The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-04-17
Intellect in Rags.
BY vARA NTRoS
PART l..

ana the WhoIe appearance OF tnc CITY was
cold and dismal.
Seated upon the stone steps Of one Of the
large dwellings on Fifth Avenue, was boy
apparently thirteen years Of age. He was
literally clothed in rags, and his hands were
blue, and his teeth chartered with the cold.
Lying upon his knee was piece of newspa-
per he had picked up in the street, and he
was trying to read the words upon it. He
had been occupied thus for some time, when
two little girls, clad in silk and furs, came
toward him. The eldest was about twelve
years old. and so beautiful that the poor
boy raised his ewes, and fixed them upon
her in undisguised admiration.
The child of wealth stopped before him,
and turning to her companion, exclaimed,
g Marian, Just see this fellow on my steps,
Boy what are you doing here:'
'' am trying to learn to read upon this
little bit of paper" answered the boy.
The girl laughed derisiAely, and said:
"Wel, truly have heard of intellect in
rags, Marian, but here it is personiEed."
Marian's soft hazel eyes filed with tears,
as she replied:
40 Louise, do not talk so !; you know what
Miss Fannie teaches US in school; The rich
and the poor meet together, and the Lord is
the maker of them all"
Louise laughed again and said 70 the boy:
Get UP from here; you shall not sit on
nv steps; You are too ragged and dirty"
The boy arose, and burning b ush Grim
soned his face. He was walking away, when
Marian said:
Don't 90, little boy, you are so cold ;
come into my house and get warm. o, do
come" she continued, as he hcsitated; and
h.. f,l' !. -, ,.-l.
bright farm-fire was shedding its genial
warmth around.
"Weil, Miss Marian, who are yor bring
ing here now" asked the servant woman.
Z" \ poor boy who is almost perished; Won
will let him ct warm, will you not Rachel :"
so yes, he shall get warm; sit thcr, little
boy" and Rachael pushed chair in front
of the store; she then gave him piece Of
bread and meat.
Marian watched these arrangements, and
then c'ied from the room. When she re-
turned she had primer, with the first rudi-
mentS Of spelling and reading. Going to
the BOY, she said:
Little boy, here is book that you can
learn to read from better than a piece OF pa
per. Do you know your letters:'
"Some 0: them, but not all. never had
anybody to teach me. Just learned myself;
but -, | want to read so bad'v"
Marian sat down beside him, and began
teaching him his letters. She was so busily
occupied in this work that she did not see
her mother enter the room nor hear Rachel
explain about the boy; and she knew not
that her mother stood some time behind her
listening to her noble child teaching the beg
gar boy his letters.
Taere were but few that ne had no. al
ready learned himself, and it was rot .0ng
before Marian had the satisfaction ct near
ing him repeat the alphabet.
When he rose to 20 he thanked Rachael
for her kindness, and offered Marian her
book.
"No, 10 not want it." she said. al have
given it to you TO learn to read from. Won't
YOU tell me your name?"
Jimmie he replied.
a. rill not forget you, Jimmie, and you
must always remember Marian Hays" was
the little girls farewell.
Louise Gardiner and Marian Hays were
plgymatcs and friends. Their dwellings
Joined, and almost every hour Of the day
they were together, for they attended the
same school. These two children were very
differently qeSitioned-very differently
brought up. Louise was proud and haugh-
" IuNcfIE, III ueV cN -, WIS Il tt~Ilate
and crime, and she thought nothing too
severe for the poor TO suffer. These views
she learned from her mother. Mrs. Card
ner moved in one exclusive circle-the b2ri
tar Of New York Without the precincts
Of this she never ventgrncd, for all others
were beneath her. Louise was taught TO
mingle with no children excepting those Of
her mothers friends, and was growing up
belicvng herself better evon than they.
The teaching which Marian HAYS received
vas totally different from this. Mrs. Hays
was acknowledged by Mrs Gardiner as one
of her particular friends; yet, though she
moved among that circle, she was far from
being of them. Her doctrine was the text
her little daughter bad used" The rich
and the poor meet together, and the Lord is
the maker Of them all This she taught
Marian, that there was o distinction as 10
wealth and position. That the distinction
was in worth, and worth alone. She taught
her to reverence age, and to pity the poor
and destitute; and that pheasant were as
honey comb, sweet to the SOUL little
word of kindness was better than money.
Marian learned the lesson well, and was
ever ready to dispense her gentle words to
all, whether they were wealthy and int!ucn-
tial or ragged and INDECENT as the boy she
mad that cold morning befriended.