The Yazoo Democrat., 1851-06-04
WHAT ONE SEES IN THE
STREETS.

A person who walks the streets of New
York with his eyes and ears open sees
and hears many strange and dreadful
things. Beggary, sickness, want, crime,
wrelchedness and folly meet him at every
turn, and if he has heart to feel, that
heart must be often wrung to agony by
the shock ing things Iha: he encounters.
We were walking up Broadway last
week during the rainy season. picking
our way as best we cOnld through the mud
and wet, when we heard the cry Of an in
iant; such piteous wailing as made the
blood croeP in our veins and caused US
invOIuntarly to lock around to see whence
the sound proceeded. Th n a sight met
our eyes that we trust to God they may
never know again. A woman almost ma
ked; one of those poor creatures that famine
and oppression have driven from their
homo to an asylum in this land Of plenty
She was haggaId-eytd, squalid and dir y;
the very picture Of hopeless despair. Her
dress consisted OF All old peuicoaI, chem
Sc, and shawl s;Anty in its proportions
and mere ching Of shreds and patches. -
She carried in her an infant Just as it came
of shreds aud patches" She carried in her
arms an infant Just as il came ''in!o this
brea hing world, . entirely n ked and un-
washed its little eyes tightly closed to shut
out the light il belt had never seen. We
stood Tor a moment riVlted TO the spot. We
could not believe Iha; it was not some
hOrrid vision, cOnjured up by our imagina-
ton; but the cries Uf the poor little proved
the dreadful reality. The woman was pro
ceeding on unconscious Of all that was pass
ing ar ound her, her eyes fixed on vacancy
and an expires lon in her face that plainly
showed that hope was thing she knew no
, that her cIp of misery was full, and Iha
she rocked not where she went or wha
became Of her. .. -....s
!, We advanced and spoke to her. Sh'
gazed at US with stupid, stolid look, ant
made no reply. .... saa.e ..e
. "H W old is your childl" we asked. o
/ "AbOut an hour" she replied.
. "Where was it born?" ~ eU se.
"YOndcr SURF, under them boards" sh'
answered, md was about 10 continue he
: walk onward. The thought OF asking 70
: charity did NOT occur TO her--that foTlOr
!. hope she had tried too often unsuccessful
: perhaps before this grand climax of he
= dread ul life, gy
Hurriedly searching cur pockets, "
gave her what money We had about us
very small sum, but mine Of wealth TO he
:, and told her TO 60 and buy food for herse
Il and some covering for the child. y
III Whep we placed the money 10 hl
!, withered hand, she gazed at it with a loo
: Of wonder for q Inotiienl; pressed It TO b
= face as ifto convince herself that It WI
le realiIy-lheh lurning a look upon Us tn
"A we shall not soon forget, she uttered on
the words "God bless you!"- such
or benedielion as beggars Of her class usual
~ give, btit a deep, farvent wish that eau
ar swelii2g UP from her poor broken heatt-
lei lervent prayer FOR our good and happinel
ed that had We given q world to pdFchase
cs we shotld not have he'd too dear :.
be She passed on her wag-GOd kno,
or WheEe' we hope TO sOorld where such rhi
ale cry g heFsri not known. -, -
no ae 4AeyA6oEs le tEue every word of lie, a
us We askIaose rich and PampeEed sons. d
pis daughters Of luxury 70 stop a moment Z
reF lbeg dsRyit aud SAY & is impossible 40
Il things shoUld exist hare il New Yo,
IS You little know the sorrow. and The wlretc
edneSS, The dreadful want that IS crnshi
Il The liCe oul sOf . lhopsend hearts arOu
nQ sou on every side, or how. many yo0 CO
make happy Nilh 8 Aqqqrfclh Psyt q "
.smoo o. sgs y4avs ri sgaisd slla