Weekly Trinity journal., 1864-05-07
NUMBER II.


! gay and brilliant throng were assembled in
| the city of Washington. Congress was in ses-
sion, and the hotels were crowded with strangers.
1t was an evening party. The brilliantly lighted
rooms were filled with youth and beauty.
Seated near one of the doors were two young
ladies, busily engaged in conversation together.
The elder of the two suddenly exclaimed
| q Oh Marian, have you seen Mr.: Hamilton, the
new member from W.2''
"No, but have heard great deal about
him.
ooh, want to see him SO badly. Mrs. N. is
going to introduce him to US. | wish she would
make haste have no patience"
| Don't speak so, Louise wish you would
not be so trifing,'' said Marian.
| A singular smile played around the mouth of
the tall, handsome gentleman who was standing
near the girls as he passed them he scanned
them very closely.
In short time Mrs. n came up with Mr.. Ham
ilton, the member, and presented him to
Miss Gardner and Miss Hayes.
| AS they were conyersng together, Mr.. Hamil-
ton said
- Ladies, we have met before"
But Louise and Marian declared their ignor-
ance of the fact
q 1t has been long years since, yet have not
forgotten it, nor single sentence uttered during
that meeting. | will quote one that may recall
it to your memory The rich and the poor
meet together, and the Lord is the maker of
them all
The rich blood tnged the cheeks of Maran
but Louise still declared herself ignorant as be-
fore. Mr.. Hamilton then glanced for moment
at Marian, and turning to Louise, he said
| "Long years ago a little boy ragged and dirty,
seated himself upon the steps of stately man
sion in Fifth Avenue, and was there busily
gagged in trying to read from bit OF paper,
when his attention attracted by two little
girls, richly dressed. The eldest of the two par
ticularly attracted him. for she was as beautiful
as angel but they near to him, she
lifted up her head and exclaimed, Boy, what
| are you doing here ~ The boy answered that
he was trying to read. The child of affiuence
derided him, aud said she had heard of intellect
in rags, and lie the very personifcation of
it. Her companion answer was, that the rich
and poor meet together, and the Lord is the
maker of them ALL The elder girl drove the
boy away from the steps, but the younger one
took him into her dwelling, and warmed and fed
him there. When they parted, the little girl
said, You must not forget Marian Hayes
And, Miss Hayes, he has not forgotten her.
! - That ragged dirty boy is now before you,
ladies, as member of Congress and allow me,
Miss Gardner, to tender my thinks to you for the
kind treatment of that boy"
Overwhelmed with confusion, Louise knew not
what to say or do.
In pity for her, Mr.. Hamilton rose, and turn
ing to Marian said:
|
left them.
Louise would not stay in the city, where she
daily met with Mr. Hamilton, and in few days
returned to New York. leaving Marian with the
consciousness of having done nothing to be
ashamed of and enjoying the society of distin-
! guished Congressman.
| Marian and Mr.. Hamilton walking to-
! gether evening, when the latter drew from
his bosom an old and well-worn primer, and
handed it to Marian.
"From this" he said, 1" the man who is so
distinguished here, first learned to read. Do you
recognize the book p
Marian trembled and did not raise her eyes,
when she saw the aforementioned book. Mr..
Hamilton took her hand, and said:
q Marian, Jimmy has never forgotten you
Since that day you so kind to him and gave
him this book, his life had one great aim, and
that was to attain to greatness, and, in after
years, to meet that minstering angel who was
the sweetener of my days of poverty. When
| left your house with this book, returned to my
humble home ten times happier, and went assid-
uously to work to learn to read. My mother
was invalid, and long | learned well
enough to read to her. When my mother died,
l found good friends, and was adopted by gen
tleman in W. As his son have been edu-
Gated. A year ago he died, and left his proper
ty to me. OF all the pleasing memories of my
boyhood this one connected with you is the
dearest l have kept this primer next to my
heart, and dwet upon the hope of again meet
ing the giver. | have met her. l all that
my imagination pictured and ask if the dear
hand that gave it cannot be mine forever"'
Louise felt deeper grief than ever when Ma
rian told her she was to become the wife of Mr..
Hamilton, the poor boy whom she spurned from
the door, and derisively called "intelect in
rags" But she learned a severe lesson, and one
that changed the whole current of her life. For
a while she Stunned Mr.. Hamilton but by per-
severing kindness he made her feel easy in his
presence, and she is now the acknowledged friend
of the Congressman and his wife.
Years have passed since then, and Louise is
training up family of little ones; but she is
teaching them not to despise intellect in rags,
but to be guided by Marians text The rich
and poor meet together, and the Lord is the
maker of them all.