Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-05-05
GGesee iferef#re.
From the Darlington Southerner
THE MERCHANTS CLERK.

4uC uHN WSS udIk anu IdlUys WnCn
took my um5,eIl4 and wended my way to
the misc, hle hons il Wilmot street, where |
in meat. hul pos,rts S,9rk y room, resi-
ded two poor wum"u. nI."a. y hose clouded
days had ,trivcn 10 throw little sun
shine.
Ny experience among the poor, indeed
among most ali for whom | have done a
kind act, ~ 10 ~I,om have spoken words
of encouragement and cheer, differs from
that Of many ollers. Gratitude has been
my pleasant reward, if not always acted, at
all events spoken and | have seldom been
made to feel that kindness can be thrown
away. Kind acts, kind words, fall like pre-
cious balm upon hearts that need them,
and even though the giver of them may
never know if, they are treasured up and
counted as precious jewels by the recipi-
ents. My experience teaches me that
there is chord in the heart of every one
rich and poor, high and low, that re-
spends to the touch Of kindness, and in
gratitude is not the widely practiced sin
which some represent it. There may be
an ungrateful world, but there is grateful
one too, and to the latter belonged the
two poor women whom | was visiting.
As | wended my way up the dark, mar
row stairway and knocked at the door; it
was opened by one of my poor friends.-
Her countenance frightened when she saw
me. How delighted she said, sister will
be to see you;. she has been just wishing
for you to cheer her up with words of strong
consolation / entered the homely room /;
the sister, hopeless invalid, was lying on
the bed, clapsing her Bible with her thin
fingers. She laid it aside and grasped my
hand eagerly, and, in broken tones, ex-
pressed her JOY at seeing me. I sat down
beside her and listened patiently and SYM
pathizingly to recital of her bodily all
ments. And truly, one could but be gen.
tie and kind, and plying to this patient
and devout satferer. stepped to. the lips in
poverty and suffering, vet saying, IL Is the
Lord A.; let him do what seemeth him good.
We spoke of the sorrows and trials of this
life; how they can endure but for sea-
son then we turned our thoughts to Hea-
ven and dwet upon these pleasures which
are at the right hand of God She fancied
that my words gave her strength to bear
her woes, but indeed, it was she who i'm
parted strength to me, and in this humble
home of these children of poverty I have
learned those lessons of faith, hope and
endurance, which all the glittering man
sions of afhuence have yet failed to teach
me.
Whilst thus conversing, low, hollow
cough, proceeding from the room below,
frequently broke upon my ear.
THAT is Mr.. Rushton coughing said
the sick woman, noticing my enquiring
look He is so low that the physician
says he will never leave his bed again
'Mr. Rushtonp | started. My father
once had clerk I said, named Charles
Rnshton, an elegant and accomplished
young man; but that was many years
ago; | have lost sight of him now
This gentleman is named Charles Rush
ton,' was the reply.
But sure it cannot be the samc,' was
my answer. The Charles Rushton of whom
| speak, from his talents and address ought
to be in very different position from that
which the lodger of the room below must
occupy. What sort of looking person
is this Charles Rushton 2
Very talT,' was the reply. His hair
black and glossy, is stresked with gray
he has been handsome but intemperance
and i'll health have deprived him OF hi
good looks
Ny fathers clerk, Charles Rushton, an
swered to the description. Tall, with a,
elegant carriage and win ming address,
have rarely seen so handsome and fascna
ting young man. But surely the miser
able wretch, who seemed coughing ava,
his life in poverty and loneliness, coul(
not be the Charles Rushton who was one,
so sought after and admired for his talent
and accomplishments. Who does the gen
tleman below live with . [ asked.
His old mother was the reply. 'Sht
is aged and in6rm, but devotes herself t.
the care of her son.
With a saddened heart | wended m,
way home, | pondered long on the his
tory | had just heard, apd resolved to as
sure myself whether this was my father
old and confidential clerk, the once elegsn
Charles Rushton. Accordingly the mex
day, taking such delicacies with me as
knew would be acceptable to an invalid,
again wended my way to the old house
But this time ! did not go mp stairs,
stopped at the i'll mans room, and knocke
at the door. At once recognized in tn
tall, stately old woman who answered. m
knock, a likeness to the Charles Rushto