Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-04-14
WHOLE No. 627.

pluCe'
Anywhere rather than in The rain, "
was principle by this time fully estab-
lished SO, preceded by tho female,
gropcd my way in utter darkness thro'
IL long passage, to ladder supplying
the place and purpose of staircase.--
A candle, Serving but to show tho
gloom" was now 10 be perceived glm-
mering through loopholc in the ceiling
and on clambering towards our beacon,
we arrived in kind Of false roof, do
signatcd Chamber" Never SHALL
forget The scene ofsquald misery that
salutcd our entrance. On a box, be-
meath window, filed with rags instead
of glass, stood flickering rushlight
within the remnant Of a bottle, whose
side still legibly retained the words
"Warren's Backing" A few dying
embcrs explained the destined Use OF u
cracked stove, and the floor, destitute
of chair and carpet, was bestrewcd with
the remains Of aillnent and medicine
accumulated during six weeks illness.
The sufferer himself, whose shrivcliod
features retained the acute agony, aud
whose neshlcss hand ever and anon
.twitched the coverlet with restless effort,
lay on pallet Of straw in that state of
lelhargy necessarily produced by the
use of opiates freely administered -
Though oar admission could not be ct-
lcced without considerable disturbance,
the sick man still sumbered heavily,
and with that peculiar ''twang" whicb
lorctels the triumph Of consumption
over its enieeblcd victim.
Eut soon a step was heard boncath.
advancing towards the ladder with
dircctness that denoted knowledge Of
the locality.
The sleeper, impcrvbous to every
other sound, seemed to notice tho stran-
gers approach, and manifested incrcas-
ed uneasness. Passing his hand With
nervous impaiicnce over his forehead,
he uttered a deep-drawn sigh, and IL
woke.
Without requiring explanation or
announcement, the invalid recognized
me, but remarking footsiep ascending
the stair, with great agitation demanded
who il was. Before tho kind-hoartcd
neighbour could reply, a young man
rushed in. His step, though not un-
steady, was influenced by recent inlox-
icaton, and his copntenaHcs and de-
meanour bore evident marks ofreckless
dissipation.
/ But his beau ideal was rendered still
more uniavourable by the dirty fncry
in which he was bedecked. Advancing
towards the almost stupifed patient, he
burst in paroxysm Of rage and indig-
nation.
"Tom c." said he, mentioning
by name enc Of his boon comranions,
whom it appeared he had recently lsl'.
"has advised me to demand some mon
ey instantcr. So fork out, old fellow
Why should | starve, whilst my OLD
miserly father has enough and to spareS
You would have pined yourself, if this
woman bad not taken pity on you"
$50 away, said the dying man, "go
away, Oh, pray leave mo -
81 won't Until you cash up, if / re-
main in this filthy den all night" was
the answer Of the inhuman son.
Sensible of the delicacy Of my posi-
tion, endeavorcd to allay his aninosf-
ty, but received in return only contumc-
ly and reproach, coupled with a COM
mund from tho braggart TO bsgone inn
mediately, or run the consequences.
could not, as a professional man,
and Of course on 10 other consideya-
b lItu, tulhh VI ituN'HE my NhS"' "h''oF
an iniuriated madman remained with
him so remembering the provcrb,
"Iron will not strike fire against wool,
| strovc by peaceable measures TO re-
strain his boisterous spirit, but nll ~
vain; for he reiterated his demands
upon his father, using his own odious
flash phrascology, "to tip up the blunt"
and upon me, "to make MYSELF scarce"
AT last, his supply Of inyectives be-
ing exhausted, there was a momcntary
silence. During this interval, n most
wonderful change was wrought in the
manner, might say character, of the
sick man. As the eagle, lowering In
mid-a,r, ready TO pounce on his victim,
so death seemed to have retarded his
downward course, aud with the liko
intent, TO make destruction still more
certain. Raising himself on his eppch,
aud stretching towards me n papcr
which he took from bonca his h,nA,
ho requested, in voice sibRularly firm,
aud without a remnant Of the emotion