The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-05

- Fill this glass again." he said, hano"'s
Mr.. BUNDLES empty tumbler 10 the iandio'u.
"I.et il be strong aud hot. You hAe = - .
suppose :" I'M, BumLle. with
delicate cough. ,,,d
% Won understand what that means, iand
lordi, said the stranger, drily.
The host smiled, disappeared, and shortly
af,erward returned with a steamn2 Jorum, OF
which the first gulph brousht the water INTO
MIR. BUNDLES eyes.
Now listen 10 me-" said the stranger, at
ter closing the door and window. :" l came
down to this place to-day to find you out, and.
bv one Of those chances which the devil
throws in the way Of his friends sometimes,
you walked into the very room was sitting w
while you were uppermost IN my mind. !
want some information from YOU and DON'T
ask you to give it for nothing, slight as It Is.
Put up that to begin with"
As he spoke he pushed a couple Of sove-
reigns across the table to his companion care
fully, as though unwilling the clinking OF the
money should be heard without and when
Mr.. Brumble had scrupulously examined the
coins to see that they were genuine, and put
them up with much satisiacton-inhis waist
coat pocket, he went on.
Garry your memory back-let me see
twelve years last winter"
/" It's long time" said Mr.. Bumble.-
"Very good. I've done it,"
"The scene, the workhouse."
"Good!"
And the time, night" -~.. \.
"Yes."
And the place the crazy hole, wherever il
was, in which miserable drabs brought forth
the life and health so often denied to them
selves--gaye birth to pulling children for the
parish to rear, and hid their shame, rot 'em, in
the grave"
"The lying-in room, suppose that means"
said Mr.. Bundle, not quite following the
strangers excited description.
"Yes," said the stranger. "A boy was
born there
SAY, many boys" observed Mr.. Bundle,
shaking his head despondingly.
A murrain on the young devils - cried
the stranger impatiently; ~ speak Of one,
meek-looking, a pale-iaced hound, who
was apprenticed, down here, TO cofhn-ma-
ker, Il wish he had made his coffin, and screw
ed his body in it.) and who afterwards ran
away to London, as it was supposed
"Why, you mean Oliver-young Twist"
said Mr. Bundle; ~ remember him of
course. There wasn't a obsinater young ras-
cal"
Its not of him want to hear; I've heard
enough Of him." said the stranger, stopping
Mr.. Bundle in the very outset Of TRADE on
the subject Of poor divers vices. "lt's Of a
woman, the bag that nursed his mother
Where is she?
"Where is she?" said Mr.. Bundle, whom
the gin -and-water had rendered facetious.-
1t would be hard to tell. There's 10 mid
witery there, whichever place she's gone to
SO suppose she's out Of employment any
way"
"What do you meant demanded the
stranger, sternly.
That she died last winter rejoned Mr..
Bundle.
The man looked fxedly at him when he
had given this information, and although he
did not withdraw his eyes for some time after
wards, his gaze gradually became vacant and
distracted, and he seemed lost in thought
For some time he appeared doubtful whether
he ought to be relieved or disappointed by the
intelligence, but at length he breathed more
freely, and Withdrawing his eyes, observed
that it was no great matter. and rose as if to
depart.
at once saw that an opportunity was opened
for the lucrative disposal of some secret in the
possession Of his better half He well re MEM
bered the night Of old Sally's death, which
the occurrences of that day had given him
good reason to recollect as the occasion on
which he had proposed to Mrs. Corney and
although that lady had never confded to him
the disclosure of which she had been the SOIL
H. Lol u
that it related to something that occurred in
the old woman's attendance, as workhouse
nurse, upon the young mother of Oliver Twist.
Hastily calling this circumstance to mind, he
informed the stranger with an air of mystery,
that one woman had been closeted with the
old harrdan shortly before she died, and that
some light on the subject of his inquiry.
" How can find her Z" said the stranger,
thrown offhs guard, and plainly showing that
all his fears Whatever they were) were aroused
afresh by the intelligence
"Only through me-" rejoined Mr.. Bundle
"When 7" cried the stranger, hastily.
Tomorrow" rejoined Bundle.
AT nine in the evening"" said the stranger,
producing scrap of paper, and writing down
an obscure address, by the water-side, upon
It's III Characters that peTayed his agitation,
" at nine in the evening, bring her to me there.
| need MT tell you to be secret, for it's your
interest"
With these words he led the way to the
door. after stopping to pay for the liquor that
had been drunk /; and shortly remarLing that
their roads were different, departed without
more ceremony than an emphatic repetition
OF the hour Of appointment for the following
night.
On ulancinu nj tho addrosS Tho nor,cb;, 4