Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-01-13
MISCELLA A N Y .
The Beggar.
A TRUE TALE AND NO FICTION.

The Beggar.
TRUE TALE AND NO FICTION.
One cold, windy morning, the last Sunday in
December, 1S47, half naked man knocked tim.
idly at the basement door of fine, substantial
mansion in the city of Brooklyn. Though the
weather was bitter even for the season, the
young man had no clothing but pair of ragged
cloth pants and the remains OF flannel shirt, in
many large rents, and which exposed his mus
cular chest But, in spite of his tattered apparel
and evident fatigue, as he leaned heavily upon
the railing of the basement stairs, critical OBJ
server could not fail to notice conscious air of
dignity, and the marked traces of cultivation and
refinement in his pale and haggard countenance.
The door was speedily opened, and disclosed a
comfortably furnished room with its glowing
crate of anthracite, before which was placed a
luxuriously furnished breakfast table. A fash
ionably attired young man, in brocade dress
ing gown and velvet slippers was reclining in a
soft fauteuil busily reading the morning papers.
The beautiful young wife had fingered at the ia
ble, giving to the servant in waiting her orders
for the household matters of the day, when the
timid rap at the door attracted her attention.
She commanded it to be opened but the young
master of the mansion replied that it was quite
useless-being no one but some thieyish beggar.
But the door was already opened, aud the SYM
pathies of Mrs. haywood were enlisted at once.
"Cone in to the fire" cried the young wife,
impulsively, "before you perish"
The mendicant, without exhibiting any sur
prise at such unusual treatment of street beg
gar, slowly entered the room, manifestirg pain
tul weakness at every step. On his entrance,
Mr.. haywood, with displeased air, gathered up
his papers and left the apartment. The COM
passionate lady unwisely placed the half frozen
man near the fire, while she prepared bowl OF
fragrant coffee, which, with abundant food, was
placed before him. But noticing the abrupt de-
parture of her husband, Mrs. haywood, with a
clouded countenance, lett the room, whispering
to the servant to remain until the stranger should
leave.
She then ran hastily up the richly mounted
staircase, and paused before the entrance OF
small laboratory and medical library, occu-
pied solely by her husband, who was physician
and practical chemist. She opened the door
and entered the ROOM Mr.. haywood was sit
ting at small table with his head resting on
his hands, apparently in deep thought.
edward, said the young wife, gently touch
ing his arm, 81 fear have displeased you; but
the man looked so wretohed | could not bear to
drive him away" and her sweet voice trembled
as she added-"You know take the sacrament
to-day"
"Dear Mary" replied the really fond husband
81 appreciate your motives. | know it is pure
goodness of heart which leads you to disobey
me, but still must insist upon my former com.
mands-that no beggar shall ever be permitted
to enter the house. 1t is for your safety that
insist upon it. How deeply you might be i'm
posed upon in my frequent absences from home
I shudder to think. The man who is below may
be burglar in disguise, and already in your alb
sence taking impressions in wax of the different
key-holes in the room, so as to enter some night
at his leisure. Your limited experience of city
life makes it difficult for you to credit so much
depravity 1t is no charity to give to street beg.
gars; it only encourages vice. dearest"
at may be So" responded Mrs. haywood
"but it seems wicked not to relieve suffering and
want, even if the person has behaved badly, and
we know it. But promise you not to ask an
other beggar into the house."
At this moment the servant raped violently
at the door, crying out that the beggar was dy-
ing.
'Come, Edward, your skill can save him,
know" said his wife, fastening from the room.
The doctor did not refuse this appeal to his
professional vanity, for he Immediately followed
her flying footsteps as she descended to the base
ment. They found the mendcant lying pale and
unconscious upon the carpet, where he had slip
ped in his weakness from the chair where Mrs
haywood had seated him.
she is handsome fellow" muttered the doc
tor, as he bent over him to ascertain the state Of
his pulse.
And well he might say so. The glossy locks
white forehead his closed eyelids were border.
ed by long raven lashes, which lay like slken
fringe upon his pale, bronzed cheeks, while o
delicate aquiline nose, and asquare massive chin
displayed model of manly beauty.
"Is he dead ?" asked the young wife, anxious,
ly,
"Oh, no; it is only fainting fit induced by
the sudden change of temperature, and, perhaps
the first stage of starvation" replied the DOCTOR
sympathizingly. He had forgotten for the mo.
ment his cold maxims of prudence, and added,
she must be carried to warm room, without O
fire, and placed in comfortable bed"
The coachman was called in to assist in lift
ing the athletic stranger, who was soon carried
to room in the chambers, where the doctor
administered with his own hands port wine san
garee The young man soon became partly con-
sciops, but all conversation was soon forbidden
him, and he sank quietly to sleep.
SHE is doing we'll; let him rest as long as he
can should he awake in our absence, give him
beet-tea and toast ad h6itum," said the doctor
professionally, as he left the room.
In less than an hour afterwards, DR.. haywood
and his lovely wife entered the gorgeous church
of the Most Holy Trinity.
Amid the hundreds of fair danes that entered
its broad portals, dressed with all the taste and
magnifcence that abundant wealth could pro-
cure, not one riyaled in grace and beauty the
orphan bride of the rich physician. Her tall,
graceful figure was robed in velvet silk, that
only heightened by contrast her large azure eyes,
bright with the lustre of youthful happiness yet
there was touch of tender pity in their droop-
ing lids that won the confidence of every be-
holder. The snowy ermine mantillas which pro-
tected her from the piercing wind, rivaled, but
could not surpass the delicate purity of her CON-
plexion.
Many admiring eyes followed the faultless fig
ure of Mrs. haywood, as she moved with uncon-
scious grace up the central isle of the church,
but none with more heartfelt devotion than the
young, wayward, but generous man, who had
recently welded her in spite of her poverty and
the sneers of his aristooratic acquaintance.
The stately organ had pealed its last rich notes
which were still family echoing in the distant