Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-03-04
MliseellaMg.
THE CHILD ANGEL.

The Nelson Hotel was the largest ant
most fashionable house of resort in tow
on a sea shore, a popular watering place
famous Ia the annals of the wealthy. i
stood not far from the brink of the sound
ing sea, and commanded prospect of sur
passing beauty.
Among the very select few who came
here for the purpose of invigorating ant
improving health, were young couple by
the names of Hayden. Harriet, the wife
was an interesting woman, not yet thirty
with quiet, gentle manner, and voice
whose very tone was music. She was d
New England woman, of Puritan extrac-
tion, and sweet, practical Christian. But
the sweetest creature in this beautiful group
was Antoinette Hayden, child of three
years. She WAS not robed in fiounces, OIL
laces, or ribbons. Her little limbs were
unfettered by fashion, and bad the frees!
play; her ways were all natural, her walk
and talk and play were as child's walk
and talk and play should be.
Loose Ben was an uncouth caricature OF
human being, of SOME sixteen years of
age, slouehing in his dress, dirty, sometimes
ragged bearing all the gibes put upon him
with sullen mein and stoical silence. Loose
Ben shufiied, looked suspiciously at every
body from his eyebrows shrank from every
human voice, never seemed to care wheth-
er they called him fool or knave, and only
cared to gather his loose limbs together in
some sunny place after his services were
over for the day, and think-what could
the poor outcast think He was German
and possibly never knew his parentage; he
would not say whether he had any father
or mother. 1t was his duty to make fires
in the rooms of those who were invalids,
in the early morning, and for this purpose
the father of little Antoinette employed
him, for though it was summer time, yet
the chill air of the sea made the early
morning raw and cold.
So, with an arm full of wood Loose Ben
wended his way to No. Sc, large room
on the second floor. As he entered, Mr..
Hayden glanced up from his dressing table
and followed his lazy motions with his eye
sor a moment. Little Antoinette sat on
the floor by the bedside, half covered with
the lace curtains that fell like spray over
her spiritual face and figure. She, too,
looked on earnestly, suspending her play
for moment and then as his labor pro-
gressed, she stood by his side. He gazed
toward heE and seemed paralyzed into
greater stupidity at her sweet smile. She
did not mock him, scream out or spring
from him, as other children did, nor call
him unfeeling names. but as she stood there
with sanity light on her brow, she laid
one white, dimpled hand on his ragged
sleeve, and with winning voice asked,
"does you love Godg'
de was too much startled for the mo-
ment to speak, but the great shining ewes
beamed into bis black lustre orbs, and AGAIN
that voice of surprising beauty asked,
"does you love God 2"
He looked up, be looked down awkward.
ly, and in his broad Dutch dialect said half
sheepisbly, "ya-as.'
sDoes you pray to God in the morningT
persisted the little one, still keeping her
hand upon him-and he in the same voice
answered "ya-as."
Then the little one seemed satisfied; she
danced and eapered about-chatted with
this course, boorish boy--watched the curl
ing flame as it ascended, and built, all un-
consciously, q fire of love and gratitude on
the altar Of that uncultiyated heart.
The season went on, and Netie's mother
improved in health. The thin figure
rounded out, tho pale cheeks grew flushed,