Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-04-13
RICHARDS ANGEL Of MERCY.


just left the depot of Bellefon-
talne, when a gentleman entered
the smoking car, and laid his hand
upon the shoulder OF bis travel
ling companion-a tall, handsome
man of thirty, who sat musingly
blowing rings of smoke into the
air.
"Marcy," said the new conner,
''it you want TO Gee at once the
sweetest and saddest sight you
ever beheld, 60 into the last car
but one on the train. There's
an emigrant German woman, with
! four little children, and during
the afternoon the youngest, a baby,
has died. The mother and the
other children are inconsolable. "
Il can understand, interrupted
the smoker, "the sadness of such
"A scene, but where is the sweetness
you spoke off,
81 am coming to that. The
whole party have been taken in
charge by a young lady. Such
beauty!'
81 shall go back and feast my
eyes on this beautiful Sister OF
Charity ~
Thus saying, Richard Marcy
threw his shawl over his shoulder,
and sauntered leisurely through
the long train-rushing blindly
and calmly to his fate. For, as
he entered the last car but one he
became a witness and an actor in
scene that Influenced his whole
future life.
Thepoor, grief-stricken German,
Of whom his companion, Dlctor
Townsend, had spoken, with the
dead infant in her arms, sat silent
ly weeping over the little dead
face.
The three sturdy children,
grouped in childish sorrow about
their little dead brother, was in
deed touching spectacle. But,
standing beside them was the d.
vinity CT Doctor Townsend's ad-
miration, and she who was most
certainly to "shape the ends" Of
the unhappy Richard.
She was a tall, slender girl of
eighteen, with. magnificent eyes
and hair. As he entered the car,
she was speaking, her lovely face
flushed, and the small, rosy mouth,
disclosing beautiful set of teeth,
turned bewitchingly towards the
tall stranger at the door.
Ladies and gentlemen spoke
the sweet voice, "this poor wo-
man, friendless and penniless,
speaking no English, with four
little children, was expecting to
find work in ST. Louis TO support
them, if everything had gone
well with her; but with her little
dead baby and her sorrowful
heart she is certainly q deserving
object of charity; and / propose
that such as feel willing, contrib
ute their mite toward a little purse
for her immediate wants and the
burial of her poor baby. And"
she added. with a bewitching
smile, "if any gentleman viii
lend me a hat will 60 round and
take up collection"
In an instant the gallant Rich
ard pulled his travelling cap from
his blonde curls and offered it to
the Angel of Mercy, who accepted
it With IA smile, this time all his
own, and commenced gathering
the readily forthcoming dollars
her generous, graceful appeal
brought from the purses of all in
the car.
Richard watched the slender
figure in gray, gathering the mon
Iey; and, looking at the plaid cap
in the white, jewelled fingers, he
bethoueht him Of his own dona.
ton, and stepping to the seat the
beauty had just occupied he laid
his satchel and shawl upon fam
lily of its kind, belonging to the
angel in gray, and took from his
pocket a ten dollar bill, which he
! placed in the little hand that re-
turned him his cap. Further
damage the poor fellow received,
when a second smile and warmly
worded thanks for bis liberal con-
tribution were dealt linn from the
beautiful mouth.
Dick was in the midst of an ell
aborate reply. when the cars
stopped. He fingered yet another
moment, seized his satchel and
shawl with his eyes still on the
face of his charmer, and then
even as the cars were again IN
motion, The bethought himself of
the doctor, and hurriedly left the
car and Joined his friend on the
nlat form at