The Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1843-1852, 1844-07-17
FROM THE PHILADELPHIA SATURDAY COURIER.
"N0T IMPOSSIBLE"
BY J. AUSTIN sPERRY.

BY }. AUSTIN srERRY.
"Know that Impossible where truth and mercy and
tho everlasting voice of nature ORDER has place in the
bravo mans vocabulary"
A brilliant sight is that of the Centre Fountain
Market or, rs it is more commonly called, Marsh
Market, in the fair city Of Baltimore upon sum.
,ners Saturday night. The immense stacks of We
getables, the luscious heaps of fruit the blooming
display of flowers, of every variety and color, ali
glitterng in the resplendence of innumerable pns
light, and tallow candles-the busy, ROSY, laugh.
ing huckster women. the jolly butchers, brandish.
ing their bright cleavers-the medley and carts,
wagons, horses and dogs-the hum, the bustie
and the noise of shufiiing feot-all combine to
form scene so lively, gay, and so anmating,
you might almost fancy it matter of impossiJliiv
that there could be human being in all that mot
ley congregation who was not as happy and de-
lighted as yourself Yet you would fancy wrong,
TOR there are ottentimes some very miserable be-
inSs in that crowd. The one with whom it first
comes within the province of this story to deal
was extremely miserable-that is, if appearances
are any guide to judgment in such matters. He
was a very ragged and forlorn looking man. and
had the bcared eye and bloated face of ono ad-
dictedsto the vice of intempciance. AS it is not
absolutely Indispensable To the pnrEnse In hapl 10
specify the date Of the particular Saturday night
on which this individual figured, as we are about
to relate, in the crowd at Marsh Market, we will
merely mention that it was some years ago. He
elhowed his passage half way down the space
and paused in front Of the Arcade For few
moments he gazcd at the huge transparency over
the upper story, which exhibited full length and
breadth portrait Of Daniel Lambert, and advertiz-
cd that all sorts of unhcardof curiosities ugsers
ballaucers, an alligator and and an Egyptian mum
my, could he seen up stairs for shilling. After
his eyes were satisfied with the figures on the tran
sparency, aud his ears had drank in a sufficient
quantity of the cracked sounds Of amborne and vio-
lin. which were ringing jovialy out from behind
It, he passed into the avenue Of tho Arcade, eye
ing the different persons who were traficking at
the stalls there. with seemingly interested curl
osty At length he stepped boldly up to a spruce
ly dressed young fellow, who was bargaining with
a dark eyed Jewess, for pair of kid gloves and
asked in the usual phrase, though not with the
whining accents Of common beggar-
Young man. could you spare me small sum
to relieve my distresses!"
'.LmpossibLc," was the rejoinder, "I have more
little necessities myself than my money will sup.
ply. Besides l never encourage beggars."
Before the sentence was finished the mendi-
cant had turned away, and was repeating his peti-
t'on to youth in homespun, who was looking ov-
er book stall.
"Could spare you a small sunni" returned the
latter, raising face upon which there was an
expression of frankness, and good nature, and
speaking in a tone of unsophistcated seriousness
as betrayed him but recent partcipator of city
hfe-"that depends upon what use you will make
Oft. Are you sure you don't want it to buy
rum?"
The beggar hesitGtc.a moment apd then as il
in spite of the degradation which reduced him to
besgary, he scorned to lie, answered.
81 am sorry to confess, want it for that very
purpose"
'Im sorry to hear You confess it," said the
young man, and laying his hand upon the inebri-
ate arm, he drew him aside to a spot little re-
retired from the crowd. Here he again address
ed him
"Have you family7'
"A wife and one child" replied the beggar.
"And what is your occupationl"
IL have none. l was clerk in house on Mar.
ket street--it failed, and could not obtain en-
ploymcnt. My troubles drove me to drink, and
brought me to this condition."
"Don't you think, if you were to stop drinking
yon could now get employment, and make your
selfand your wife and child happy and comforta
bcl"
"The man lifted his eyes to the face of hi.
young monitor, with stare that betrayed these
queries were becoming unpleasant and perhaps
that he thought them little impertinent COMING
from so inexperienced source; but the ingcnu
Gus interest with which the youth regarded him
induced him to answer complacenty
"The fact is, I have become so habituated Z,
drink, that it would be impossible for me to breal
off," ~ -
"lmpossible--pshaw! said the other, II dom
believe there Is such thing as an impossi6ili,,
any more. Why. I'll tell you what--when
came to this city three months ago, l hat
not the first cent in my pocket---for j
had taken my all to pay my passage dow,
from Frederick----and / did not know
soul in the place. looked about all the after
noon for employment at my busiress.--I am
siIversmith--aud when night on had no