The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-07-09
From the New York Aurora.
STREET SKETCHES.

Yankee had complained that he had no sub
ject 10 write upon. eco out into the street,
yeplied John, "open your eyes, and you
will not be long in want of subject" He
was right.
Look now to the left, against that marble
building-there is group of boys playing
marbles on the corner. There's subject
for you. Look at that little rosy-cheeked
fellow in the green tunic--see with what a
naughty grace he plumps his marble smack
against the taw. That is a future Alexan-
der. He wins and loses with the same
proud indifference as the great warrior gamb-
led for thrones and empires. He cares no.
thing for the game--it is no sport to him
but he merely mingles in it for want of a
more congenal employment You can see
a beautiful disdain curling his upper lip.
But see that sharp gray eye and eager
little face peertng over the players shoulder.
He has ga stake in the empire" Hear his
little shrill voice crying out" fend dobs p
He's not to be cheated-not he! In a few
years he will become rich merchant-will
smuggle goods through the custom-house-,
tax compound interest and cent. per cent.
IF he fails in business, it will be with his
pockets we'll lined.
And see .hat soft, passionate face, sur
rounded with black curly locks, aud lit up
by an eye which seems to have arrested the
sunbeam in its progress. He looks at the
marbles, but he sees them not He is travel
ling in some fairy world, and his little heart
is swelling and throbbing with some fancied
emotion. He will be poet, unless, ,forsooth,
some kind and considerate guardian shall
crush his bright aspirations ere they have
ripened, and leave the temple of his hopes
desolute and filled with the ashes of its
stricken gods, to embitter all his future life.
There is a bright, fair-hared girl, who comes
romping and laughing, like the roses which
blush with light at their own happiness. She
puts her arms gracefully about the poets
neck, and kisses his soft cheek. How the
blood rushes like fire to his temples! you
can almost see his heart beating with its
strange and wild emotions, as if it would
burst his vestment All! boy, boy! A
bright but bitter destiny is thine. How
often will thy heart, buoyed up by its native
etheriality, mount ill the mysteries and
beauties of the ideal bloom and blaze around
thee-when, arrested by some petty but
grasping and tenacious fend of want, or
care, or earthly hate, all the bright vision in
an instant will fade away, and leave thee
again desolate and broken-hearted! How
often will low cunning, clad in gorgeous ap-
parel, and surfeited with luxury, roll swiftly
past thee in glded chariots, on the road of
life, and leave thee to crawl onward, with
thy world Of ideal and Improbable wealth,
weary, starving, and forsaken! Young poet,
pause! Tear off thy wings, shut up the
fountains of thy soul, and mix in
the general race for wealth and power. "Put
money in thy purse"
Thus much for game of marbles. But
we are at the market. Here's a scene
worthy of the pen Of Boz or the pencil of
Crukshank. Look at that fat old gentleman
smelling of the butter, and turning over the
at every stall. Now it is alto
gether likely that he knows no more about
good or bad butter, than he does about the
diferential calculus, or the nearest entrance
TO Symmes's Hole; and that he would find
it extremely difficult to distinguish between
a cabbage and caulifower. But, no mattel
-he must show his importance. He'll get
tucked off with lump of rancid butter and
a mess of green squashe by some shrewd
Yankee huckster--mark our words There,
he has at least made purchase. AS we
live, it is an old gander; poor man, he thinks
he will have a roast turkey for his dinner.
Here is a newly married pair-the hus-
band daintily carrying little wicker basket
on one arm and his wife on the other, as if|
he was little inclined to be ashamed of
both. He's as proud as Lucifer, in his heart
the happy dog! "Shall we take this nice
bit of tender lion, my dear?" "Just as you
please, my love; you know you are the best
udge. And, my dear, let me recommend
his tender veal outlet" God speed ye,
Young voyagers! But few years will
elapse ere your tender sirlon will become
lothing but tough, crooked rib-piece..
There's a loafer. He hasn't eaten meal
his three days. See how he gloats over
hat quarter Of beef! He could devour it
aw; and his hands are convulsively clenched
IS if he were already tearing it in pieces.
lie could have plenty to eat and drink, if he
would only go into the country few miles,
md go to work on farm. But no-he
;an', think of working. He is gentleman,
lthough he had got. no shirt, and his gar
nents scarcely serve to cover his limbs from
he chill wind He is shaking with cold and
he ague, produced by drinking some Internal
mixture which he has sponged at low
,roggery. He will be put in the watch.
louse tonight, and tomorrow sent to the
,enitentiary, or the hospital, to be fed at the
public expense.
This is prolific subject, and grows
beneath our eye. We may renew our ramb-
~, bor, ~ ,po.har tiroa al.