Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-03-10
SELECTED STORY.
INTELLECTIN RAGS.

drifts lay piled up in tie streets Of New
York, 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 ar
parently thirteen years Of age. He was lit
orally clothed in rags, and his hands were
blue, and his teeth chartered 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 furs,
came toward him.
The eldest was about twelve years Of age
and so beautiful that the poor boy raised his
eyes and fixed them upon her in undisguis-
ed admiration.
The child Of wealth stopped before him
and turning to her companion exclaimed:
Marian, just see this fellow on my steps !!
Boy What are you doing here ?
I am trying to learn to read upon this
little strip Of paper, answered the boy.
The girl laughed derisively, and said:
We'll, truly! have heard of intellect in
rags, and here it is personi6ed,'
Mariam's soft blue eyes filed with tears
as she replied
ooh, Louise, don't talk SO, you know that
Miss Faanie teaches us at 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 dirty
The boy arose and blush crimsoned his
face. He was walking away, when Mari
am said:
Don't go little boy. you are so cold,
come to my house and get warm. Oh do
eome,' she continued, as he hesitated; and
be followed her into large kitchen, VIII ere
bright warm fire was shedding its genial
warmth around.
well, Miss Marian, and who are you
bringing here nov 2" asked the servant wo.
man.
g 4 poor boy who has almost persisted !;
you will let him warm, will you not, Ra
che :?
oh be shall be warm-sit here little
boy and she pushed chair in frost of the
stove and then gave him piece Of bread
and meat.
Marian watched these arrangements, and
then glided from the room when she re-
turned she had primer, with the first rudi-
ments of reading and spelling. Going to
the boy. she said
Little boy, here is a book that you can
learn to read from better than piece of pa
per. Do you know your letters ?
Some of them, but not ALL l never had
any body to teach me. | just learned my
self; but oh, [ want to read SO badly
Marian sat down beside him, and began
teaching him his letters. She was so bust
ly 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 few that he had not al
ready learned himself, and it was not long
before Marian had the satisfaction of hear
ing him repeat the alphabet.
When he arose to 20 he thanked Rachel
for her kindness. and offered Marian her
book
No, don't want it have given it to
you to learn to read from Won't you tell
me your name ?
Jimmie he replied.
4 will not forget you, Jimny--you must
always remember Marian Hayes. won't
YOU! was the little girls farewell.
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 chill were diff
ferently dispositioned and brought up
Louise was proud and naughty Poverty
in her eyes was disgrace and crime. ane
she thought nothing too severe for t pao1
to suffer. These views she learned from
her mother Mrs Gardner moved In ont
exclusive circle--the bon tom of New York
Without its precincts she never venturcd
except to visit her mothers friends, and wa
growing up believing herself even bette
than they.
The teaching that Marian Hayes receiv
ed was totally different from this. Mrs
Hayes was acknowledged as one Of her par
ticular friends yet, though she moved ii
that circle, she was far from being one o
them Her doctrine was the text her CIR
had used-sthe rich and the poor meet to
gether, and the Lord is Maker Of them all.
This she taught Marian. There was NJ
distinction in wealth or position that th'
distinction was in worth alonea She laugh
her to reverence age, and to pity the poo
and destitute, and that pleasant words were
as sweet as honcycomb, sweet to the soul