The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-02-14

to the use of trivial excuses) for their
sins against Father Mathew. Loud
laughter rang through the frosty air
Pleasant jokes, innocent "chatf," pass
ed; grocers' young men toiled Justify,
wiping their hot faces ever and anon;
butchers took no rest; prize beet melt
ed away from very richness before my
eyes, and in the midst of all the hustle
and jollity, the crowding, laughing
drinking and shouting was still on my
unvarylng way tn Whltecrpss street
There was man resting chiids
coffin on railing aAd chattering with
a pot boy, with whom he shared pot
of porter, "with the sharp edge taken
off" There are heavy hearts-heaVier
perchance than yours in London this
Christmas Eve, my friend Prupper,
thought I. To-morrow's dawn will
bring sorrow and faint-heartedness to
many thousands-to oceans OF human
ity, of which you are but single drop.
The cab conveyed me through Smith
field Market, and now rnmbled mp the
Barbican My companion, the gentle.
man with the crab-stlck, TO whose care
Mr.. Aminadab had consigned me, be-
guiled the time with pleasant and In
structlve conversation. He told me
tina, he had enabled many parties"
That he had captured doctor of divin-
ity going 10 Christmas, bridegroom
starring for the honeymoon, colonel OF
hussars in full fig for her MaJesty's
drawing.room. That he had the honor
once of "nabbing" the eldest son of
peer Of the realm, who, however. es-
capped from him through second-hoor
window and over the tiles. That he
was once commissioned to NAB" the
celebrated MIR. Wix, Of the Theatres
Royal. That Mr.. Wix, Icing IN the
act of playing the Baron Spolacclo. IN
the famous tragedy of Love. Ruin and
Revenge,n he, Crabstlck, permitted him
in Difference to the interests OF the
drama, to play his part out, statlolhng
an assistant at each wing to prevent
escape. That the delusive Wlx J." blk
ed" him by going down trap. That
ne. Crabstick, captured him, notwittI-
standing, under the stage. though op-
posed by the gigantic Wix himself, two
stage carpenters, demon. aud the
Third Citizen. That Wix rushed on
the stage and explained his position to
the audience. whereupon the gallery
(Wix being an especial favoflte OF
theirs1 expressed strong desire to have
his (Crabstick's blood; and failing To
obtain that, tore up the benches, III the
midst of which operation the recalcI-
trant Wiy was removed. With these
and similar anecdotes of the nobility,
gentry, and the public in general he
was kind enough to regaIe me until the
cab stopped, | alighted in narrow,
dirty ST. eet, was hurried up steep
flight of sic ps-a heavy door changed
behind me-and CrabSiick, pocketing
his small gratuity. wished me good
night and merry Christmas. A merry
Christmas-ugh
That night | slept in dreadful place
called the reception ward, on an iron
bedstead in a room with stone floor.
was alone. and horribly miserable.
heard the Waits playing in the dis
tance. and dreamed | was al Christ
mas party.
Christmas morning in Whitecross
prison! A turnkey conducted me 10
the " MiddIesex side "a loug, dreary
vard-on either side OF which were
doors leading into wards or coifee-rooms
ON the ground floor, aud by stone stair.
| cases to sleeping apartments above
| 1t was all very cold, very dismal, very
gloomy. entered the ward allotted tc
me-number seven. left. II was long
| room. with barred windows, cross tables
| and benches. with an aisle between; q
large fire at the father end; Dun
spiro, spero." painted above the mantle
niece. Twenty or thirty prisoners anc
their friends were sitting at the tables
smoking pipes, drinking beer, or read
| ing newspapers. But for the nn'nIs
takeable jail-bird look about the major
itv of the guests, the unshorn faces, the
slipshod feet, the barred windows AM
the stone floor, might have fancIet
myself in large tap room.
There was holly aud mistle'oe rouno
the gas pipes but how wotul and tor
| Iorn they looked! There was roas
beef and plum pudding preparing a
the fire place; but they had neither The
odor nor the appearance OF Tree bee
and pudding. was thinking OF th'
COSY room, and snug fi,e, The well-d' awl
curtains, the glittering table, the happ!
faces. when the turnkey introduced M
| to the steward of the ward ian office
appointed by the prisoners, and pr!so
ner himself who tables you of. !.
who allotted me a seat at one OF ih'
1 cross.ta bles, which was henceforwdI'
mine for all purposes of ealing. drink
ing, writing or smoking /: IL considera
ton of a payment on my part OF on
guinea sterling This sum made M
4 also free of the ward, and entitled I
have nv boots cleaned, my bed made
and NV meals cooked Supposlng that
had moi possessed guinea (which wa
likely enough.) should have asked TO
time. which would have been granite
me but al the expiration OF three days
omission of payment would have cor
stituted me defauIter in which case
, | the best thing | could have done woul
have been to declare pauperlsm, an
! remove to the poor side OF the prison
H. shonld have hpen entitled