Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-12-01

DGlug OF tncnl. LIEF OoeeiAiC was liz tCAe
her little daughter had used, "the rich and
the poor meet together, and the Lord is the
maker of them ALL" This she taught Mari
an, that there was no distinction as to wealth
and position; that the distinction was in worth,
and worth alone. She taught her to rever-
ence age, and to pity the poor and destitute );
and that pheasant words were as honey
comb, sweet to the soul j" little word of
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 INDECENT. as the boy she had that morn
ihg befriended
PART II.
A gay, brilliant throng vas assembled in
the citylof Washington. Congress was in
session, aud the hotels were crowded with
strangers. 1t was an evening party. The
brilliantly lighted rooms were filled with
youth and beauty Standing near one of the
doors were two young ladies busy conversing
together. The elder Of lie two suddenly
exclaimed,
''Oh, Marian, have you seen that Hanil-
l0I1, Tile IGW uiCillJCI. lIOHI W
stNo, | have not but have heard great
deal about him"
ssOh, / want to see him 50 badly. Mrs.
Ms going to introduce Us. | wish ssshe
would make haste, have no patience"
Don't speak so, Louisa; I wish you
would not be SO triAing," said Marian.
A singular smile played around the mouth
of a tall, handsome gentleman standing near
the girls; and as he passed them he scanned
them closely. In :; short time Mrs. N
came up with Mr.: Hamilton, and intE oauced
Miss Gardner and Miss Hays. AS they
were conversing together Mr. Hamilton said:
Ladies, we have met before"
Both Louisa and Marian declared their
ignorance of the fact.
1T was long years ago, yet | have not
forgotten it, nor single sentence uttered
during that meeting. I will go to one text
that may recall it to your memory-'The
rich and the poor meet together, and the
Lord is the maker Of them alt :"
The rich blood tinged the cheeks of Mari
an, but Louisa declared herself as ignorant
as before, Mr. Hamilton glanced for mo-
lnent at Marian then turning to Louisa, he
said,
'Long years ago, little boy, ragged and
dirty, seated himself upon the steps ola state
ly dwelling on Fifth Avenue, New York,
and was there busily engaged trying to read
from bit of paper, when his attention was
attracted to two little girls richly dressed. =
the eldest Of the two particularly attracted
him, for she was beautiful as an angel, but
as they came near him she lifted up her head
Boy, what are you doing here z The
boy answered that he was trying to read
The child of affuence derided hun, and said
that she had heard Of intellect in rags, and
he was the very personi6cation Of it. Her
companions answer was, that the rich and
the poor meet together, aud the Lord is the
maker of them ALL The elder girl drove the
boy from the steps but the younger one took
him into her own dwelling, and warmed and
fed him there. When they parted, the lttle
girl said, you must not forget Marian Hays,
and, Miss Hays, he has never forgotten her.
That ragged boy is now before yon, ladies', in
in Mr.. Hamilton, tile membrs IF Congress;
and allow me, Miss Gardiner, to tender you
my thanks for your kind treatment Of that
bow"
Overwhelmed with confusion, Louisa knew
not what to say or do. In pity for her, Ham
iton arose, and turning to Marian said:
Il viii see you again, Miss Hays" he left
them.
Louisa would not stay in the city, where
she daily met SIr. Hamilton, and in a few
days returned to New York, leaving Marian
with the consciousness of having done moth
ing to be ashamed of, enjoying the society Of
the distinguished Congressman.
Marian and MIR Hamilton were walking
together one evening when the latter drew
from his bosom an old well worn primer and
handed it to Marian.
From this he said, ''the man who is so
distinguished had first learned to read. Do
you recognize the book p
Marian trembled, and did not raise her
ewes when she saw that we'll remembered
book. Mr.. Hamilton took her hand and
said:
Marion, Jimmie has never forgotten you
Since the day you were so kind to him and
gave him this book, his life has had one great
aim, and that was to attain greatness, and
in after years, to meet that ministering angel
who was the sweetener Of his days Of power
ty. When I left your house with this book
| returned ten times happier to my humble
home, and went assiduously to work to learn
to read. Ny mother was al Invalid, and ere
long | learned well enough to read to her.
When my mother died found good friends,
and was adopted by a gentleman in W.
AS his son I have been educated. A year
ago he died ana left his property to me- OF
all the pleasant memories ofmy boyhood, the
one connected with you is the dearest. I
have kept this primer next to my heart, and
dwelt upon the hope Of again meeting the
giver. [ have met her. [ see her all that
nv imagination pictured, and ask if that
dear hand that gave this book cannot be mine
forever p
Louisa felt deeper grief than ever when
Marian told her that she was to be the wife
Of Mr.. Hamilton, the poor boy whom she
once spurned from her door, and derisively
called intellect in rags" But she had
learned a severe lesson, and one that changed
the whole current of her life. For a while
she Stunned Mr. Hamilton, but by persc
verine kindness he made her feel easy in his
nresence, and she was the acknowledged
friend of the Congressman and his noble
xuifn