Smyrna times., 1860-06-07
SELECT STORY.
THE CHILD ANGEL.

The Nelson Hotel was the largest and most
fashionable house of resort 10 town on the sea |
SHIRE, popular watering place, famous in the
annals OF The wealthy. 1t stood not far from
The brina Of The sounding sea, and commanded |
q prospeck of surprising besuty. All day long
the white winged ships laid against the blue
ski aud the iasoring breezes waited them in
sne out OF the harbor. sending some 10 "home
sweet hoine," and bearing others towards the
sceped isles of the tropics, where the palms
gaaen in an almost perpetual Sunshine, and /
the fields are rosy with southern flowers. la |
he summer time, the Nelson House was al
ws1s ihroDged.
hmong The very select few who came for /
she purpose of inyigorating and improving |
Ae.llh, were young couple by the name Of
Hayden. Harriet, the wife, was most inter-
esting wouian, not yet thirty, with a quiet,
geutle manner, and voice whose every tone
wss musIc- She was New England woman,
Of Parltan extraction. aud sweet, practical
Christian John Hayden was fully as prepos-
ssssng as his wife. But the sweetest creature
IA his beautiful group, was little Antoinettc
HaSden, child of three pears. and one of the
lsgelIsst creations that painter ever transferred
20 caavass. IL was not the glowing cheek, so
round and crimson, not the ful-blue eye, nor
The rich. long curls of golden color, nor yet
The perfect figure and ivory whiteness Of the
brow. that constituted the beauty of this earth
angel, There was naneiess something that
boxed out from those eyes, that spread heay-
emily beauty over the transparent features, that
spoke IN every muscslton of her sweet voice,
that moved IN every graceful motion--and
! which led even strangers to say, "What a
\ bssscnly chld.'' W
4 Size was not robed in founces or laces or
\ nbsons Her little limbs were unfelisred by
i hsAion. and had The freest play; her ways
wert all natural, her walk and talk and play,
uert all as little child's walk and talk and play
Il shauh be, and very soon The thoughtess ones
II leaFted 10 look upon Nettie with sort of awe,
n - il she checked their worIdliness.
Il lxose Ben was an uncouth caricature of q
II hsman being, of some is years of age, sloIch-
N ag 10 bis dress, dirty, sometimes ragged, bear
II Tag oil the gibes put upon him. with sullen
Il neia snd stolcal silence. Loose Ben shuffied,
lok'a suspiciously at everybody. from under
Il hn eyebrows--shrank from every human voice.
ss'sF seemed to care whether they called him
isel or knave. aud only cared TO gather his
vi oos limbs together 10 some sunny place after
hs services were over for the day. and think
M wait could the poor outcsst think He was
81 aessmsn, and possibly never knew his paren-
WI Eaes; he would not say whether he had father
nj I'D mother. 1t was his daty to make fires in
As rooms Of those who were inyalids, in tbs
ef1 morning. and for this purpose the fatheI
ahple Aatoinette employed him. though Il
VIZ simmer times yet the chill air of the sea
@nt the early morning raw and cold.
20 with an arm full of wood, Loose Bet
Ia ssHed his way to number Sc. large room Oh
ussscond story. AS he entefed, MIR. HaydeI
III rnNed up from his dressing tible, and follow
"hs' lazy motions with his eye for a full mo
N ~ens, Little Antoinette sat on the floor by th'
faasis. bait covered with the lace curtain
asa ieli like spray over her spiritual face ant
.snn. She, too, looked on earnestly, suspen
asFl'eF play for a moment, and then, az his la
III MFagressed. she stood up, and with her hal
sssaed LOCK, moved toward him, till she stoo
Y as side. He gazed towards her. seeme
rnfzed into greater stupidity at her swes
nj ~s She did not mock him. scream out, Q
FfaB from him as the other children did. no
Ah n unfeeIng names. but al she stood Their
81 nt sanity light on her brow. she laid on
81 80 dinpled hand on his rsgged sleeve, an
81 ~ Winning voice asked, adoes you Ion
~ wss too much startled for the moment
80, bat the great shining eyes still beanie
3H III pc lack lustre orbs, ard again that vois
NH ,,MpsssIng beauty asked, |" does yos lo'
3# u. locked up, he looksd down awkardl
@# ~ bis broad Dutch dialect aaid half shee
3R 1hhya-4s"
Wees you pray to God in the morning
"ed the little one, still keeping her hal
~ ~ him. and be ia the same voice answer
X rN$sx"
L INN the little one seemed satisfied; d
ne and cspered about--chatted with II
sE ooofish boy watched the curling Tar
# Il Ascended. and built, all uncoasciously.
Ill MI love and gratitude on the altar Of kh
III %aavsted heart
IT SN~i season went on, ard Nettle's motf
8U ~HWVed In health. The thin figure round
1MNls pals cheeks grew aashsd. sad she 70
Fslks and drives aloag the quiet beach
~ mooalizht evenings. when the grs
se waseiess o. an island river. borrow
r silver and made path for the beams
3n 'eht, whsa the dsneers, flushed will
$9 = ksppinesa. moved through the
s9 3ehe Haydsn and his wife sat on %
ledge ahovA the smooth level Of the -
eamoneei vjfh God ana heir own hes
Mopic torno fatally frogn the resel, sou
- otlif 6ir-~the vrsal hotel, like x
<ase6e fstl o. eyes. threw twinkl
AL M Vos1f, &uj eroupe hers
<&l6{ III Eeoet. Anl0insgte was III
3nY I'M meve@ VIII fsverish 2