The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-08-14
From the New Orleans Delta.
Youth, Ace, and Charity.


dividuai, yesterday, who came to this
city many years ago, particularly hon.
est and decidedly green. Manhood,
however, ripened his judgment and fill
led his purse: and now, thathe is in the
last month Of the autumn OF life, the
golden fruits ofhard.earned wealth drop
from his capacious pocket like mellow.
ed apples from tree, when the first
gust Of winter sweeps through its rich
ly ladened boughs. This pippin-heart-
ed old gentleman observed boy stand
ing on the corner of Common and
Camp streets, gazing intently on the
piles ofgod and rolls of bank bills that
were in brokers' shop close by. AT
ter taking lunch and weak toddy with
nutmeg, thoughts Of how poor he had
been in youth, touched the old mans
heart, and he sympathyzed sincerely
with the poverty-strcken lad--who
seemed houseless, friendess, and pen
nyless. The bare red toes Of the boy
were sticking out of a pair of shoes
that had lost their soles; his pantaloons
were much the worse for wear, and
his dingy blue jacket, mile to long for
him, was buttoned closely around his
pale, withered little throat; a cap, 'front.'
less and begrimmed with dirt, covered
but small portion of his yellow hair,
the long locks of which almost conceal
ed his sunken cheeks. His lips seemed
blue with cold, but there was an ex-
preston about the eyes Of the lad that
we could not define. Still, there stood
the antipodes Of life-youth and age,
poverty and wealth. The old gentle
man looked on the boy, and the boy on
the old gentleman both had their OBJ
ects in view, and the sequal we shall
see anon. s
"Poor boy," muttered the old man 10
himself; "poor boy-nothing to eat, !
'spose--father drunkard, mother dead
God bless me, what world it 81
However--however, l'll just cross O.
yer and get nearer look athim. I've
neither chick nor child, kith nor kin,--
who knows but that he may prove
good boy--adopt hiln--die-leave my
money? Humph! who knows" |
By this time the old gentleman was
along side the object ofhis commisera-
ton. In broken voice the lad said.
so prettily and with so much sincerity:
"Please, sir, give ma a plcayune to
buy some bread-l've not had any thing
TO eat this morning, SIR"
"Nothing to eat! Nothing to eat?
Well, well, here's dime-but, stop
got a motherW
"No, sir, no! Poor mother died three
months ago in Cincinnati-and now
that father"
swell, what about fatger-sickp
"Oh! no, sir! he fell overheard last
week, and now there's no one left to
take care of me and poor little sister"
"God bless me-! Got sister-what's
name how old?'
"Only two years, sir; and if poor
mother had lived, she would have been
christened Eizs?"
"Well, well, my boy, never mind,
here's a doliar-buy sissy and yourself
mething to eat; come up to my house,
big house, brass knocker, just by the
police office in Second Municipality"
"Where did you say it was si:?"
Second Municipality big brick house,
brass knocker, near the police Office
good boy--no imposter, hope!"
"What's impostor, sir?'
"Bad boy-bad man-rob bank
preacher in sleeps clothing; by-the-by,
come home with me now, give you
some new cloths, and"
"Big knocker, brass house--no, no,
knock bigger;--d--n the thing! Big
house, brass knocker, near the Second
Municipality, police office. Will you
comeg
The poor lad looked into the old mans
face with an expression of the utmost
and Withdraw wing few steps,
replied, "No, stree! You don't ketch
me near the police office; Pm acquain-
ted with that vicinity. I've got your
dollar, and you've got a history Of my
private misfortunes, SO we're quits"
"Was there ever such impositionw
nuttered the old gentleman between
MS clenched teeth.
"Oh, yes; I've seen grsener old chaps
than you in New York, and hope to
meet some of the same sort in New Or
cans"
So saying, the young hopeful darted
away, leaving the old gentleman in COM
olete bewilderment.
(which theatur are yer goin' to 10.
1ight, Bill?" inquired the amateur young
oeggar of friend of the same stamp as
himself, about half an hour after the
same occurrence. Il
swell, thinks of goin' to the 'Mer-
ain'l seen the Blanger yit,