Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-16
THE EVENING NEWS.
INTELLECT IN RAGS.

drifts lay piled up in the streets of New York,
and the whole appearance Of the streets were
very cold and dismal.
Seated on the steps Of one Of the large
dwellings on Fifth Avenue was boy, appa-
rently thirteen years Of age. He was LITERAL
ly clothed in rags, and his hands were blue,
and his teeth chartered with cold. Laying
upon his knees was newspaper he had
picked up in the streets, and he was trying to
read the words upon it. He had been occu-
pied thus for some time, when two little
girls, clad in silks and furs, came toward
him. The oldest one was about twelve
years old, and SO beautiful that the poor boy
raised his eyes and fixed them in undisguised
admiration.
The child of wealth stopped before him,
turning to her companion, exclaimed-
"Marian, Just see this fellow on my steps
Boy, what are you doing here ::
al am trying to learn to read upon this
little bit of paper" answered the boy,
The girl laughed derisiyely and said:
"Weil. truly have heard OF intellect in
rags, Marian, and here it is personifed."
Marian's soft hazel eyes filled with tears,
as she replied:
"Oh, Louise, do not talk so; you know
what Miss Fannie teaches in school. THE
rich and the poor meet together, and the
Lord is the maker OF them all. '"
Louise laughed again, and said to the
boy:
upon my steps-you are too ragged and
dirty"
The boy arose, and blush crimsoned his
face. He was walking away, when Marian
said:
"Don't go, little boy, you are so cold,
come to my house and get warm. Oh, do
come" she continued, as he hesitatedi and
he followed her into large kitchen, where
a bright warm fire was shedding genial
warmth around.
"Well, Miss Marian, who are you bring
ing here now :" asked the servant woman.
"A poor little boy, who is almost perish
ed you will let him get warm, will you not,
Rachel"
ooh he shall warm; sit here, little boy"
and Rachel pushed a chair i'll front Of the
stove; she then gave him piece Of bread
and meat.
then glided from the room; when she re-
turned she had primer, with the first rudi-
mcnts Of spelling and reading. Going to
the boy, she said
"Little boy, here is book that you can
per. Do you know the letters =
"Some Of them, but not all. | never had
ANYBODY to teach me. just learned N.Y.
self; but oh want to read so badly"
Marian sat down beside him and began to
teach him his letters. She was so busily oc-
cupicd in this work that she did not hear her
mother enter the room, nor hear Rachel eX-
plain about the boy /; and she knew not that
her mother stood some time behind them,
listening to her noble child teaching the beg
gar boy his letters.
There were but few that he had not already
learned himself, and it was not long before
Marian had the satisfaction Of hearing him
repeat the whole alphabet.
When he raised to go, ne thanked Rachel
| for her kindness, and offered Marian her
book.
"No, | don't want it." she said, " 1 have
given it to you to learn to read from. Won't
you tell me your name
Jimmy" he replied.
! - will not forget you, Jimmy; YOU must
always remember Marian HAYES" was the
! little girls farewell.
! Louise Gardner and Marian Hayes were
playmates and friends. Their dwellings
! Joined, and almost every hour OF the day
/ they were together, for they attended the
] same SCHOOl. lnOSc LNO CulluTeu were very
differently brought up. Louise was proud
and naughty. Poverty in her eyes was dis
grace aud crime, and she thought nothing
too severe for the poor to suffer. These views
she learned from her mother.
| Mr.. Gardner moved in one exclusive circle
! of the bon ton Of New York. Without its
I precincts she never ventured, for all others
were beneath her. Louise, taught to mingle
with no children except those of her mothers
friends, was growing up, believing herself bet
ter than they.
The teaching that Marian Hayes received
was totally different from this. Mrs. Hayes
was acknowledged BY Mrs. Gardner as one
Of her particular friends, yet, though she
moved among that circle, she was far from
being one Of them. Her doctrine was the
text her little girl had used: "The rich and
poor meet together, and the Lord is the
maker OF them all" This she taught Ma
rian; there was no distinction rs to wealth
| and position the distinction was in worth
alone. She taught her to reverence age, and
to pity the poor and destitute; and that
pheasant words were as sweet as honey
comb-sweet to the soul "a little kindness
was better than money. Marian learned the
/ lesson well, and was ever ready TO dispense
her gentle words to all, whether they were
wealthy and influential, or ragged and in
digent, as the boy she had that cold morning
befriendrd.