Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-01-13
CHANCES OF FORTUNE.

CHANCES OF FORTUNE.
"Do you give out work here:" sait
a voice, SO soft, so slow, so lady-likt
that Unfortunately looked up from thu
purse was about purchasing for my
darling boy, birthday gift from hi:
papa.
.Do you give out work here:"
'.Not to strangers, was the rude re
ply: ;,
I, away.
"That purse is very cheap, ma'am. .
81 do not wish it now" said /, and
taking up my parssol, / left the shop.
and followed the stranger lady.
Passing Thompson's she paused
went in-besighted-then turned and
came out. l saw her FACET was We
nv pale--her hair, black as night, was
: parted on her forehead-her eyes, too,
were very black, and there was wild
ness in them that made me shudder.-
She passed up on Broadway TO Grand
street, where she entered miserable
looking dwelling. l paused-should
follow further::-She was evidently
suffering much was happy-blessed
with wealth, and 0 ho,c blessed in hus-
band, children, land friends! / knock
ed-tfe door was opened by cross
looking woman.
s'ls there person living here who
does plain sewing" enquired.
81 guess not" was the reply. "There
is woman up stairs who used to work,
but she can get no more to do--and |
shall turn her out Tomorrow"
''Let me go uP," said l, and, passing
the woman with shudder, | assembled
the stairs.
s'You can keep on up to the garrett"
she screamed after me-and so | did;
and there ! saw sight of which 1, the
child Of affluence, had never dreamed!
The lady had thrown off her hat, and
was kneeling by the side of poor low
bed. Her hair had fallen over her
shoulders she sobbcd not-breathed
seemed motionlesss, her face
buried in the covering Of the wretched,
bed, wherein lay her hus-
band. He was sleeping. l looked
upon his high, pale forehead: around
which hung masses Of damp, brown
hair-it was knit, and the pale hand
cienched the bed clothes-words broke
from his lips-"I cannot pay you now"
| heard him say. Poor fellow! even
in his dreams, his poverty haunted
him! could bear it no longer, and
knocked gently OH the door. The la
dy raised her head, threw back her
long hair, and gozed mildly upon me.
1t was no time for ceremony-sick
ness, sorrow, want, perhaps starvation,
were before mel came to look for
a person to do plain work." was all /
could say.
90, give il me-" she sobbed. "Two
days we have not tasted food!-and
to morrow -" She gasped, and tri-
ed TO fniss the sentence, bur could not.
She knew that tomorrow they would
be both homeless and starving!
'Be comforted-you shall want no
morc!"
| kept my word. In few days az
forwards she told me all--of days of
happiness in sunny West Indian isle,
her childhood's home. OF the deaths
of father and mother--of cruel sis
ter and Observation-Disclosures she left
that home, hoping to find brother in
America--how she sought him in vain,
but found instead, husband-hc, too,
an Englishman, gentleman and scho-
lar, had been thrown upon the world.
Sympathy deepencd into love--alone
in crowd, all the world TO each other,
they married--he procured employ,
ment in school, she plain needlework.
Too close attention to the duties of his
school, long walks, and scanty fare,
brought on i'll health, and confined him
at length to his bed The shop from
which his poor wife obtained work,
JAILED, and their resources was cut of.
She had looked long, weary days, for
.mployment-many had none to give
Others gave no work to .'strangers. y
Thus / found them-to comfort them
or little time--then, ! trust, they
ound indeed, Comforter in heaven! |
The husband died first--died placing
he hand Of his poor wife in mine!-
needed not the mute, appealing look
lie gave me. took her to my own
lappy home--it was too late.
It is very little time ago, l went
me morning to her room; she had pass
ID a restless night-had dreamed. she
aid, of her dear George-she called