The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-03-04
SELECTED TALES.
From Burton's Magazine for January ]
THE LAST SHILLING.
BY J. Y. DOW. MAsnINeroN. ID. c.

dressed IN soiled and ialtered suit of clothes
, which. like their wearer. had seen better days,
rushed into The bar room of one ofthe low hrlls
Of Lisbon. in a state of inioxieation, and throw
inl himself upon one of the rude settecs. or
dered bottle OF eau de RE TO be placed before
him. The assIduous attentions of the garcon
soon supplied the wants of the impatient strsn-
ger aud drawing together the curtains of the
alcove, he left him 10 attend 10 numerous calls
from people of almost every nation under
heaven.
The young man sat for some time with his
head leaning on his hand. and nothing gave
evidence Of his eXisirnce bot the escapenien of
a sigh. so deep aud strong that--like tho out
breaking OF the smolhered hre OF Volcano
it seemrd TO hurst asunder the object rom
whence it proceeded. Al length he drew from
his pocket his purse, aud after duly examining .
its lean and poverty stricken appearance. turned
OF; upon the marble table a solitary shilling.
Il was his all-he had arrived at lbe ne plus
ultra Of his riches. and poverty seemed with
long and wiihered limbs 10 stalk before him.
Ii was the turning point in the history of Henry
Staunton; birth, friends, reputation, aye, even
the decency Of vagahond about Ia be surren-
dered up the to power Of iut.mp-rance a crime.
He cazed about him with the look of madness :
he had not calculated upon poverty-poverty
such as this-when the dice and gold rang mp.
on the gaming tabe-when the song OF the
.yren swelled high sbove the festive board. and
the deluded votares Of Bacchus found living
pain IN the drauehts OF Jolly Cham.
lie had calculated the cost of the degrada-
lion aid debasement of noble soul but pow
erty he had not thought OF her-ihat cruel
hag which, worse than the damnIng nightmare,
sits heavily upon the breast, though lightly up
on the stomach Of the poor unfortunate and
presses him down 10 level with the igBoble
and The vile. In our own happy country, we
hardly ever see or feel poverty; but 10 the old
Kingdoms Of Europe, where the unfortunate
are nunbcrless. and where The tendency of their
institutions is to make the poor poorer, aud the
rich re her--poveuy such a man would clad
ly exchange ior death, stalks about the street
III slow and cadaverous form, scowling like the
lanlshing wolf for victims, and catching her
long, skinny fingers 1T the throats OF rosy
checked children aud well fed iriars.
Henry Staunron renected-it was the first
time that he had cast a though, upon his
Greiched condition for months. fie looked
al his ragged clothes and shuddered; litHe
mirror before him showed him his finely shaped
couu.pnance bloatrd and red with unnatural
excitement; a deep cash. half healed. marred
The beauty of his commanding forehead. and
his thick glossy, raven locks were matted with
lint and dust His once smart beaver was
knocked into a thousand angles, and his un-
washed shirt collar hung over apology for
black silk neck handkerchief. like a dirty jib
over the bowsprii of Newcastle collier. HIS
hole dress would have brought him a hand
some sum had there then been in the ueighbor-
hood some Billy Barlow. devoid Of the ncces-
sary costume OF his character.
The brandy remained unlUuched-ihe finer
feelings Of human nature began, ike oil poured
I m mr. the gtn tn calm IP sWpll-
ing and blackened surges Of vice; and the
tears that had long since been dried up like
summer brooklet. suddenly accumulated n
their parched channels. He drew a white
handkerchief from his breast aud gissping it
convulsvely in his htnd. gazed upon the name
/ ior moment, then, dashing his head upon the
table, burst into 4 food of tears His s0bs
soon attracted the attention Of the company IN
the next acUye, and the keeper Of the hell
fearing that his foreign customer might be a
bout to commit suicide in his premises, aud
thus lsy upon him the onus Of his burial, en-
tered the recess. and shaking the unhappy
youth by the collar, bade him seek lodging
elsewhere. This was enough! Henry Staun-
ton arose a new a redeemed man. The hour
Of degradation had passed away. and with
smile upon his face. which, like The rainbow Of
God upon the retiring shadows Of the deluge.
his memorial of early love, aud lifting from The
table his solitary shilling, bade the keeper OF the
he'll observe that his brandy remained untOuch-
ed. He then departed; and as he stepped out
upon the Praca del RoccIo, the night wind
ho"lod around the rocks Oi CInira, aud the
valley Of the Tagus gave back its sounds with
thousand echoes.
Along the morena Of Lisbon. are numerous
stands. where the money loving boatmen
OF the TagUs huddlc around few brands
aud await tie hour when the naval officers from
the various squadr0Ds come down to return to
their floating lodgings. The moustaehed sen
tinel PAGES along the quay with greater dignity
As the middle hour of midnight draws near, and
Tue horse patrol make their oDiy round whsn
the Joyous reeiei, with the weather leech Of
his in"In-lop-gsllsnt sail a little hitting. comes
swearing down the streets. damDiug the eauh-
quake Tor making them so hIlly. aud the ciiI-
Zens Tor Growing them with unnecessary filth.
As Tor the earthquake. thai could not be helped
bu, Tor the nightly showers OF unboly water
that descended upon the heads Of wandering
strangers. from eight to twely. T.. NJ. fronr the
numerous front windows Of the eight stored
houses Of every street IN Lisbon. nothing eau
be offered IN sstenuation.-1heys are SINS that
cannot be forgiven by foreigners and are barely
tolerated by those VINO indulge 10 them.
il was to one Of these fires that Henry Sraun-
ton bent hIs steps. ss the heavy tones of the
cathedral clock tolled eleven. Soon sfter ms
arrival there. a captain Of JAckass liigae. who
had been dining with hi, eouBfry's consul.
came rolling down like ship ~ the chops Of
the channel 10 heavy Sea. with the wiud free.
aud endesvored to make the bostmen Who be
set him understand where he wanted to 90
but from usturs thickness OF bis tongue. and
an additional impsdiment in the shape Of aqua
rii0. he ende1.ored 10 vain. Al length Henry
St1uuton. Who ss, shVeung over the few en-
/ bsrs Of the diving watch FIRE, approached him.
and iu English. sssed the stranger -hsre he
] eishsd 70 " isstu.