Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-06-30
gaSiss' 9spartmtnt.
-THE.CHILD.ANG
LII -

stood not tar from inc OIlhh VI VIC souhu-
inc sea. and commanded a prospect of
surprising beauty.
AMONG the very select few who came
here for their health. were a couple by the
name of HAYDEN. Harriet the wife, was
an interesting woman. not yet thirty, with
a quiet. gentle manner, and a voice whose
every tone was music. She was a New
England woman, OF Puritan extraction, and
a sweet, practical Christian. But the
sweetest creature in this beautiful groupe
was Antoinettc Hayden a child OF three
years. She was not robed in t~iounces, or
iaees. or ribbons. Her little limbs were
nnfettcred by fashion. and had the freest
play E; her ways were all natural, her walk,
and talk, and play were as a child's walk,
and talk. and play should be.
loose Ben was an uncouth caricature of
a human being, Of some sixteen years Of
age, slouching in his dress, dirty, sometimes
ragged, bearing all the gibcs put uponhim
with O sullen mein and a stoical silence
Loose Ben shufled, looked suspiciously at
everybody from underh his eycbrows--shrank
from every human voice, never seemed to
care whether 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 putcast think He
was a German, and possibly never knew
lis parentagc ; he would not say whether
he had father or mother. 1t was his duty
10 make fires in the roons of those who
were invalids, in the early morning, and
for this purpose the father of Antoinette
endowed him, for though it was summer
time, yet the chill air OF the sea made ear
" morning raw and cold.
So with an armful OF wood Loose Ben
wendell his way to number SO, a large
room on the GeoOpd Aoor. AS he entered,
Mr.. HAYDEN glanced up from his dressing
table, and followed his lazy motion with
bis eve for . full moment. Little Antoi-
pette 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, earnestly, suspcnding her play for
n moment, and then rs his labor progress
sed, sue stood by his side. He gazcd to-
wards her, and seemed paral yzed into great
or stupidity at her sweet smile. She did
not mock him, scream ont or spring from
him, as other children did, nor call him
unreeIiug names, but as she stood there
with n sanity light on her brow, she laid
one white, dimpled hand on his ragged
sleeves, and with winning voice asked, 'doe'
you love GodP
lie was too much startled for the mo-
ment to speak, but the great shining eye
beamed into his black, lustreless orbs, anC
again the voice asked, does you love God
{e looked up, he looked down awk
wardlv, and in his broad Dutch dialec
said half-sheepishly, ya-as.'
Does You pray to God in the morning
persisted the little one, still keeping he
hand upon him-and he in the same voic
answered 'ya-as.' .
Then the little one seemed satisfied 81
danced and capered about--chattin
with this coarse, boorish boy, watcht
the curling flame as it assembled, and Gui
all upconsciously, a Ere of love and IRA
tude on the altar OF that uncultiFatC
heart.
The season went on, and Nettie's mot
or improving in health, the thin fgul
rounded out, the pale checks grew fushe
and she took long walks and drives alor
the quiet beach.
Every morning when Loose Ben can
up to build the FIRE, that dear little vol
would say, does you love God 2 and whC
answered with his stcreotyped 'ya-as,' 81
would add in precisely the same words
before. does you pray to God in the me
ningF and again with that stupid wondc
ing look, he would say 'ya-as.' But the
was achange in this semi-barbarian. Ora
ually the rough, heavy locks were train
30 fall back from his low but full brow
wood-colorcd face grew clean, and his gre
hands cvinccd some parks of attention.
BY some mysterious process his clotl
were amended, and little by little Loose Is
seemed to emerge from his loutish sh
into a region Of more thought and Fl
scope. The hotel loungers still ieered h
still called him all kinds of strange q
original names, but he did not mind the
and had one seen him going mp to his
ly duty to room SO, n smile might h;
been detected lighting up his homely f.
till it was almost handsome. And as
entered day after day, came the same az
tons about love and prayer.
One Sabbath morning, never to-be-
gotten day, for | am telling no story Of
zion, dear reader, the rap came as usua
EOOm Sc, and when the door was opel
in walked Loose Ben, worthy of the NJ
no longer. He brought the wood nc
his usual way, but in a basket, and v
der Of wonders he was attired in a 1
grey suit, from head TO foot, and under
left arm he carried a straw hat, bound
black ribbon. Leisurely he went M
the hcarth-stoue, and ]ieisurcly set the
dings aud the wood in their place. Z
he turned round to look for Antoinett
\ little voice came from under the
tains-Benny, does you love God2
you pray in the morning?
The boy drew his hands before his
and aS Nettie made herself visible, he
towards her and fell upon'his knees a
feet.
'You dear little angel he sobbe
king her dimpled hand and GOVERN
with kisses;
Every morning you ask me that
every morning ! lie to You. Yes, l
you, for | love notGod, as you say.
You ask me II | pray every morning,
Ea 20 von a0ain anl loon Iv;np ~ ~,