The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-10-06
INTELLECT IN RAGS.


Seated upon the steps of one of the
large dwellings on Fifth Avenue, was
a boy apparently thirteen years of age.
lie was literally clothed in rags, and
his hands were blue, and his teeth
chattered 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 some
time, when two little girls, clad in
silks and turs, came toward him.
The eldest was about twelve years
of age, and 80 beautiful that the poor
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 a @
Marian, just see this fellow on my
steps Boy, what are you doing
here :"
Il am trying to learn to read upon
this little strip of paper" answered
the boy.
The girl laughed derisiyely, and
said:
"Well, truly, l have heard of intel,
lect in rags, and here it is personiticd.
Mariams soft blue eyes filed with
tears as she replied:
- h, Ii use, don't talk so, You know
that .,iiss kannie teaches us ut school;
The rich and the poor meet together
and the Lord is maker OF them 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 dir:y."
The boy arose, and q blush Grim
soned his face. He was walking
away, when Marian said
Don't go, little boy, you are so
cold; come to my house and get
warm. Oh, do come" she continued
as he hesitated; and he followed her
into large kitchen. where bright
warm fire was shedding its genial
warmth around.
We'll. Miss Marian, and who are
You bringing here now :" asked the
servant woman.
A poor boy, who has almost per.
ished You will let him warm, will
you not, Rachel"
"Oh, he shall be warmed-sit here,
little boy" and she pushed chair in
front Of the stove, aud then gave him
a piece of bread aud meat.
Marian watched these arrange.
ments, and then glided from the
room; when she returned she had a
primer, with the first rndiments OF
reading and spelling. Going to the
boy, she said:
Little boy, here is n book that you
can learn TO read from better than Il
piece OF paper. Do you know your
letters ~
"Some of them, but not all. ]
never had anybody TO teach me. i
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 explain
about the boy, nor did she know that
her mother stood some time behind
them listening TO her noble child
teaching the beggar boy his letters
There were but u few that he had
not already learned himself, and il
was not long before Marian had the
satisfaction of hearing him repeat the
alphabet.
When he arose to go he thanked
Rachel for her kindness and offered
Marian her book.
"No, | don't want i'll have given
it TO you to learn to read from. w on'i
you tell me your name Z"
Jimmie" he replied.
II will not forget you, Jimmy-you
must always sremember Marian Hayes,
won't you" was the little girls fare
well.
Louise Gardner and Marian Hayes
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 differently
dispositioned and brought up-Louise
was proud and naughty. Poverty il
her eyes was disgrace and crime
and she thought nothing too severe
for the poor to suffer These view.
she learned from her mother. Mrs
Gardner moved in one exclusive circl.
the BON ton of New York. With
out it's precincts she never ventured
except to visit her mothers friends
and was growing up believing hersel
even better than they.
The teaching that Marian Hayes
received was totally different from
this. Mrs. Gardner was acknowl
edged as one of her particular friends
yet, though she moved in that circle
she was far from being one of them
Her doctrine was the text her girl hat
used-'the rich and the poor meet to
gethcr, and the Lord is Maker of then
all" This she taught Marian. Their
was no distinction in wealth or posi-
ton; that the distinction was il
worth alone. She taught her to rev
erence age, and to pity the poor AM
destitute and that pleasant word
were as sweet as honeycomb, sweet t
/ the soul-a little kindness was bette
than money. Marian learned the les
son well, and was ever ready to dis
pense her gentle words to all, whethe
they were wealthy and influential, 0
ragged and INDECENT, as the boy sh
had that morning befriended. L
A gay and brilliant throng was al
sembIed in Washington. Congress
was in session and the hotels wer
crowded with strangers. 1t was a
evening party. The brilliantly lighte
rooms were filed with youth an