The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-09-05
Miscellaneous.
Molly, the Rag-Gatherer.
ny MRs. c. II. BUTLER.

ny MRS. C. II. BUTLER.
Near where Canal street now extends its
ronge of warehouses and commodious dwell
pgs-where, over the broad flaggings, youth
and beauty trip so fleetly, and the din of ON
nibus, cart and cab,is unceasing-there stood
about the year 1906, low, dark, dismal stone
building which had more the air of prison
than any less eqivocal residence. Upon the
ground floor there were but two windows and
those were boarded over, excepting one row
ofcracked and dirty panes at the top. The
windows on the second floor were always
tightly closed by heavy wooden shutters,
once black, but now discolored by time and
rain TO hue even more dismal. The house
stood n few rods back from the street, and
was enclosed by board fence so high as en-
tireIy to prevent any one from looking into
the ward, which was one mass of tangled
weeds and filthy rubbish, where at every step
the mry soil yieldeth beneath the foot, or af-
ter rain becomes as a loathsome, stagnant
pool. I...
This part ofNew York was called the Col
ect.' 1t was then almost n swamp,and so re-
NAMED for many years. OF course, it was
deemed unhealthy-the hot-bed ffevers and
agues; and for that reason, probably, while
both above and below, and on each side, the
hand ofimprovement and wealth was rapidly
extending streets and erecting noble buildings
this, the Collect remained almost an isolated
spot-the rendezvous of thieves and assas-
sins-and rendered also even more famous
by many idle tales ofsuperstition; so that this
building stood year after year apparently I'M
tenOnted, growing more and more gloomy as
time wore on. But il was not so. Every
day there might be seen issuing from the mar
row gateway an old, misunderstanding wo-
man, in perfect keeping with this abode
oltb ub oil NJ tha or
and most scanty materials eked out with
shreds and patches of every shape and hue.
An old tattered shawl was thrown over her
bosom, her arms were nearly bare, she wore
no stockings; and her slip-shod, ragged shoes
We're fastened around her ankles by Irvine, or
bits ofrags. A straw bonnet ofmost unseem-
ly shape and color, was pnched down over
her face and tied under the chin by nm old
dlngy black handkerchief Over her shout
ders she always bore greasy brown bagand
in her hand one of those long wooden poles
with an iron hook attached 10 either end, de-
noting her occupation as a Rag-gatherer.
Long used TO STOPPING amid the dirt and
rubbish her form had become bent nearly
double and day after day she might be seen
prowling around the principal streets, some
times about the dry goods stores, or scrapiug
every little rag and refuse from the cutters
and drains near the residence of the more
wealthy citizen. So miserable was her APP
pearance that frequently some charitable per-
son. touched by her decripitude and poverty,
would drop at her feet few pennies, and g.
ven silver coin which Nelly, MS she was call
ed by the shop boys and servants, would
greedIy pick mp, mumbling as she did so
few almost uninteligible words of thanks.
Only a few hours of each day did Nelly de-
vote 10 her strolls; she would then return to
that wretched weary dwelling, and inspect
and arrange her filthy store. The rags she
would wash g. hang over the tall rank weeds,
meet TO bear such fruit; and ifperchance, any
thing Of more value had fallen TO her luck, as
was often the case, it was carefully boarded
away. No one was ever admitted within
those walls; yet sometimes beggar would
waylay even this poor wretch as she entered
her gate, nor were they refused aid; if bur Il
penny or a crust, the Rag gatherer would be-
stow her mtel
Had she lived in the days ofSaIem witch
craft, Nelly would assuredly have been hung
for ii witch,no did she even now escape sus-
.picion ofbelonging TO that worthy sisterhood.
As no light however dim was ever seen
cleaning from those dngy panes, it was a
verred by certain knowing ones that the
nights ofpoor Nelly were passed in the soci-
ETY. of the 'Old Scratch;' and more than one
person testified that she had been seen sitting
, upon the top ofthe fence in the shape of a
large black cat glaring so frightfully that
the whole marsh became illuminated by her
fiery eye-bals. Others said the sOid Scratch
with proper politeness, occasionally returned
these visits incog., and might be heard in dark
stormy nights when the wind howled and the
thunder rolled, growing around the gate.-
That she had made league with this same re-
spectacle gentleman, there was no doubt her
rags were assuredly transmitted TO gold and
silver, for the chnk of the hard dollars and
guineas was said to be heard as plainly as the
ten-pn balls ola neighboring alley. Sports.
men affirmed that frequently, when they
had come snipe-shooting in the vicinity ofthe
old Rag-gatherer's house, the snipes had act
ed as if they were ewitched-paying no re-
gard whatever TO their shot, but merely turn
ing tail, with hit-me-if- you-cQn air, flew la
zily over the old fence.
AS guilt is alwayshore or less supersti
nous, these very reports rendered the Rag
gatherer probably more secure in her castle
Tor even If she had the luck Exchanging rag
to gold, the thiefpreferred knocking to a gen
teman genteelly upon the head in Broadwa,
orthe Bowery, 10 yenturing into the den OF
one so near to the devil; for although per
FORMING ms business in the most faithful man
ner, he seemed to have strong repugnanc,
to facing his employer.
1t was chilly day in Autumn, that. ASH ell
lywas returning from her daily toll, her mt
tenlion was attracted by a young woman VIII,
seemed nearly fainting upon the dam,
ground her head reclining against a rougI
stake or post, while crouched shiveringly n
her feet was o little girl apparently about 81.
years old Nelly was not unfeeling;- th
heart which beat beneath that wretched GOV
ering was more alive to pity than many whicl
Dpnpatb n gn Off Il