Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-02-15
g gleasaut Story.
THE MATCH GIRL.

"Slx for ten cents Six for ten
cents Matches Matches p The voice
was clear and glad as birds, and Rus.
sell Hartley turned to see from whence
it proceeded. A little barc-footed CIR
about ten years old, with the sunniest
sweetest face he had ever seen, wa,
tripping just behind, and as he turned
she held up her matches with such b
winning, pleading. heavenly smile in by
blue eyes, that he bought at once nearly
all she had |
In spite of the child's coarse apparel,
her manner betrayed a native delc,ey
and refinement which deeply interested
the high-bred youth whom she address Jed.
In PEELED by an irresistible impulsel he
fingered by her side as she proceeded.
What is your name, my child ?'fhe
asked
Virginia, sir. What is yours Y
"Hartlcy-Russell Hartley" hf re-
piled, smiling at her artless and bnive
simplicity; land where is your home p
ooh | have no homc-a least, not
much of one. | sleep in the barns about
here" and again she looked up in the
face with her happy and touching smile.
"And your mother p
In an instant the soft brow was shad-
owed and the uplifted eyes glistened
with tears.
II will tell you all about II if you
will come close so me. / don't like to
talk loud about it," she replied in low
and fnlterng tones.
Russell Hartley took her little sun
burnt hand in his and bent bis head in
earnest attention
1--WE had been in the great ship ever
so many days, mother and father, and |,
and all the other people, aBG one night
we were in the room THE, called the
ladies' cabin, and mother had just I'M
dressed me, and I was sitting on her
knee singing the little by;An she taught
me-:
'1'll know no fear when dabger's near;
I'm safe on sea or land
| For Pve in Heaven a FathF dear,
And lie will hold my h4hd."
All at once there was ! dreadful, con-
fused SOUND, rumbling, crushing, shrick-
ing noise--a terrible pain-and then
| woke up, and there was on bed in
strange room, and some people stand
ing by the fire and talking about a
steamboat that had burst her boiler the
day before, and l found that | had been
washed on shore, and that Mr.. Smith
had found me and taken me home to his
wife, and she bad put me in warm bed
and tried to rouse me; but she couldn't
till woke up myself the next day. And
when ! cried for my own sweet mother
they looked sad, aud said she was
drowned, and | SHOULD never see her
again. And then wanted to be drowned,
too but they sad that was wicked. and
was sorry had said so, for would
not be wicked for the world. Finally
Mr.. Smith and his wife both died aud
left me alone again; but ] am hardly
ever sad now | am almost always good,
and you know good people must not be
unhappy" Add the beautiful, loving
smile shone again through her linger-
ing tears as Ishe finished her simple
story.
Russell was touched 10 the heart -
His own eyes were moist, and bending
down. be kiasJ tie innocent check of
the little o. .u and babe her go with
him and he ,cld give her money 10
clothc and 81 herself
But the bad drew gently. yet some
what proud back and said. earnestly.
ooh! / n for take money a. gift
mother WI d not like IT," Then, kiss
ing tondet ne gentle hand that still
held her, he tripped lightly round
corner, bui, moment after Hartley
heard b,r soft. silvery. childish. treble.
lar 70 f'a distance. singing matches,
matche3"
RUS IN Hartley kept that sweet pic
lure ii his soul, uDdimmed, through
yesss n issysl and change Of care.