Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-09-08


in spirit manifestations half as strongly
as some of the nincomroops of this world
would have their long cared listeners
think, yet We do believe there is a spirit
in man, not vet made manifest. which
makes us yearn after coexisting spirits i'm
this sphere and IN this life. and there is
no need Of going beyond it, seeking after
strange idols
We shall not stop to inquire whether it
was spirit Of 'the first, third or sixth
sphere. that prompted US as we left our
desk one evening, to go down among the
abodeS of the poor. with feeling of Ger
tainty that we should see or hear some
thing Of the lost voice, for that spirit led
US on; perhaps it was the spirit of curl
osity no matter, it led, and we followed
IN the route we had seen that little one
90 betore--lt was our only one--we knew
no name--had no number. nor knew no
one that knew her whom we were going
to fnd- Yes, We knew that good Mission
airy, and shc had told US of the good
words which he had spoken. but would he
know her from the hundred Just like her
Perhaps. 1t will cost nothing to inquire
We went down Centre st with a light
heart; we turned into Cross st. with
step buoyed by hope we stood at the cor
ner of Little Water-st and looked round
inquiringly of the spirit. snd mentally
said, (which way now 2" The answer was
far-of scream of dispair We stood
still with an open ear, for the sound of
prayer, followed by a sweet hymn of praise
to God, went up from the site of the Old
Brewery, in which we joined, thankful
that that was no longer the abode o. all
the worst crimes ever concentrated under
one roof. Hark, step approaches. Our
unseen guide whispered, ask him" 1t
were curious question to ask a strau-
ger particularly one like him, haggard
with over much care, toll or mental labor
Prematurely old, his days shortened by
oyerwork in young years. as his furrowed
face and almost phrensicd eye hurriedly
indicates, as we see the fash of the lamp
upon his dark visage, as he approaches
with that peculiar American step which
impels the body forward at railroad speed
Shall we get out of his way before he
walks over US What if he is a crazy
man No; the spirit was night--no false
raps here. 1t is that good missionary
That man who has done more to reform
that den Of crime, the Five Points Of New
ork. than all the Municipal Authorities
of this Policehuuting, and Prison punish
ing City, where misfortune is deemed a
crime, or the unfortunate driven to it, by
the way they are treated. instead of being
reformed. or strengthened in their rcsolu-
ton to reform. by hard words rather than
Prison bars Sir" said Mr. Pcase, what
brings you here at this time of night, for
! know thnro - object aid
you
" Perhaps I don't know--a foolish
wilma little child--one of the misera-
bic, with drunken mother"
Come with me, then. There are many
such. | am just going to visit one. who
vii die before morning. sweet little
girl, born in better days, and dying now
but you shall see. and then we will talk
about the one you would seek to save"
/ We were soon threading a narrow alley,
where pestileuce waIketh in darkness. and
crime, wrotched poverty and filthy misery,
go hand in hand to destruction.
Behold" said our friend, 'the fruits
of our City excise. Here is the profit of
money spent for license to kill the body
and damn the soul" Proven by the aw
. ful curses and loud blows of a drunken
! husband and wife, once an ornament of
society, and exemplary member Of chris
/ tian church, that came up out of one of
the low cellars, which human beings call
/ by the holy name of home
The fetid odor Of this filthy lane had
been made more fetid by the late and al
most scalding hot rains until it seemed
to US that such an air was only fit for a
Il = Of
at So at midnight. how could men live in
such a place, below the surface If the
earth Has rum rendered them proof
against the effect of carbonic acid gas
We groped our way along to the foot
( Of an outside stair case, where our con-
ductor paused for moment, calling our
attention to the spot. Here, said Mr.
/ Pease. the little sufferer we are going to
see tainted few nights ago. and lay all
night exposed to the rain. where she was
/ found and beaten in the morning by her
miserable mother, because she had not
I sold all her corn.
Great and unknown cause, hast thou
/ brought Us to her door Our friend
stared, but did not comprehend the ex-
preston. Be careful, said be, the stairs
are very old, and slippery.
Beat her, said We, without regarding
what he was saying
/ Yes, beat her, while she was in fever
/ of delirium, from which she has never
/ spoken nationally. since she was taken
/ Her constant prayer seems to be to see
some particular person before she dies.
~Oh. If / could see him once more
re-therc--that is him-no, no. he did
not speak that way to me--he did not
curse and beat me "
/ Such is her conversation, aud that in
Iduced her mother to send for me, but
/ was not the man. "Will he come 2" she
saws. every time I visit her for. think
ing to soothe and comfort her, promised
to bring him.
We had reached the top Of the stairs
and stood a moment at the open door.
where sin and misery dwell, where sick
ness had come. aud where death would
soon enter
I VIII he come 2'