State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-06-14

! pledge of his watch and chain, and then
! hurry away to the other side of the street,
without stopping either for thanks or eXpla-
nation.
The riverie of mingled surprise and adj
miration into which | was thrown by this
unexpected manifestation of beneyolence,
was interrupted by II loud cutlery from Mr.
Crimp, the puwnbroker, and by seeing him
with look Of wrath and horror, hurry
round his counter, and out through the
door upon the side walk, where lie stood
! for moment straining his eyes down the
street, us if in search IF the kind hearted
youth who had by this time disappeared
up one OF the cross streets.
"1'he villain" he exclaimed, "the swind-
! ling scoundrcl! Which way did he 20,
the uugratcful thief! Tell me-" he contin-
ed turning to nc, tell Inc which way he
went, and I'll give you any thing you've II
mind to ask. Yes, I'll give you-hulf a
dollar, if you'll show me where he is"
! was not little astonished al all this, but
| deferred the qualification Of my curiosity
for the present, pointed out TO Mr. Crimp
the course taken by his late customer and
mentioned also what had seen take place
between him and the poor woman. The
information, or perhaps even the brlet space
employed in giving it, seemed to produce
change of intention in the mind of the
estimable gentleman.
"Ah its no USE" he said; "hes got of.
clear by this time, and my thirty dollars Is
case. But I'll find hun yet some day"
And thus soliIoquizing, Mir Crimp returned
into his shop.
The explanation for which was so GU
rious was now afforded me. The young
man had several times before deposited the
watch in the hands OF Mr. Crmp, as the
quid pro quo of certain needlul advance,
aud as often redeemed it when accident or
luck at the billiard table placed the rcqli-
site funds at his disposal. Taking advan-
tage of the familiarity that had thus grown
up between tine broker and the trinket as Il
means of dispensing with the usual and
requisite examination, Il gilt chain had been
substituted for the gold one which had been
so often deposited with the watch and the
deception had passed unnoticed until it was
too late. The watch itself was probably
worth about the sum advanced.
There was another case of a very touch
ing description which occurred at the place
of my next visit. 1t was that of an interest
| ing female of about five and thirty, and in
/ the garb of mourning. She entered the
place evidently with reluctance and timidi-
| ty, and could hardly make the object of her
visit known from very emotion. She was
| of delicate frame Of easy, and rather
graceful manners, and but for the rayages
of care upon her cOunenance, might yet
have been beautiful. At length she brought
forth ring from pretty little morocco
case, upon the pledge Of which she wished
to realize such an amount OF money as
would sustain herself and children through
the winter. | saw that it was costing her
pang to part with the gem; but necessity
knows no law The eyes Of the eXtor,lon-
err kindled, for the instant and with evident
eXuIration, at the first glance OF the jewel
but they fell in a twinkng, as he assumed
the cold, hard aspect Of his calling, took tile
ring in his fingers, and holding it up to the
window, pretended to examine lt-assum-
ing at the same time an air Of affected dis
appointment. He thcreupon began at once
to deprccate the Misunderstanding that il
was nothing but Il Brazilian crystal, and that
he would scarcely take it at amy price.
saw by the countCnance, and Ecaving bo-
ON of the lady-lor suth was convinced
she was, though in reduced circumstances
that she was bitterly disappointed
ny calculated upon realizing considera-
bic sum from an article which she had
, supposed Of much higher value. But the
iniser was inoxorable, and peremptorily
refused TO advance more ihan four or five
,, dollars. Her appearance and manner n
! this moment were affecting to Il degree
"Wel,n said She, .'is hard, but patience
must endure. / have left my babes n cry
, ing, and must do il: and when this
! gone must depend upon Him who iced
eth the young ravens when they cry. But
, she added, with heavy sigh, che said i
I was worth great deal more than that
K There was peculiar tenderness and Hticc
y ton IN the manner in which she involunta
. nv perhaps, made this reference to some on
i who was not present; aud the rising tea
: tremhIed and glistened in her eye, like tn
Il! jewel in ihe miser's fingers.
r had seen, as the sordid wretch eyed tin
;, ring with secret satisfaction by the window
:, from its hrillance, that il was gem q
! value. alt giittercd aud spnrklcd in til
- light, with an intensity that equals nolhin
=, but the diamond; and was determine
:, that the fair and unfortunate owner sloul
# not be thus imposed upon. Just as III
/ bargain was completed however, as ! wa
o about 10 interposG myself, another gentle
u, man who had also been watching the pro
:, cedure stepped forward and declared Tia
- that beautiful ring should not be thus sac
:, riiced to the rnpacious Hebrew. The latte
l. ut once endeavored TO hasten matters, an
a declaring the bargain 10 have been compile
q t,d, would have succeeded in lhrusting tn
Jewel into the drawer but for the resoluto
Of the gentleman, who siczed aud saved il
q The wretch muttcrrd something abou
D, peoples interfering in business that wa
II exclusively his own concern, but to no pun
II pose. The poor widow was rescued fror
Re lis langs; and although it was erruggl
J to part with the ring, which indeed contain
ie ed a choice brilliant, her heart was glat
" 1o,al l,,, ,ha rocoint of epVantv- Il yn Il