Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-05-10

and | vent home 30 my lodgings.
| was too tinid, or too obstinate 10 wriie TO
mp f,ihor,i preferred low ering my expectations
and applyin for c!erkslip IN u builders oihce,
and was promised the influence of several per
sons OF responsibility IN order TO obtain II. In
the mean time, by the advice of an acqnain,'
ance. VAS induced 10 apply TO the pswnb'ok'
or for Temporary pecuniary rehet; but this
did not enable ma to pay the rent al my iodg-
ings. The civty Of my landlord was changcd
TO coldncss, and that ,olJne.s, by natural
Transition, to heat. The persecution undor-
went At home. made me take refuge IN pubhc
houses, where icl ~ With company ~ des-
prrate as mssclf, but apparently more hapry.
at length lef my lodgings secretly Win he
remains OF my wardrobe under ny arm en-
ga.cd bed AT what is called theatrical
house but one of the lowest OF the sort where
lmsl acquired a taste, or rather passion, Tor
stage aIsusemen's. and became acquainted, by
the introduction of her brother, wI,h a young
actress, whose name, whether she Is dead ar
alive, VIII not be benefited by an association
with G'ine. Ny appearance ~ th!s 'mne, "nh
regard TO dress, was spcctah.e, and my man
nefs probably in.iIn,'cd an acquaintance with
better society than that culoyrd by my cone
plnions. The reception ne, with fom The
lady vas favorable; and, young, beautiful
amiah.o anl | am conv.nCed, innocent. shc
made an Impression on my heart, which IS the
only part OF my I"nd"n history l am not
ashamed Of acknovlctg ny.
| debated win myseii whether on finding
situation, | should not remove her from "A mode
nf life at least dangerous, i. not d!sgra, efh ry
making her my wife, or, by attaching myself
% her p.ofrsson. servo AS protector from ns
LANCER, ,nd derive from it The means of our
msiu,l s.S,s' enc-. Ny debate, hewe,cr, was
4
vas pursued by means of s!mInon-cs for se,e-
al snail debts; my landlord refused Inc even
nights lodgn. without the money IN ad-
sncc, and was compelled 20 make my re-
reat 10 another part of the town. IL would
bc d'sgpstIng 10 pursue, step by step. the path
II my decline, which was nv>v ieIriuiIy pre-
i'p'tous. From tho pa'our ! sunk TO the tap
room from the socicfy # masters TO that Of
,ourneymen from the shabby surtout to tie
altered jacket MY place of refuge ~ns in
he ncighborhood al " Wels-s'rect, and having
some slight kn-w ledge of the upholstery and
'abinet mnk'og business, | received employ
| nen' accidentally IN fitting up the Brunswick
| Theatre.
| Ny earnings were very s:naN but con!riVcd
| o cheat my hunger "ui Of s.iicicnt to enhbe
| no to drown, almost every night. in intoxIca-
| ,or, tho sense OF degradation and despair.
| The Theatre wa, al length opened although
hc internal work WAS not finished. was IN
| ,terd,nco at the fatal rehearsal of the 2Sth
# February, in The course Of my duty. As 1
| vas passing across the stage, was arrested
| " the voice Of I new actress A voice that
| rad fingered at my ear IN spite OF every thing
| The cirncsne-s of my gaze was observed ~
me Of NV fellow -workmen, who iniormcd me
hat the lady whom seemed 10 admire 50
[ much was Mrs. -. Mrs. - She vas
| narrcd. forgot at the moncn. my sitna-
non. my dress, the propric'lcs of tlGe and
! place, and rushed torwi I'd to demand from
her own lps n confirmation or denial Of the
ruth Of what had heard. That motion saw
! ID my liic. There was heard at the instant a
| ',nnd which ! cannot describe Nv crash, or
roir, or any other initiative word in the lar
2uagc. 1t was not loud, nor s!,rill, nor hol.
io.. Perhaps its associations in my memory
| with what followed may have fixed its pccu-
liar character IN my mind; but can only dcs-
! criDc II TO the Imagination by lkenin. il to
| one's conception of the harsh, grating, .ul!en,
( vet abrupt noi.c Of the gravc-s:one when it
shall he suddenly raised from It's sandy, clam
| my bed at the sounding Of the last trumpet.
One Of the actors rushed across the stage, and
i,ried olt by the sido door. Ofiho r. 81 those
| who were speaking. stopped n tho middle Of
L word; the hand raised IN n,iinic passion was
! 'rgs stood sini,as il by one impulse: there was
| pause OF two or three seconds. Sonc, whose
mind was more present. raised heir eyes to
| the roof; but the rest were mo;ionless, even
| IN the vagrant org tns Of vision, and stood mnic
! ind s;iil ike gallery nf fiatdcs. | cannot
, even attempt 10 describe the sound which
! rwokc tho scene Fl ON this appearance death
| only To give 1t the reality. | would no, lkcn
| It to thunder, if you could ming!e the idea of
'he explosion w'lh tia: &c i's effects; or 10 the
rush ot Il mighty torrent, if Won could fancy
ania'g ,raied, az It were, IN It's roar, the twp
| cal voices oT pain. ard horror, aud confi,sion
and struggling and death. staggered back
| and nearly fell INTO an abvss that was cIovcn
INTO the ioor by fragment OF the IRON roof on
the very spot where had Stood bnt n moment
before. While rushing up the sidc the new.
iy formed p.ecIpjce, to regain my footing. by
tho single terrified glance | had time and light
10 east behind, | thl, the iron and wood
we're wet with blood aud ihe other horrible
, mysteries Of MAS ipnrr body, and that The
|:ving soul" had ,ist talked 10 was not to
he recognized by tie sight az bavirg ever
borne TIC external characteristics of hum. u
! being.
The hight was suddenly shu, out; md ye 50
! slowly as 10 In.iirt upon my sigh, that " h ch
| viii ever stand between it an | the sun. Frag-
nent after fragment rushed tir.oasly from the
roof, bat yet so thiCkiy utcrmingeJ that
! cannot at this moment say whether or moi the
mass Of roof was dsunrei at all in rs descent
Then the bursting Of the walls the graf ing of
the s'onos ani bricks as they were ground mo
! powder-'hn rcndinc or The p'unks aud wood
en- partitions the kissing sound Of th" lamps
! and brass.work tHc damp crush of human
hoJ:cs--and the ycll' of mortal agony fom a
hundred hearts. which seemed wilder and
siIonger even than the innnima'c sounds that
had called them into being to choke, con-
qucr. and silence them f,r ever.
All wis dark a weight was upon my
shoulder Which an Atlas could not have NOV
ed; my left leg 'eas fixed bctween two pianks,
and. rs dacnyercl hy freiinr with NV Inn