Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-27
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A Partisan Sketch,

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A Partisan Sketch.
[ was crossing the Pont Neuf at the
moment when a porter, belonging to the
Bank of France, pretty well tired of the
weight he carried, (it was bag contain
ing nine thousand francs, in silver,
stopped to rest himself by leaning against
parapet wall of the bridge; but at that
moment that he did so, his valuable load,
either from awkwardness or carelessness
slipped our of his hands and fell into the
Seine, which is very deep just at that
spot.
Never shall forget his his look of des-
pair. lie made movement as if to Jump
over !; and, believe, would have affected
his purpose, but for the presence of mind
OF a girl-a little, delicate looking thing
of about SIXTEEN wholesaler, who clasp
ing her arms around him, cried for help,
which IN al instant was afforded.
Myself and some others seized him he
struggled with us desperately.
"Let me go ! let me 60 % cried he "I
am ruined for ever. Nj wife, my child
ren, what will become of you2'
A multitude of voices were raised at
once, some to console, others to inquire
but above the rest were heard the clear
and silver tones of the little violet girl.
My friend, have patience, you have
lost nothing"
Nothing Oh, heavens 20
"No, no: tell you, no. Let some
one run for the divers there is no doubt
they will succeed in bringing it up"
"She is right" resounded from num-
Der of voices, and from mine among the
rest /: and in an instant halfa-dozen peo-
pie ran to fetch the divers. .,..
Those who remained exerted themselves
as well as they could, to solace the poor
porter.
One brought him glass of liquor an
other, little brandy third, some eau
de Cologne and four or five presented the
grand specific, sugar and water.
The little violet girl had been before all
the rest in administering cordial and,
perhaps, hers was the most efficacious-
glass of pure water, which she held to
his trembling lips, and made him swal-
low.
Drink, she cried, "drink it up-it
will do you good"
Whether it was the water, or the kind
| and sympathetic manner in which ii was
offered, that relieved him, know not, but
certainly one of the two had it's effect, for
his looks grew less wild-and he burst
into passionate fit of weeping, and, by
degrees, became composed enough to make
his acknowledgements to the spectators,
who had shown such interest in his mis-
| fortune.
The divers soon came, and one of
them descended without loss of time.
Never did [ witness such an intense
anxiety as the search excited if the fate
of every one present had depended upon
the success, they could not have testified
great interest in it.
He soon re-appeared, bringing up, not
| the bag of silver, but small iron box.
1t was instantly broken open, and found
to be full of twenty franc pieces, in gold :
they were quickly counted, and found to
amount nearly twelve thousand francs ::
about four hundred and fifty pounds ster-
ling.
There were three divers, who, over
joyed at their good fortune, speedily
divided the prize among themselves; and
directly afterward another descended in
search of the porter's bag.
| This time he returned with it in
triumph. The poor fellow could scarcely
speak when it was put into his hands.
On coming to himself, he cried, with
| vehemence.-
Heaven reward you. you know not
what good you have done. [ am the
father of five children, [ was formerly in
good circumstances, but series of mis-
fortunes reduced me to the greatest dis
tress. All that [ had left was an ire
proachable character. and that procured
me my present situation: [ had it but a
week. To-day | should, without your
help, have lost it. My wife, my children,
would have been deprived of husband
and father: for never, could have sur
vived the ruin | had brought upon them
1t is you who have saved US all; heaven
will reward YOU"