Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-07-17

/: li-hment. I'VE will first look in here =
They have usually the best and mos
costly assortment
Like gliding al once into fairy land
seemed it To Ellen "a they entered; and
like fairy she seemed herself. as in he,
sparkling beauty she passed from one
1rich ornament TO another. each new one
seeming to outvie the last. Il am glad
knew before entered. Just what wanted
said She i should have been bcwlder-
&dered. had come here to choose gift
|, is really intoxicating to ones eyes 10
Ehehold at once so much that is rare and
dazzling. and superb
But brilliant as was the display, and
4 large as was the assortment. a watch and
could not be found, and they continued
llheir walk
Turning up cross street. few steps
brought them TO one of those dark. mar
row lanes. which are at once the pest and
disgrace of every city
1.-The sixth house from the corner. YOU
2said. This must be il ihen"-as they
stopped before a gloomy looking wooden
tenement. ''In the cellar, was it,
$50 she said" and the young girl
lshuddered as they went down the rotten
and yielding steps. The street was so
dark, the place so low, the neighborhood
SO vile, that tear almost sup
planted the feeling Of charity. But her
father seemed undismayed. and opening
'the door without knocking. they made
their way through long narrow hall. to
where. through a chink in the plastering
!!glimmered a feeble light. Feeling along
the wall. he at length touched door
latch. and gently tapping. was in mo-
|ment admitted by the same young girl
they had seen in the morning.
In the kind way peculiar to him. Mr.
Lee exchanged greetings with her, aud
said. that being out, he and his daughter
had brough. her the sewing his wife had
promised
said she. and rather tmidly invited them
in. and offered them seats. Rude ones
they were-old wooden stools. which the
plane and the paint brush had never
|touChed
"What place for human beings to ex-
fist in." thought Ellen. as she glanced
around. There was no filth. no disorder.
but Povertv-guant, thread-bare poverty
stared a, them with its hollow eyes
and with skeleton fingers beckoned for
charity. The damp, worm eaten floor
yielded fearfully at every foot-step. while
the crumbled ceiling seemed ready
Ito fall at the least unusual jar. The win
ter wind shrieked dismally in the narrow
hail. and found its way through a thous-
and crevices into the room-now coming
with a fierccness that threatened to extin.
|guish the dim Highland again making il
flare SO wildly that the shadows seemed
like a spectral host. Close to the fire. side
where burned or rather smoked a single
stick, was drawn cot, upon whose straw
|layer reclined the pale and cmaciatcd mo.
|iher. covered only by one thin and tat,er-
|measre purple child, some three or four
years old. Upon heap Of straw in a
|corncr, at little distance. slept two other
children. an old worn wooden blanket
wrapped closely around them. Upon a
|rckety chair. almost within the chimney
place, sat the sigh,less father. soothing
|gently-as though he were a woman-the
|moans Of little one, which had known
but two summers. A small pine table was
near the bed, upon which stood an old
bottle, the neck broken off. so as to sup
port cheap tallow candle. Beside il.
lie aned young lad Of about ten. his head
bent closely to the pages of an old much
worn book. A few plates. a single spoon.
knife. cup and saucer. with a couple oi
Pin pans were arranged on the shelf over
the fire place; and this was the summary
|of E.llen's inventory.
xsTl,o,o
daughter, "are the kind friends to whom
we are so much indebted" The mother
|strove to raise herself. but fell back. and
could only murmur in faint voice, God
lbless you-God bless you' The blind
father. as he took the hands which Mr.
Lee and Ellen extended. wet them with
his tears. and with a choked voice, said
"These sightless eyes cannot see your
faces. but this poor. stricken heart will
always keep your memories green ]
would try to thank you. but sympathy and
kindness are so new to US, they move US
too deeply for words.''
Having gained the mastery Of their
emotions, Mr.. Lee entered into converse.
'tion with the husband. and learned his his
tory. while Ellen. by the bedside Of the
Imother. listened TO a whispered recital Of
her young daughters devotion. Their
story was sad. but trite: only one tone of
'th at voice that goes wailng through the
suburbs Of every town; that voice. which.
stealing up from damp cellars. down from
dusty garrets. out from gloomy alleys and
dark courts-blends in a strain. which.
low and plaintve at first. will swell and
echo till the great soul Of humanity is
|moved to angel deeds-till love regneth
upon earth as it does in heaven
1--WE have parted with all the comforts
we ever had said the father to his visit
[ors. as he concluded his brief tale: call,
all save that old book, my mothers Bible
THANK God. poor mems spirits may eat
and drink. and keep warm, though ,hei.
bodies S; arve and freezei''
CloSal,- did T-u.o ,l;c a.. - r.I.