The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-06-13
NEW SERIES.- VOL. 6, NO. 40.
The Child Angel.

The Nelson Hotel was the largest and
most fashionable house of resort in a town
on the sea Shore, popular watering place,
famous in the annuls Of the wealthy. II
stood not for from the brink of the sounding
sea, and commanded prospect of surpass.
ing beatty. All day long the white winged
ships laid sgainat the blue sky, and the ia.
vOring breezes waited them in and out Of the
harbor, sending some to "home, sweet
home," and bearing others toward the scent.
ed isles of the tropics, where the palms glis.
ten in an almost perpetual sunshine, and the
fields are rosy with southern flowers. In
the summer time, the Nelson House was al
ways thronged.
Among the very select few who come for
the purpose of invigoratipg and improving
health, were young couple by the name Of
Hayden. Harriet, the wife, was most in.
ter esting woman, not yet thirty, with qui.
ct, gentle manner, and voice whose every
tone was music. She was New England
woman, OF Puritan extraction, and sweet,
practical Christian. John Hayden was fully
as preposseseing as his wife. But the sweet.
est creature in this beautiful group, was
Antoinette Hayden, q child Of three years,
and one of the loveliest creations that paint.
er ever transferred to canvas. 1t was not
the glowing cheek SO round and crimson, not
the full, blue eye, nor the rich, long curls OF
a golden color, nor yet the perfect figure and
ivory whiteDess of the brow, that constituted
the beauty Of this earth angel. There was
a numeless something that looked out from
those eyes, that spread a heavenly beauty
over the transparent features, that spoke in
every musical tone of her sweet voice, that
moved in every graceful motion-end which
led even strangers TO say, "What heavenly
child !"
She was not robed in founces or laces,
or ribbons. Her little limbs were unfetter.
ed by fashion, and had the freest ploy her
ways were all natural, her walk and talk Ond
play were all little chiIds walk and talk
and play should be, and very soon the
thoushtless ones learned to look upon Net
lie with sort Of awe, as il she checked their
worldliness.
Loose Ben was on uncouth caricature of a
human being, Of some sixteen years of age,
slouchiDg in his dress, dirty, sometimes rag.
ged, bearing all TIE gibes put upon him with
sulen micn and stoicol silence. Loose Ben
sbuffled. looked suspiciously at everybody
from under bis eyebrows-snrank from ev.
cry 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 outcost think ! He was a German,
and possibly never knew his parentage he
would not say whether he had father and
mother. 1t was his duty to make fires in
the rooms OF those who were invslids, in the
early morning, and for this purpose the faith.
er Of little Antoinette employed him, though
| ~
sea made the cary morning raw and cold.
So with an arm full of wood, Loose Ben
wended his way to number Sc, a large room
on the second story. AS he entered Mr..
Hayden glanced up from bis dressing table,
and followed his lozy motions with his eye
for full moment. Little Antonette 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, look.
ed on earnestly, suspending her play for
moment, and then, as his labor progressed,
she stood up, and with her half inspired
look, moved towards him, till she stood by
his side. He gszed towards her, seemed
poralyzed into greater stupidity at her sweet
smile. She did not mock him, scream out,
or spring from him os the other children did,
nor ca II him unleeling names, but os she
stood there with sanity light on her brow,
she laid her white dimpIed hand on his rag.
ged sleeve, and with winning voice asked,
'does you loUe God 2" .
He was too much startled for the moment
to speak, but the great shining eyes still
beamed into bis lack lustre orbs, and agaiD
that voice of surprising beauty asked, "does
you love God Z"
He looked up. he looked down awkward.
ly, and in bis broad Dutch dialect said half
sheepishly, "yG.as."
"Does you pray 10 God in the morning !"
persisted the little one, still keeping her
hand upon him, and he In the same voice
answered ''yGas." ......
Then the little one seemed satisfied she
donced and cspered about-chatted with this
coarse. boorish boy-watched the fame as it
ascended, and built, oil unconsciously, FIRE
Of love and gratitude on the altar Of that un
cultivated heart.
The season went on, and Nettie's mother
improved in health. The thin figure round.
ed out, the pale cheeks grew flushed, and
she took long walks and drives along the
quiet beach. Often on moonlight evenings
when the great waters, waveless as on Is
land river, borrowed hues OF silver and made
path for the beams Of the night, when the
dancers, flushed with show Of happiness,
moved through the ballroom, John Hayden
and his wife sat on some rocky ledge above
the smooth level Of the sand, and communed
with God and their own hearts. The music
borne family from the revel, sounding on
the still air--the great hotel like some stone