The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-03-18
One Of Nature,s NobIemen.

Ny thoughts were far away from noble
men of any kind as | stood among a throns
of others in one of the elegant dry goods es
promenade of our thriving metropolis.
[ was one Of the many who lined the pol
ished counters, looking with admiring eyes
on the beautiful fabrics SO temptingly dis
played. The half hours absence Of the
obliging clerk, who could find what / requir-
ed only in distant part of the house, al
lowed me to be entertained with watching
the stream of the fair ones coming and de-
parting.
And while I waited and made mental crit
cism to amuse myself, an incident occurred
little out of the common observation Of
shop visitors. e
A slight, small woman, pale, sad eyed and
wearing faded black, came in with new in
dux Of visitors, walking timidly and casting
half.frightened glances at the piles of pretty
stufs
A bright new material on the counter near
where I stood caught her eye; she trem-
blingly inquired the price; when she was
told, my sharp eyes saw bill twisted in the
quivering fingers with perplexed, troubled
air, AND my ears heard the murmured-- "''
aAnnie will need tep yards"
evil you take it 2"
She lifted her white, meek face, and an
swered
II cannot. I did not think it would be SO
much"
She was turning away when a gentleman,
who like myself, had been listening, drew
near asking of the clerk:
"What does the lady want? will wait
upon her-you attend to the customer be-
low"
The respectful manner in which he was
obeyed made me at once aware that he was
the proprietor, and was surprised at what fol-
lowed.
GLOW =, many yards did you say yau wished,
madam"
Her establishment was amazing.
II can't take it, sir"
q am not talking about that" with a
smile, '.just answer my question" -
He cut off more than she falteringly men,
toned; and while he was packing it she found
voice to tell him that i'll health had forced
her to relinquish the work by which she had
obtained support for herself and her two
fatheress children. But the Oldest girl, bare
ly seventeen, was going to teach in week,
and she needed a dress to make her presenta-
BILE.
He made no reply, taking in silence the
little bill she oAered-the very last of small
hoard-and from his own pocket-b book added
greenback, the amount Of which could not
see, slipped beth between the cord which
bound the parcel, and handed the h package to
.There, tell your daughter stranger wish
es her success"
He walked hastily away to avoid her fearful
thanks, and the little woman looked, as she
turned to depart, like one in dream.
It was simple act, unobtrusiixely, quietly
done, and not week before that same gentle
man had been pronounced uncharitable be-
cause his name would not be put dewn to
swell the list for some missionary scheme.
He may withhold his bencvolence from a
popular enterprise that would promulgate his
name to the world, but for frye, unostenta-
tious charity 4 hays since learned that this
IS not the only case), he is, I thought, one
Of Natures Noblemen " - ~
Dearly would I like to give his name, but
it would seem like Dissertation to draw aside
the veil from such noble goodness; SO let him
in secret dispense his charity, while angels
praise, and surely God will reward.