The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-02-11
PART I.

| ~ "aH S'i' uAy. AcdVJ SUo" uTIItS
lay piled on the streets of New York, and
the whole appearance of the city was cvld
and dismal
Seated upon one of the stone steps OF
Fifth Avenue, was boy apparently abou,
thirteen years of ase. He was literally
clothed with rags, his hands were blue. his
teeth ch.ttered with cold. Lying upon his
knee was Il piece Of newspaper he had pick
ed up in the street, and was trying to read
the words upon it. lie had been occupied
inr a time, when two girls clad in furs
came towards him. The eldest one was
about twelve years old, and so beautiful
that the boy raised his eyes and fixed them
upon her IN undsg,,iscd admiration.
The child Of wealth stopped before him
and turning to her companion she exclailn.
ed:
marian, just see this fellow on my door
steps Boy what are you doing here y
IL am trying to learn to read upon this
little bit of paper" answered the boy.
"Well. truly! have heard Of intellect
IN rags, Marian, ard here now it is person
itied." .a
Ma'ian's soft, hazel eyes filled with tears,
as she replied:
80 Louise. do not talk so: you know
| what Miss Fannie teaches in school Th.
rich and poor meet together, aud the Lord
is Maker of us ALL
Louise laughed again, and said to the
by:
Get up from here, you shall not sit on
my door steps, you are too ragged and dir,
ty."
He rose and burning blush crimsoned
his face. lie was walking away when
Marion said
Don't go, little boy, You are too cold
come to my house and get warm. 0, do
c"nr." she continued, as he hesitated; and
he followed her int" large kitchen, where
bright fire was shedding its genial warmth
around
well. Miss Marian, who are you bring
man.
"A poor boy who is almost perished ;
you will let him warm, viii you not, good
Rachael ?"
''Oh, yes, he shall get warm; sit here.
little boy and Rachael pushed chair in
front of the stove, and gave him piece O.
breed and meat.
Marian watched these arrangements and
then gided from the room. When she re.
turned she had primer, with the first ru
diments OF spelling aud reading. Going to
the little boy she said:
Little boy. here is book that you can
learn to read trom better than piece , {
paper. Do you know all your letters, yet -
''Some Of them, but not all never had
any one to teach me. just learned myself,
but ., | want to learn to read very much" "
Marian sat down b. side hiu, and began
teaching him his letters. She was 80 bu>i
ly engaged in this work that she did not
Rachael explain about the boy and she
knew not that her mother stoOt some tim.
behind them listening to her noble child
teaching the little beggar boy to learn his
letters.
There were but few he had not learned
himself already. and it was not long before
Marian had the satisfaction of hearing hiu,
repeat the entire alphabet correctly.
When he arose he thanked Rachael for
her kindness, and offered Marian her book
"No, don't want it," she said. II have
given it to you to learn to read from-
Won't you tell me your name ~
Jimmie" hr replied.
IL will not forget you, Jimmie, and you
must not forget Marian Hay," was the
girls farewell"
Louise Gardner and Marian Hays were
playmates and friends together. The DIV,
ling> juined, and almost every hour Of the
| day they were together, for they attended
the same school. These two ildren were
altogether differently dispositi0ned, and
differently brought up. Louise was proud
and naughty. Poverty in her eyes was a
disgrace and acrime, and she thought moth
ing too severe for the poor to suffer. Tues.
views she learned from her mother. Mrs
Gardner moved in one exclusive c rcle-tht
bon ton Of New York. Without the pre-
cincts OF this she never ventuIed, for all
others were beneath her. Louise was
| taught to mingle with no children save her
mothers friends. was growing up believing
herself even better than they.
The teaching that Marian lays received
was totally different from this Mrs. HAYS
was ACKNOWLEDGED BY Mrs. Gardner, ss one
Of her particular friends; yet, though she
moved among that circle. she was far from
being Of them. Her doctrine was the tex,
the little girl had used-"The rich and the
poor meet together, and the Lord is tn.
maker Of US ALL" This she taught Marian
that there was no distinction as to 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 pleasant words were as
sweet rs honey comb. sweet to the soul, -
little word Of kindness was better than
money. Marian then learned the lesson
well, and was always ready to dispense Of
her gentle words to all, whether they were
wealthy and inAu ntal, or ragged and in.
digcnt, as the boy she had that cold morn.
ing befriended.