{ towards her, and seemed
lparalyzed into gre,ter stupidity at her sweet
smile. She did no; mock him, scream ont or
spring from him, as ,ther children did, nor call
| him unfeellng namS; but as she stood there
with a sanity light on her brow she laid one
white, dimped hand on his ragged sleeve, and
with winning voice asked, "Does you love
God2"
| He was too much sartled for the moment to
speak, but the great shining eyes beamed into
his lack-lustreless orb, aud again that voice Of
surprising beauty aska "Does you love God 2
He looked up, he ooked down awkward,
Ily and in his broad butch dialect said half
sheepshly, "Ya as"
"Do you pray to Col in the morning?' per-
sisted the little one, still keeping her hand upon
him--and he in the anne voice answered.
''Ya-asn
Then the little ond seemed satisfied; she
danced and capered about, chatted with this
coarse, boorish boy-wtohed the curling hame
as it assembled, and builHall unconsciously fire
of love and gratitude on lbe altar of that uncul
tivated heart.
The season went on, aid Nettie's mother i'm
Iproyed in health The bin figure rounded out
the pale cheeks grew tluhed aud she took long
walks and drives along tta quiet beach. Every
morning when Loose Bel came up To build the
fire, that dear little voice would say, "Does you
love God 2' and when h had answered with
his stereotyped "Ya as" s would add in pre-
cisely the same words as before. docs you
pray to God in the morni8?" aud again with
that stupid wondering hok, he would say
"Ya asn But there was aehsnge in this semi
barbarian. The rough, heay locks were train
wood colored face grew clan aud his hands e.
vinced some marks of atlentpn. BY some mys.
ferrous process his clothes VIE mended, and lit.
he by little Loose Ben seenNd to emerge from
his loutish shell into a region OF more thought
and freer scope The hotel ldlngers still called
him all kinds of strange and fginal names, but
he did not mind them and Id one seen hin
going up 10 his daily duty topom 56, smile
might have been detected lghhg up his home.
ly hce, TILL it was almost hadsome. And as
he entered day after day camethe same ques'
tion about love and prayer.
One Sabbath morning neveto be forgotten
day, for an telling NO storybf fiction, dear
reader, the rap came as usual room 56, and
when the door was opened lnlwalHed Loose
Ben, worthy Of the name no longs. He brought
the wood, not in his usual way, ut in basket,
and, wonder OF wonders! he WIS attired in a
neat gray suit, from head 10 toot,and under his
left arm he carried straw hat bound with
bluck ribbon. Leisurely he wst up to the
hearth. and lesurey set the kinlngs and the
WOOD in their place. Then he tured round and
IIonked fnr Antoinette A little wee came from
under the curtains BILLY, does ~ love God
Does you pray in the nornngF
The boy drew his hands before hieyes and as
Ne.tie made herself visible be wenttoWard hel
and fell upon his knees at her feet
''You dear little angel" he sobbe4 taking heI
dimped hand and covering it with ;isses "ev-
ery morning you ask me that, and gerry morn.
ing lie to you. Yes lie to you; ft | love not
God as you say. Then you ask me II pray ey.
ery morning, and lie to you, becate | didn't
know no better because | poor Dueh boy
But this morning, you dear little ang, / told
YOU | love God. tell you | pray to tod--yes