Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-15
For the Spirit Of the Age.
The Test of True Friendship.
A SHORT BUT TRUE STORY.

A SHORT BUT TRUE STORY.
The hand that wiped away the tear of want,
The heart that melted at another's woe,
Were his, and blessings followed him.
David Wentworth had the kindest of
hearts. There was neither mete nor bound
to his benevolence, except inability. And
happy were any men who had a 1.-THE of
the prayers that were offered up for the
welfare Of my friend, by the unfortunate
and wretched whom his hand had relieved.
l speak Of prayers-for it was the only
reward he obtained | mean here-but |
forgot.
David was paying his attention to an ex-
%cellent young lady Of his native city. She
was wealthy, beautiful and accomplished,
and CONSEQUENTLY had many suitors.-
Among them were richer and nobler Tin
extraction | mean) and handsomer men
Was a kfn$Al1 " 1qattX4FtA .,va 16igagQgxtts there
friend, that could not fail to bring hin
somewhere near the heart of his mistress
even if an emperor had been his rival.
The young lady bit upon a project tc
put the characters of her lovers to q test
She had found a poor widow with a family
in distress, in one of her benevolent excur
sions, and the idea occurred to her that il
would be a good opportunity to ascertain
what sort of stuff her lovers hearts were
made of. Letters were forthwith indited
setting forth the good woman's tale, an
forwarded to the different gentlemen in tn
widows name, requesting an answ an
assistance.
The first reply was lecture on idlenes
and begging, and concluded with the infol
nation that the writer was not accustom
ed to give to those he did not know. Tn.
was from a $4,000 a year. The secon
( advised her to apply to some of the b,
, nevolent societies whose business it was t
relieve those who were truly in want. Tn
! was from one who had q great reputatio
S for benevolence-who had taken a lea,
e ing part in the several charitable associ
J, tons, and whose pharasaical liberality hs
been blazoned in the Gazette. The lac
e thought that interested as he was in tt
f success of those institutions, he displayed
G very commendable reluctance about takir
a the business out of their hands. A thi
from a ~good-hearted and generous kind
a fellow-enclosed her a FIVE dollar b
l. with his compliments. Several took
: notice Of the poor woman's petition. 3
there was another answer which the la,
!; read with far different feelings. 1t W
e, from David, from $500 a year-and | ne
lie not say, like himself kind and ~consolin
1t spoke of the writer's narrow means, t
r rule he had adopted, unless persuaded
Y. the object and requesting an interview.
If If said be, Il find myself otherwise III
u, bic to afford the assistance you require
trust | may be of service in INTEREST,"
others in your behalf
er Nor was this mere profession. For
If was but a few weeks before the wild
be found herself comfortably located, and
gagged in a thriving business, common
he, by the recommendation, and carried on
*, the aid of my friend. And all this /,
af- done in genuine scripture style. There
= no sounding of trumpets-and the ri
ey hand knew not the doings Of the left.
his lady love was a silent observer of
it conduct, and he received many a K
I'm glance from that quarter, of which he ne
* suspected the cause. She began to tn
II that the homage of a spirit ike his
Id not to be despised and she felt someth
it'll very much like a palpitation of the ht
'on as she questioned herself respecting his
tentions.
Such was a train of thought which
ore one evening, as is often the case, inter-
- ted by a call from the person who had b
ge- its cause. Hour after hour passed by
night, and still David fingered. He &C
ing not tear himself away. She is a most
al chatting creature thought he, and g
Tels as she Is faithful. Can She ever be mil
md and a cloud came over his features anc
e. sat for a moment in silence.
va This suspense must be ended he
ong length thought He started as the C
told eleven.
ing ! You will certainly think me insuffer