Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-12-06
THR VILLAGE ANGBL.

THE VILLAGE ANGBL.
Emily Wharton was the p,t and pride Of
Riverdale. The old men rcycTcntly called
her the "village angel the young men ad-
mired her by day and dreamed Of her by
night; and cyeu her companions Of her
own sex felt for her pure regard free
from the least faint Of envy or jealousy
Had any one asked if she was beautiful
, the reply would have been: 'I7m sure
don't kEoW but size is 50 good we an love
! her; we can't help it, And if you.. dear
/ reader, had seen her, 10 time could elTlce
I the memory Of her glossy brown hair, her
deep, tender eyes, # Il dark gray, and her
! fair, round face. with gentcness and patti
eDce shining from every feature. Y0u
might deny that She was really pretty. but
+ you would have TO admit tl5at she possessed
charms superior to those Of personal love
Illness.
What little Of romance there had been
in Emily's quietly happy life, she had made
j herself Whi!a ...-n.ly working for quite
! anctjr. object. ueT patents being lhe
! We tlti. ST people jn town, and her own
heat prompting her to take the most
! worthy advantage Of this blessing, size had
/ often helped those in need, and accom-
i pIished it IL such q'iict way that she
avoided III" 0stca'ation of charity, and
caused the recipients to feel a tl4nstulnf IS
! unburdcned by any sense of hlrmhiating
: Obligation.
II wa5 enc suutner afternoon, whom sit
! ting With her noi her on the piazza 0fthciT
elegant cottage, that Emily saw vonng
man staggering under the weight Of a
heavy barrow filled with vegetables. lie
/ was comi"g up the road, and as he drew
near she saw that his face was very pale,
and bore only TOO plainly the mark OF care
and sorrow. She WATCHED him as lie aI-
Vanced, her fee revealing the sudtlen
| sympathy which his appearance had in
spired in her heat.
Reaching the house directly opposite, tie
! young man let his barrow rest upon Il e
walk, and opened tie gate then moving
! forward with his load, he essayed to enter,
! but tbe gate s8uug TO, barring his progress.
Again he tried, and with the same resul.
! Wiping the ralspiratiGn from bis brow he
locked about for something with which TO
/ hold the gate in position, and at that mo-
ment slight, siIlish figure swept by him,
! aud sweet voice said . Will hold it
! While you come in
! Surprised, and hot little embarrassed,
1e regarded her for 4 moment in silence
then While gratitude sh0uc from his dalk
eyes, be replied:
| 'Iou are Very IsinA, Miss: | tha. k
you
AID he wheeled his burden into the
yard, gauCing almost reycrcntly al his
gentle assistant.
My mo:her thinks 3oU have not Lcen
long i'll Our village" said Emily, shyiy.
"NO; only tbIee days I'm Il stranger,
you see. aud | don't get much work, i,ut |
shall, by and by, think, ami a faint smile
passed over lis featues.
- Papa has lots Of wo.l< to be done; lie
might give you some, # he only knew your
name,' continued the maiden, sagaciously.
"Thauk you. My name is Thomas
Wilson, and and live on the flats" He
spoke le,itatiu2ly, ana bIusLed as be mca-
toned tie name Of Tie poorest locality III
town. Presently he locked up, bat Lis
/ companion was gone, and was IoW sitting
i on Tie piazza again, rs qui@.ly as if She
had not moved II ali.
j That I;nEe drove her Of muscd
; Thomas, as lie went Oh with his load.
. Wen, L doi;-4 wonder. 1t is a low place.
But She was kind; there are mighty few
/ girls would do : hat she did,
That evening, Will Emily ana Ler
father were cUnFersing-S;e trying to find
out if lie knew anything Of the Wilson
j family, and lie wondering what :" the dar-
J ling little witch was driving at''-the neigh
boz across the way came III and shortly
! referred to the incident Of tla af,erDo3n,
and added:
. 1t was e o III you E,aiIy, vely good;
but tl~y are rather lDw reppic-these WI
sons. lhoy lived III nayinouth before
tlt3y caiu,. htge; IN tact the ola man died
thee. He WAS d hard one, It is said. and
drant, himself 10 death. j GoHt know but
| 81, ',t tfar