American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-09

| the Christianity of the rich is too often, like
the working-man's best garment, worn only
on Sundays.
"My poor Jane, do you suppose that the
gentle folks will listen to YOU"
"Does it snow now, Jenny brd'"
ono, grandmam; it is quite fine, and shan't
feel the cold. walk so fast, you know"
"You shall go to Rookfeld. God will pro-
tect my darling. Fetch me that box, and give
me the key from my pocket"
eyes, grandmam. Oh how good you are
to let me go"
"Not to beg, my child; you shant beg. I've
something left in this box that will keep the
wolf from the door a little longer, and who
knows but what-but there" added the old
woman, checking herself, and speaking below
her breath, chest to say nothing of kim. Poor
Richard, we shall see you no more till we
meet in heaven"
She drew forth ling from the box-a gold
wedding ring, which, If we may judge from the
! interest with which she surveyed it, she priced
highly. The girl had hastily attired herself
in shawl and bonnet, both greatly the worse
for wear, as the saying is, and Offering but
slight protection from the severity of the sea-
son.
Take that to the pawn-shop at Rookfeld
and ask them to lend you ten shilngs upon it.
Mind you don't lose it, and see that you bring
the ticket and money safe home, :" said the old
woman, placing the ring, carefully wrapped in
| paper, into the girls hand.
sCheerily, cheerily, Jane departed on her mis-
sion. Blithe az the summer lark-light and
agile as the skipping fawn-shaking her glossy
curls as she rainier cheeks glowing with the
exercise. She sang like delighted bird pour
ing forth rich notes, all the richer for that they
were wild and lacked the culture that would
; have fitted them for the ear of refinement
! Onward and onward Eight miles were &C
complished She was at Rookfield.
/ She entered the pawnbroker's shop boldly,
for she was not ashamed of honest poverty,
and felt perhaps, like many others who have
sought, under temporary need, the same accom-
mediation, that it is better to borrow money of
{ a tradesman mot an usureI) in the way of bu
siness, than to ask loan from a friend. The
shopman, after many questions, and much i'm
pertinence, for he saw the girl was poor, and,
in his own opinion, he was an individual Of
great Importance himself, consented to take
the ring, but would only lend half the sum de-
manded.
''Five shillings, and if you don't redeem it
shall lose by it, said the man, with as much
apparent sincerity as if he spoke the truth
'lYelI, then, five shllings," sighed Jane.
The ticket was made out. The money was
paid. and Jane left the shop. 1t was great
disappointment to have got only five shillings
for the ring. She was strongly tempted to
beg. Would her grandmother be angry; 1t
was market-day at Rookfied, and there were
many wel-dressed people walking i'll the
sreets-ladies with smiling, happy faces
some of them leading by the hand little girls,
younger than herself, who were snugly wrap
! Il -, o,J loJ; zoe
were buying at the shops-not mere necessa-
res, but luxuries and dainties-toys for the
children, ornaments for their houses, fruits and
preserves for family enjoyment.
"Ah," thought Jane, 'those ladies who have
80 much money to spend will not refuse to
help me. | won't shew them the five shillings
but no-no," and she hastily corrected
herself, 81 have five shillings, and that, as
grandmam says, will keep the wolf from the
door. There are poor folks here who, perhaps,
have not a penny-let them get aims from
those who are disposed to give. If were to
beg, should only wrong such as have neither
money nor food"
Thoughts akin to these passed rapidly through
the GIRLS mind and she determined to return
home without delay, lest her grandm other
should grow uneasy at her long absence. And,
iu the act of increasing her pace, she felt for
her money, which, folded in paper, she had
thrust in her bosom, to assure herself that it
was safe. Alas! alas! it was gone! The ticket
was also gone.
They were gone. Wisth ashy face and pal
plating heart, she felt and felt again. They
were gone. Overpowered by her misfortune,
she sat down upon door step and wept in ago
ny. The house to which the doorstep belong
ed was evidently the habitation of a wealthy
individual. 1t was situated in the aristocratic
quarter of Rook6eld. Moreover it was exact
ly fronting the Church, whose taper spre pon-
ted, like the cergyman's Sabbath finger, up
ward; and which, being thus set, even on week
days, before the eyes Of those who dwelt in this
and the adjoining houses, could not but revive
in their minds each morning, and every hour
of the days of labor, those lessons which had
sunk SO deep into their hearts therein, on the
preceding day of rest and worship. Not that
, the owner of the house in question could be
supposed to need such admoniton,- for he
the proprietor of the doorstep upon which poor
) Jenny sat and wept-was the clergyman. OPP
portunely, or otherwise, it happened that at
, this critical time the reverend gentleman, who
had been Summoned half an hour before to at
tend the bedside of dying man, returned
home, accompanied by friend who had joined
y him on the way.
Observation-Disclosures is this2" exclaimed the
4 clergyman, pointing with his gold-headed cane
. to the weeping girl. ga child crying on my
doorstep. Really, how inattentve the ser
g wants are! The old cry, dare say. En-, FL
, sher? Want, hunger-that's it, chi"
: 81 shouldn't WONDER" replied the reverend
= gentemen's companion, with shrug.
"Come-come-speak out, child" cried the
pastor. "Ddn't you hear me ask you what
was the matter" Do you know who am
$ Ell? am clergyman and a magistrate Do
you hear that2 allow no beggar in Rock
4 field. send them all to prison. "What, you