Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-12-01
From the Waverly Magazine.
WTELLECT TN RAGS.
By EARA MOSTRGsE.
PART l.

1t was bleak wintry day. Heavy snow
drifts lay piled up in the streets Of New York,
and the whole appearance Of the city was
cold and dismal
Seated upon the stone STEPS Of one of the
large dwellings, OH Fifth Avenue was boy
apparently thirteen years of age. He was
literally clothed in rags, and his hands were
blue, and his teeth chatterd with cold
Lying upon lis knee was q piece of newspa-
per he had picked UP IN the street, and he
was trying TO read the words upon it. He
had been occupied thus for some time, when
two little girls, clad in silk and furs, came
towards him. The eldest one was about
twelve years oil. and so beautiful that the
boy raised his eyes, and fixed them upon her
in undisguised admiration The child Of
wealth stopped before him, and turning to her
companion exclaimed.
Marian, just see this fellow upon my steps.
Boy. what are you doing here?'
Il an trying to learn to read upon this
little bit of paper answered the boy.
The girl laughed derisively, and said,
"Well, truly | have heard ofintellect in
rags, Marian. and here it is personifcd' -
Marian's soft hazel eyes filed with tears
as she replied,
80, Louisa, do not talk so you know
what Miss Fannie teaches us in school =
The rich and the poor meet together, and
the Lord is the maker of them all 30
Louisa laughed again. and said to the boy,
'Get up from here You shall not sit on
my steps you are too ragged and dirty
The boy arose and burning blush Grim
soned his face. lie was walking away when
Marian said
Don't 60, little boy, you are 50 cold;
come into my house and get warm. Oh, do
come" she continued, as he hes;tate3 and
he followed her into tie large kitchen, where
bright fire was shedding its genial warmth
around
"Well, Miss Marian, who are you bring
ing here Low p asked the servant woman
"A poor boy who is almost persisted +; you
viii let him get warm. will yon not, Rachel Z"
"Oh, yes, he shall get warm; sit here,
little boy and Rachel pushed a chair before
the stove; she then gave him piece of bread
and meat.
Marian watched these arrangements, and
then glided from the room. When she re-
turned she had primer, with the first rudi-
ments of spelling and reading. Going to the
boy, she said:
Little boy, here is book that you can
learn to read from better than piece of pa
per- Do you know your letters
''Some Of them, but not all ; have never
had anybody to teach me. [ first learned
myself; but Q, want to read so badly"
Marian sat down beside him, and began
teaching him his letters She was SO busily
occupied in this work that she did not see 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 al
ready learned himself. aud it was not long
before Marian had the satisfaction OF hearing
him repeat the alphabet When he arose to
60 he thanked Rachel for her kindness and
offered Marian her book.
''No, do not want it" she said, Il have
given it to you to learn to read from. Won't
yoG tell me your name "
"Jinamie, . lie replied.
81 willrot forget you, Jimmie, and you
must always ssemeinber Marian Hays" was
the little girls farewell.
Louisa Gardner and Marian Hays were
playmates and friends. Their dwellings
joined, and almost every hour of the day
they were together, for they attended the
same school. These two children were very
differently dispositioned, and very differently
brought up. Louisa was proud and haughsy
Poverty, in her eyes, was disgrace and a
crime and she thought nothing too severe
for the poor to suffer. These views sheaearned
from her mother Mrs Gardner moved IN
one exclusive circe-the bon-ton Of New
York. Without the precints Of this she never
ventured for all others were beneath her.
Louisa was taught to nlingle with no children
except those of her mother friends, and was
growing up believing herself better even than
they.
The teaching w',iy|, Marian Hays received