The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-06-02
THE CHILD ANGEL.

The Nelson Hotel was the largest and most
fashionable house Of resort ~ town on the
sea shore, a very popular watering place,
famous IN the annals Of the wealthy. 1t
stood not far from the brink Of the sounding
sea, and commanded prospect Of surprising
beauty.
Among the very select few who came here
for the purpose ot inyigorating and improv.
ing health, were young couple by the name
Of Hayden. Harriet, the wife, was an in
terestlng woman, nut yet thirty years of age,
with a quiet. gentle manner, and voice
whose every tune was music. She was
New England woman, Of Puritan extraction,
and sweet, practical Christian. But the
sweetest creature in this beautiful group was
Ani0inette Hayden, a child Of three years.
Shc was not 10 haunces. or laces, or ribbons.
Her little limbs were uniettered BY fashion,
natural. her walk aud talk and play were as
child's walk aud talk and play should be.
l.nose Ben was an unc0utl caricature of a
human being, at some sixteen years of age /;
sluuching III his dress. dirty, sometimes rag
gpd, bearing all the gibes put upon him with
sullen mien and stoical silence. Loose Ben
shufflet. looked suspcinusly at everybody
from under his eyebrows, shrank frum every
human voice, never seemed 10 care whether
they called him fopl or knaye, and only cared
to gather his loose limbs together. in sume
SUNNY place, after his services were over for
the d.y, aud think-what could the ponr
outcast think; lie was a German, and pos
sbly never knew his parentage he would
not say whether he had any father or mother.
\ II was his duty to make fires IN the rooms ol
those who were insalils, in the early morn
ing, and for this purpose the father ot little
Autoinette employed him for, though il was
summer, yet the chill air Of the sea made the
early morning raw and cold.
| So, with an arniul OF wood, Loose Ben
wended his way TO No. Sc. large room on
the second floor. As he entered, Mr.. Hay.
den glanced up & ON his dressing table, aud fol
lowed his lazy m0tinns with his eye for a
moment. Little Arithmetic sat on the hnol
BY the bedside. half covered with the Lace
curtains that fell like spray over her spiritual
lace ani figure. She, ton, looked on earnest
\ ", suspendIng her play for a moment. and
Then as his labor progressed she stord by hi,
side. lie Razed toward her. and seeme,
paralvzed into greater stupidity at her swre
smile. She did mt mock him, scream oul
or spring from him, as other children did
nor call him unieeling names but as she stoud
there with sanity light on her brow. she lad
one white dlmpled hand on his ragged sleeve
and with winning ,oice asked docs you
love Gud ~
\ He was too much startled for the moment
TO speak, but The great shining eyes bramc,
into his lack luster orbs. and again that voic,
ol surpassing beauty asked, Does you Low,
God9" lie looded ~, lie looked down
awkwardly, and in his broad Dutch dialect
said hAlf.sheepishly, "Ya-Ss."
Do you pray to Gol in the morning Z
persisted the little one. still Keeping hri
hand upOn him and he in the same yoic,
answered, !" Ya.as.'
Then the lllle one seemed satisfied; she
danced and capcreJ about--chattrd about
this c0rse, buOrisli bOy--watched the curling
flames as II asCen,le,l, and built. all uncon
sciously. ere of 1--we and gratitude on th,
altar Of that uncultisatej heart.
!. The seasan went On, and Nrltie's mothel
improved ip health. The thin figure rounded
out, the pale cheeks grew flushed, and sh,
took long walks and drives along the qnie
beach. Every morning when LUose l'er
came up to build the lire, that dear littl'
voice would say. !" Does you love Gud !" ant
when he had answered with his stereotypet
fa.as.. she would add in precisely th,
same words as before, " Does you pray to Gnt
IL the morning !" and again. with that stupid
wondering louk, he would ss. "fa.as.
But there was a change in this semi barbara
an. Gradually the raugh. heavy locks wer,
trained to fall back IRON his low, but fol
brow Ibis wood solored face grew clean