Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-12-24
Misc cELlANEaus.
TIE VILLAGE ANGEL.

:YJ.h LII nEl lAhJ WV was the pet ana PRIDE
~ of Riverdale. The old men reverently
called her fIe ''Villagc angel" the young men
admired hfr by day aud dreamed of her hv
night; and even her companions of her own
sex felt for her pure regard, free from the
least taitt of envy or jealousy. Had any one
asked u she was beautiful, the reply would
have been: "Pm sure don't know but
she is so good we all love her: we can't help
it," And if you, dear reader, had seen her,
no time could efface the memory of her glossy
brown hair. her deep. tender eyes. of dark
gray, and Fer fair, round face, with eentle>
ness and patience shining from every feature.
You might deny that she was really pretty.
but you would have to admit that she possess
ed charms superior to those of personal love-
liness
What little of romance there had been in
Emily's quietly happy life, size had made
herself. while quietly working for quite auotl-
er object. Her parents being the wealthiest
people in town. and her own heart nromrting
her to take the most worthy advantage of this
blessing. size had often helped those in need.
and accomplished ioin such quiet way that
e
caused the recipienEe 20 1feel.a thankfulness
unhnrdencd by any sense of bumiliatins OBJ
legation.
1t WAS one summer afternoon, when sitting
with her mother on the piazza of their cle-
giant cot.age, that Emily saw a young man
staggering under the weigh: of heavy bar
row filled with vegetables He wns comino
up the road. and as he drew near she saw that
his face was very pale, and bore only too
plainly the marks of care ard sorrow. She
watched him as he advanced. her face reveal,
ing the sudden sympathy WHICH his apnear>
ance had inspired in her heart.
Reaching the hnuse directly nnnoe;,e. the
yonng man let his barrow rest unnn the walk.
and opened the gate thnn moving forward
with his load, nc essayed to enter. but the
gate swung to. barring his progress. Again
he tried, and with the same result Wiriur
the pHrsniration from his brow. he looked
about for something with which to hold the
gate IN position, and at that moment slight.
girlish figure swept by him and a sweet voice
said 'tI will hold it while YOU come in''
Surprised and not a little embarrassed; he
regarded her for moment in silence: then
while gratitude shown from his dark eyes. he
replied
"You are very kind. miss; thank you.'
And he wheeled his burden into the yard,
gianclng almost reverently at his gentle assis.
tant.
''My mother thinks you have not been long
in our village" said Emily. shylv.
mo. only three days I'm stranger. Won
see. and [ don't get much work, but [ shall.
by and by, think" and faint smile passed
over bis features
''Papa has lots of work to be done he
might give you some if he only knew YOUR
name" continued the maiden. Sayacionsly.
"fhank you. My name is Thonras Wilson.
Anu-HnO | live tho H.
hesitatingly, and blushcd as he mentioned the
name of the poorest locality in town. Pres
emily he looked up. but his companion was
gone, and was now sitting on the piazza again.
as quietly as if she had not moved NJ ALL
That name drove her off," unused Thomas.
as he went on with his load '.Wen. I don't
wonder. 1t is low place. Bnt she was
kind there are mighty few girls would do
wha. she did"
That evening, while Emily and her father
were conversine.- she trying to find out if he
knew anything of the Wilson family. and he
wondering what ''the darling little witch was
driving at,"-the neighbor across the wav
came in and shortly referred to the incident
of the afternoon, and added:
cit was good in you Emily, very good !;
but they are rather low people these Wilson's.
They lived in Daymouth before they came
here; in fact, the old man died there. He
was hard one, it is said, and drank himself
to death. I don't know, but should mt won
der if the boy took after him, for he won't
work steady hired him the first dav he
came here, and was off in the afternoon /; aud
the next morning he looked pale, and his
eyes were red. really don't believe he is of
much account
Emily, who was very far from sharing the
callers suspicious. was about to say that other
things that drink caused paIIor of the lea,
lures and reduess of the eyes, but, thinking
that time used in arguments is generally
thrown away, she held her peace and resolved
to ascertain the facts for herself.
Slipping quietly out of the room, she ass
sumed her habit, and then ordered her pony
saddled. As it was nothing unusual for her
to ride on moonlight nights, neither of her
parents asked question, and she gaIloped
away on her mission, uudisturbed. Reach
ing the flats. place she had often visited