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Narrative Power

Narrative Power image
Parent Issue
Day
5
Month
August
Year
1864
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Oapt. Derby, better kuown under his celfibrated comic nom de plutne oí "John Phoenix," was silting on one occasion in the guests' lolling-room oi the New York Hotol, fronting on Broadway, when a littlejbeggar girl came in, and with the keen discernment of litlle people ia general, noticed liis clnld loving benevolent countenance, and approached him, asking alma. Sue was very yoïng, innocent-looking, and had none of the juvinile whine and persistency of most young medicauts whom one myets in the halls of our public hotels. Pho9nix at ODCe aseuri:ed a mournful ex pression of face, and began to talk, as it were confidentially and very aftectionately to her. Ho told her that his father was long since dead, &nd that he " Having early lost his raotlier, Without sister, without brother," was now left entirely alone in the world; that he was then bilt a little boy, with nobody to look to ; aud often and often he had not known where to get a piece of bread, or where he was to sleep at night. The littlo girl's blue eyes began to moisten ; the lolling gnests, most of whom knew Captain Derby, gathered around ; when what was their surprise to see the poor, Bympathetio beggar ehild go close up to him, and ia a qniet, confidencial way tuke out of the little side-pocket of hor soiled and tattered frock all the iiioney which he had gathered during the day and place it in his hand. This tribute to Mr. Derby's power of oountenance and manner, and the exquisitely boautilul evidence of the effect of it iu the act oí the little girl struck every person present with a kindred admirati(jn. it is needless to add that the tender hearted and generous liitle donor of her hard dav's earnings had not only her smal! yet great benefaction restored, but went away with great poeessions, educed from the sympathetio pockets of the by-stankers.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus