The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-06-21
Miscellaneous.



Little jack
] am only little boot black. Jack is
my name. often black his boots BY him
l mean my angel lady's, beau--least ways,
think he is. I'll tell about her now-my
angel lady.
first saw her last winter, just before my
mother died. 1t was a bitter cold day and |
was looking in big window in one of the
fine houses the rich folks live in, when the
door opened, and down the steps came my
'angel lady, stood by the railing, and
when she saw me she stopped and said
You look yer, cold, my little boy land
oh / was coldD
Stopping, she wound something thick and
soft around my neck, and before l could
speak, she had stepped into the carriage that
was waiting.
There around my neck was a warm scarf
Oh, such lovely color! Just like bit of
blue from the sky, all covered with little
white flowers.
/ don't think she remembers me but |
watch for her every day, and, as 1 said be.
fore, think she has q beau. And Oh |
am sorry, for know he isn't good enough
for my angel lady l have often seen him
come out of that great store on the corner
where all the bottles are, and / am sure
sometimes he doesn't walk steady. And,
dear me, suppose some day my beautiful
angel lady will be his wife.
Now if she only knew some ene know,
that breaches in the little church go to
on Sundays.
He's good man; for didn't he hear about
my dear mother and go every day and see
her when l was off blacking boots! And
then when she died he paid the funeral bill;
but l. don't think he's rich, for his clothes
never look very new.
But l know il could choose husband
for my angel lady, it would be some one
like him.
On low couch in an elegant room, bath
ed in the soft light which fell through the
rose hued curtains, lay the form Of young
girl, sobbing in an abandonment of grief.
A tap came upon the door, and stately,
gray haired lady entered. Going swiftly
and kneeling by the couch, she placed both
arms around the weeping girl
My poor Faithie p
'Oh, mother mother it can't be true =
Yes, darling; you must be brave-for,
alas it is true. We have all been deceived.
Your father has the proofs; and oh, Faithie,
if you give away, it will break his heart
Then my Richard-he whom | thought
so noble is "a
She hesitated but her mother in low,
firm tones finished the sentence.
"A forger and gambler! Yes, Faithie,
the man we all thought worthy our blossom,
has been proved those dreadful things Oh,
my child, instead of grieving, let us go down
on our knees ann thank the good Lord:who
brought about the discovery before your in
nocent life was irrecoverably ruined
1t was an old story but not the less sad.
The handsome, fascinating man of the world
had won Faith Craig's fresh young love, and
concealed his real nature so successfully as
to deceive even her doting parents
His plan to marry the only child of the
rich merchant, and then secure her fortune,
was nearly consummated, when, by fortu-
nate accident, discovery came, and in vain
attempt to rescue himself, he had forged Mr..
Craig's name 70 large amount, and fed,
Poor Faith the hours were very dark for
many weary day but youth had an elias
ticity of its own, and gradually the bloom
came back to the soft.cheeks and the happy
light again Illuminated the beautiful hazel
eyes.
1t was holiday afternoon; one OF those
days when the streets of our great city are
hardly large enough for the crowds that
come and go in kaleidoscope confusion.
:On one of the most crodwed thoroughfares,
little boy waits his opportunity to slip in
among the rapidly passing vehicles, and
cross the street.
AT last he ventures-a CLEAN of wheels,
two rearing, terrified horses, and then under
the merciless hoofs little PROSTATE figure.
The bystanders crowd around, and lovely
lady, springing from carriage, bends over
a senseless form which is soon taken to
hospital.
The child was found to be seriously injur-
ed. He could not recover, the doctor said,
although he might linger some time.
The lady who had so quickly and kindly
came to the rescue was our heroine, Faith
Craig, and she stayed by the small cot in the
children's ward, until the white pinched
features began to stir with awakening life,
and the great eyes opened and fixed them
selves with wondering gaze on the faces
which bent over him.
One out of all the rest, he saw.
Obi he softly whispered, my angel ladyp
then his eyes closed again.
Faith, with her parents consent, was ev-
very day to be found at her post, reading
or talking to the boy, and thus she became
acquainted with Dr. Munroe Jacks dear
minister.
Day after day the two worked together to
relieve the little sufferer; and the more the
young minister saw of the lovely girl, with
her radiant beauty soteHed by the sweet
womanliness which beamed from every lin
eament, the more his heart began to realize
how wonderfully pleasant life would become
with such helpmeet by his side-one
whom he felt would never keep him back
from the work so dear to his heart
1t was afternoon, a month following his
accident, and little Jack lay with his small
attenuated fingers clasped tightly .around
Faiths hand, as she read softly his favorite
hymn
one sweetly solemn thought comes 70 me Ger
ana Ger,
I'm lnearer my home to-day than have been
before
1t was the hour for DR.. Munroe's visit, and
he came and leaned over the bedside.
The sweet voice read on, but falteringly
a L. L