Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-12-31
Intellect in Rags.

II was bleak wintry day. Heavy snow
drifts lay piled up in the streets Of New York
aud the whole appearance Of the city was cu!d
and dsihal.
Seated upon the steps Of one Of the large
dwellings, on Fifth Asenue. was a boy appa.
rently thirteen years Of age. He was literally
clothed IN rags, and his hands were blue, and
his teeth chattefei with cold Lying upon his
knees WAS newspaper he had picked up in
one Of the streets, and he was trying to read
the words upon it. He had thus occupied
himself for sdme time, when two little girls
clad in silks and furs, came toward him.
The eldest was about twelve years Of age,
aud 80 beautiful that the poor boy raised his
eyes and fixed them upon her in undisguised
ilmratinn
The child If wealth stopped before him and
turning to her companion exclaimed.
Marian, just see this fellow uh my steps !
Boy what are you doing here"
Il an trying to learn to read upon this little
strip If paper" answered the boy.
The girl laughed derisively. and said!
We'll. truly have heard Of intellect in
rags. aud here it is personifed."
Mariam's soft blue eyes filled with tears as
,he replied:
"Oh. Louise. don't talk so, you know that
Miss Fannie teaches us at school, The rich
aud the poor meet together aud the Lord is
maker orthem all"
Louise laughed again, and said to the boy
Get up from here, you shall not sit on my
steps. you are too ragged and dirty
This boy arose and blush crimsoned his
face. He was walking away, when Marian
said
Don't go little boy. you are so cold, come
Ia my h"u-e and get warm. Oh do come"
size continued. as he hesitatsd and he followed
her into large kitchen, where bright farm
fire was shedding its genial warmth around.
"Well, Miss Marian, and who are you
bringing here now ?" asked the servant wo-
man.
"A poor boy who has almost persisted; you
will let linn warm, will you not, Rachel?"
"Oh he shall be warm-st here little boy"
and she pushed chair in front Of the stove
and then gave him piece Of bread
a ID meat.
Marian watched these arrangements, and
then gded from the room when she return
ell she had primer, with the first rudimsnts
OF reading and spelling. Going to the boy,
she said
Little boy, here is book that you can
earn to read from better than a piece Of paper
Do you know your letters2"
"Some Of them, but hot all. Inever 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 50 busily
in this work that she did not see hei
mother enter the room, nor hear Rachel ex-
plain about the boy, nor did she know that
her mother stood some time behind them list
ening to her noble child teaching the beggar
boy his letters.
Their. were but a few that he had notalresdy
learned himself, aud it was not long before
Marian had the satisfaction Of bearing him re-
peat the alphabet.
When be srose to 20 he thanked Rachel for
her kindness, aud offered Marian her book.
mo, don: want it, have given it to
you to learn to read from. Wou't you tell
NE your name ?"
Jimmie" he replied.
Il will not forget You, Jimmie-you must
always remember Marian Hayes, won't you ?"
was the little girls farewell.
Louise Gardner and Marian Hayes were
plsymates aud friends. Their dwellings joined,
aud almost every hour Of tho day they were