The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-03-09

old houses built in manner that showed they were
for the aborng class. Crossing the whole range, they
entered that last house and at the first door, Dr.
Ledson gave a gentle rap. common woman
pened it and welcomed him.
Two chairs were Immediately set one with the
back broken of, the other ricketty and unstable.
Before the fire were two little children on the
hearth, making noise which the attendant female
vainly endeavored to quelI. A girl of about ten
years came out of small pantry bedroom and
smiled as she spoke.
In large rude chair sat thin female-she
rocked herself constantly. She looked up when DIR.
Ledson addressed her, but neither smiled nor spoke
Her complexion was sallow by illness, her lower
jaw had fallen from its socket and her teeth chat
tered with the vain endeavor to close the mouth.
After receiving some nourshmeni by the hand OF
her companion, she seemed revived.
Il am glad to see you, doctor, though l had
hoped to have been released from my wretchedness
before do not complain, but my bones have
started through the skin, and suffer, r,'-she shiv-
eredy and stopped an instant. /" tho it very hard
when lost my baby last summer but see it was
kind: what would have become of it now must
leave these, young enough, to take care of them
selves, and my husband is none of the steadiest."
She did not weep, she was past that human feel
ing. Amanda looked on III silence She had
learned more of lifes state from the scene than she
could have acquired from volumes. She felt now a
wiser women at eighteen, than she otherwise would
have been at twenty five.
1t brings down all vanity and little repinings
a spectacle of such woe. Even the almost total in
sensibity Of the sick, was more touching than or
dinary sorrow. 1t gave feeling of SO much that
must have been endured before.
&" Is this your sister 2 said the woman.
;" No." said James, and Amanda smiled as he
replied, g it is my wife"
"ls it your wife p said she, showing some vivac-
ity 6 How sweet she looks. Can she sngg Oh
can she sing " would not live always"
How often had Amanda sung that careessly be.
fore. She felt awed and humbled now by ever,
syllable that foated on her soft rich toncs arouno
in the narrow apartment.
The dying woman looked up thankfully, tha
some of her beauty seemed TO have returned. A
slight hectic relieved her livid countenancc. Sh'
said audiby I" / hear the angels now around me,
and then relapsed into a monotonous grOan o
wearincss.
The little girl shook hands, beseechingly as thu
young couple left, and in a sudden voice Amand;
whispered, " We will take of you"
Who like the physician, save indeed the minister
is called upon to see human nature IN every stage
| in every shadow of tintl The rich and the poor
the delicate and the coarse, the learned and unlearn
ed, come before him without disguise conceal
ment.
Amanda thought before, that she had loved he
husband: but luxury s dead Sea- atmosphere, II
which the noble passions sicken and lie motionless
She cIung to James arm, as she returned to thei
home, with feeling of devotion TO him, that sh
had never even imagined before ;sand in the pleas
ure she experienced in softenng the horrors of he
fellow creatures poverty, she found every day new
cause rejoice in having 1t in her power to alleviate
human distress and misery
! ~ Y. Passion Fo,cer