The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-14
Friday Morning, April "A, 1865.
Intellect in Rags.

twas bleak Wintry day. Heavy snow
drifts lay piled up in The streetsof New Yoik,
and the whole appearance OF the city Was
cold and dismal.
Seated upon the steps of one of the large
dwellings on Fifth Avenue, was boy ap-
parenlly thirteen years OF age. He was liter
ally clothed in rags, and his han0s were blue,
and his teeth chaLIered with cold. Lying up
on his kuee was newspaper he had PIC ked
up IN tue streets, and he Was trying 10 read
the words upon it. He had been occupied
thus Tor some lime, when two little girls, clad
ia silks and fars, came towards nun. Inc ED
est one was about twelve years old, and SO
beautiful that the poor boy raised his eyes and
and liked theln upon her in aEdisgnised ad-
miraLlon.
The child OF wealth stopped before him and
turning to her companion, exclaimed:
Marian, Just see J4is teller on my steps!
i am trying to learn to read upon this little
bit OF paper answered the boy.
The eirl laughed derisiveiy, and said:
well. trulyl | have heard Of intellect in
rags, Marian. aud here it is personlhed.'
Maran's soft hazel eyes filled with tears as
she replied:
Mss Fanuie teaches us at school, The rich
and poor meet together, and the Lord is the
Maker OF them ALL
Louise laughed again, and said to the boy:
Get up from mere, you shali AOb DIV On ny
steps: you are too ragged and dHty.
The boy arose and blush erImsoned his
face. He was walking away, when Marian
sad
Don't go, little boy, you are so cold; come.
to my house and get warm. %, 90 come,
she continued, as he hesitated; ana ne follow
ed her into a large kitchen, where bright
farm-hre was shedding its genial warmth
around.
'Weli, Miss Marian, who are you bringing
here now? asked the servant woman.
"A poor boy, who is almost perished; you
will let MIN warm, will you not, RachaelT
'Oh, he shall warm; sit here, little boy, and
pushed chair ia front o; the stove; she then
gave MIN piece OF bread and meat.
Ma ian watched these arrangements, and
then gIded from the room; when she return
ed, she had primer, with the first rudimenis
OF reading and spelling. Going to the boy
she said:
Little boy, here is book that you can learn
TO read nom better than piece OF paper. Do
you kG0w your letters?
Some OF them, but not all. never had
anybody to teach me. just learned myself ;
but oh, want to read SO badly
Marian sat down beside him, and began
teaching him his letters. She was so busily
engaged in This work that she did not see her
mother enter the room, nor hear Rachel ex-
plain about the boy; nor did she know tina
her mother stood some time behind them, lis
teuing to her noble child teaching the beggar
boy his letters.
There were but few that he had not al
ready learned himself, and it was not long be-
fore Marian had the satisfaction OF hearing
him repeat the alphabet.
When he arose to go, he thanked Rachel fol
her kindness, and offered Marian her book.
NO, | don't want it; l have given IL to yoT
to learn to read from. Won't you tell me
your nameY
sJimmie,' he replied.
Il viii pot forget you, Jimmie; you must al
ways remember Marian Hayes, was the htlle
gir's farewell.
Louise Gardner and Marian Hayes wers
playmates and friends. Their dwellings join
ed aud almost every hour Of the day lheI
were together, for they attended the sam'
schoo'.
Inese two children we're very differentl.
dispositioned and very differently brought up
Louise was proud and naughty. Poverty il
, her eyes was disgrace and a crime, and sh
thought nothing loo severe or the poor TO sui
fer. These views she learned from her moth
er Mrs. Gardner moved in one exclusive cir
cle-lhe bon ton OF EeW York. Without il
precincts che never ventured, for all other
were beneath her. Louise, taught 10 minglt
with no children except those OF her mother
friends, was growing up believing herself eVe
better Than they.
TIE teaching that Marian Hayes receive
was totally different from this. Mrs, Have
was acknowledged as one OF her partlculA
friends: yet though she moved Ia that circle
she was lar from being one of them. be
dactrine was the text her little girl had used
sTae rich aud poor meet together, ana IN
Lord is Maker of them all This she laugh
Marian, there was no distinction III Weal'h o
position; that the distinction was ip wort
al Sho hnF IN
TO pity The poor and destitutes and that pleas
ant words were as sweet as honey comb, swee
% the soul, little kindness was better tina
money.
Marian learned theiessou we'll, and was ey
er ready to dispense her gentle words to al
whether they we're wealthy nad influential,
ragged and INDECENT, as the boy she had ths
cold morning belrended.
A gay and brilliant throng were assemble
ia the city Of Washington, Congress was |
session, and the hotels were crowded wit
strangers. The brilliantly lighted rooms wer
filed with youth and beauty.
Standing near one OF the doors were tw
Young ladies', busily engaged conyersing tC
get1tr. The elder of the two suddenly e1
claimed:
On, Marian, have you seen the new membe
mo. but l have heard great deal abot
him.
sOh, want to see him SO badly. Mrs.
is going to introduce him to us. wish sh
would make haste, have no patience
Don't speak SO, Louise; wish you woul
rot be SO trifing,' said Marian.
A singular sm.le played around the mout
of tail, handsome gentleman who WI
standing near the girls and as he passe
them he scanned them bota very closely.
In short time, Mrs. n. came up with
Hamilton the new member, and presents
him to Miss Gardner ana MISS hayes.
they were conversing togetRer, Mr. damiitC
said:
Ladies, we have met before
6ut Louise and Marian declared tnelr
norancG of the fact.
1T has been long years since, yet nave y
forge tten II, nor single sentence uttered du
ing that meeting. ! will quote one that ms
recall it to YOUR metnorV-"The rich and q
poor meet together, but the Lord is the ma
er of them ALL"
The rich blood tinged the cheeks of Maria
but Louise still declared herself ignorant
before. Mr.. Hamilton glanced tor a mome
at Marian, and turning to Louise he said:
'Long years ago, little boy, ragged ar
dirty, seated himtelf upon the steps of q stat
lv dwelling on Fifth Avenue, New York, an
was busily engaged trying to read from a b
of pauer. when bis attention was attracted |
4so girls richly dressed. The eldest of Il
two particularly attracted him, for she was
beautiful as an angel; but as they came ne
TO him. she lifted up her hand and exclaime,
"Boy. what are yoa doing here ?"
The boy answered that he was trying
road Tha child of aflueuce aerided him, al