Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-04-14
})opular Galcs.
From the London Weekly Despatch.
II II T. w ILL.

Ii was on cold murky evening IN
The month ofNoycmher, that was seat
cd in one of the suite Of apartments
which constituted my Office. A COM
Portable fire was putting in gra,c,
whose enormous dimensions betokened
Il relationship to those Of olden time
whilst a pair of candles, embedded IN a
shade, afforded sufficient light for the
pursuance ofmy accustomed avocatons.
But though every thing was an Jdd
for business, my mind felt indisposcd
for labour of any description. A fit Of
listlessness iettcred my hand and the
pen lay neglected by my side.
This feeling existed, not in consc-
quence Of any ailment that affected my
outward or inward man, but of one of
those "coming events that cast their
shadows before )" for, in truth (and |
hope the reader will make due allow
ance for my situation | was to be
married on the following morning.
My busy Imagination, therefore, found
full employment in con uring TO the
mental eye scenes ofpeerless pleasure ::
a castle securely pcrched on the sum
nit Of the mountain of ambition, where
Elysian fields, redolcnt in irutiulncss
and beauty, stretched on all sides, boun-
dcd by no possible horizon where
nightingales sang all the year round,
beneath a sky whose azure was uniting
cd by aught wearing darker hue
And If, as sometimes occurred, the
spcctrc-cold reality-intrudcd himself,
aud produced conclusion Of nature
which overwhelmed the immaculate
structure, the properties ofthc phantasm
were such, that new one, not n whit
inferior to lis predecessor, Immediately
emerged from the ruins.
But my cogitaiions were rudely dis
turbcd by an eager and continuous
knock at the room door. The usual
summons of "come in" introduced a
middle-aged woman, apparently in the
lower ranks of life. Her splashcd gar
ments and flushed features evidenced
that she had walked speedily, from some
distant part ofthe town. The errand was
quickly explained. An old man, a near
neighbour OF the good woman, had been
rapidly declining for considerable
time. With the greatest distress ap-
parent in his solitary situation, he had
entreatcd her to request my pers
attendance.
One guess satisfied me that the pur-
port Of the application of IL will but ]
in vain cndeavoured to probe shy my
particular person was preferred to that
Of any other attorney, many Of whom
lived much nearer. However as such
extremities brook no delay, shook off
sloth, and prepared TO accompany my
guide.
I Whilst collecting materials iGdispen-
sable for the engrossment ola testament
tary documcnt-to wit pens, ink, paper,
and sealing way-l questioned the fe-
male as TO the party ; but beyond the
surname Brooks, could obtain me no
information. Leaving, consequently,
the mystery TO be unravclled by time,
attended by her, descended TO the
pavement.
We progressed quickly and in ST.
lcnce through several streets. The
rain was pouring down-to use the lam
guage Of common porlance, perchance
somewhat oXaggerated--in bucketsiul ;
but no coach, cab, or "bus" was at hand
aud VIC were compelled to plough thro'
the miry slou gh frequently ancle-deep,
III u composition whose component parts
could not be easily distinguished Here
and there, in our onward course, we
perceived passenger, in like plight,
advancing in Il manner somewhat rosem-
bling that practiscd at stccple-chase ;
but with these few exceptions, all living
beings were snugly housed. BY this
time the streaming current had forced
the barrier Of a great coat, netting as
the engine upon flame, by reducing
30 noneniity "tho clouS-cappod towers
and gorgeous palaces" of my former
visions.
After pacing for nearly an hour ,hro'
filthy lanes and alleys, situate in part
totally unknown TO nc, We at length
stopped before house whose dilapidn-
ted appearance bore testimony 10 the
fact that it had been deserted as unten-
antabc in the reign Of "our good
Queen Bcss
surely" said |, 1--WE arc not about
to enter here This building is unin-
habites"