The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-05

i only ask you to suppose such were
the case. Would you not die sooner than
enter such place 2"
"Why, really, my good man." said the
merchant, & don't see that there's much
chance of such calamity with regard to
myself; but since you have asked my can
did opinion, will say there's not much
choice between the alms-house and the
grave" ss
And yet you would. have me immure
myself in place where charity is but an
other name for drudgery and degradation.
am suffering for the want of little food,
yet would rather die than 60 there. Can
you blame me?"
"To tell you the truth" rejoined Mr..
Benedick, who began to wish that he had
not stopped, for it was getting late, and he
had talked longer than he intended. "To
tell you the truth, it's subject know
but little about, one way or the other; so
you must excuse my answering you
Any other time ] wouldn't mind it, but
you see I'm in hurry just now, and
Stay,o said the outcast, grasping his
cloak as he was about moving of, /" one
word"
| "Well, what is it /? speak quickly"
81 have not cent to purchase morsel
of food-much less nights shelter"
"Oh, you want money"
A little--a few pennies only. would
not ask it under other circumstances, but
am on the brink of fstarvation-I hope you
will not refuse me -
"Refuse you, my man Not quite so bad
as that, should trust. If am rich, il does
not follow that should be hard-hearted
Here" and he held out shilling, which
the other eagerly grasped, and springing up,
was out of sight in moment
"That's gratitude, +" muttered Mr.. Bene-
dick, as he resumed his walk. He didn't
even stop to thank me. But there's one sa-
tisfaction," F" he added, Pm used TO such
treatment-it's what one always gets by
being charitable" And with this very con-
solatory reflection he trudged along as be-
fore, until he found himself at the place Of
his destination.
| Now, Mr.. Pryce Benedick was not ma.
turally hard hearted man, as some rich
men are. Far from it. Yet he grudged that
poor, wretched, and half-iamished wretch
the shilling he had just given him, while
only few minutes previous he had ex-
pended one hundred dollars on single
shawl, and half as much again on other
frippery, without a moments hesitation.
Why was this 1t was because the shop
keeper, knowing his interest, and the per-
son with whom he dealt, had piled him
with flattery, while the beggar's conversa-
tion, has been characterized by any thing
but spirit of compliment. We all have
our vanities, and Mr.. Benedick had his
why should he not'
CHAP. 1.-THE MECHANIC.
Mr. Simon Richards, hard working me-
chanic, who barely succeeded in making
both ends meet, by the most incessant ano
untiring application to his business, sailed
forth from his humble dwelling about the
same hour as that in which Mr.. Pryce Be-
nedick was introduced to the notice of tht
reader, bent on an errand of similar nature
though obliged to indulge his generosity
from the difference in their respective cir.
{ cumstances, on a far more moderate scale.
He had not gone squares distance
from the door, when his ears were salutet
by the sounds Of distress, and as the me-
chanic was one of those who always sym
paihize with the unfortunate, he stopped a
once--although he had promised his wife
to return in few minutes at farthest-and
after searching some time, he discovered
on directing his scrutiny into an adjoining
area, the gate Of which had been left open
a wretched fellow fallen helpless. He wa.
without hat or shoes--his garments ragge,
and scant, and every thing about him beto
kening the utmost misery. Richards, with
a strong sentiment of pity, raised him to {
sitting posture; and had Mr.. Pryce Bene.
dick been there to look on, he would have
pronounced him at once, the same individual
to whom he had SO generously rendered :
shilling
"Here's pretty kettle of fish," said the
mechanic, as he surveyed the wretched OBJ.
ject before him. "Pll be bound, now, he's
been the victim of some gripping landlord
and turned out, like an old horse, to die oil
famine in the streets. | say, old fellow
-O
The outcast, after hearty shake from
the mechanic, slowly Enclosed his heavy
eyelids, and deep sigh broke from his
chest, like the smothered vapors Of slum-
bering volcano, accompanied by a power
ll II. a Il H.,