The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-07-06
lcoScLupED.]
CHAPTER XII.
VOLUM III.


,EpSP Pc have hitherto conducted you read
~ er, through regal halls and prince
ly mansions, where the inmates
reret IN luxurious ease aud comfort, so far
rs the abundance of wealth can procure.
we have never yet been forced 10 chill
your heart by describing To you the scene
where poverty, destitution and want exists
~ all It's appalling forns,--where suffering,
disease and degradation is realized in it,
+ most hor 'ie dciornity; AMI now, when
compelled TO do so, We are 10th To take
you where all these are blended together
idterriblc and heart rending detail, where
cold, cheeriess, friendless poverty, leads
out awretched existence, and where death
Is regarded by the sufferer as a welc,m,
messenger. If you would look,upon i,
wit ont shuddering sensation without
prh OF horror passing through your
iraeiei yon must-put an extra covering of
worldly coliness and indifference around
yonr heat; and steel your eye with all
the stony p,ilessness that marks the man
OF asariec, or the heartless miser.
'-ltia ai,sesrly lionr of the .lav. The sun
sl'incs brightly, reveals tile wrctchcd cxte.
rlor aud decayod appearance of row Of
old frame houses, in the most .lilapitlatr,l
portion Of the city of New Orleans; each
one booking as If they would crrmblc and
tall to the ground, il they ouhy had room
to do so. IL is narrow street: filthy,
S'ckening looking place, where ragged and
m'Ser'I'" looking hrat> are rolling in the
sand, and where men and women. Of every
cline and nation on the globe, with their
tattered garments AMI b,n,,tcu faces, Stare
ut you ut every turn; all presenting SO
dire picture Of extreme poverty, that no
language can describe it.
But We enter cne Of these dismal ahodes
its two story house, and the lower tluurs
are tcnanted by the lowest and most De.
graded Of earth's beings; but We pass on
to The second floor, and turning to the
right, we enter room about twenty feet
square. This room is lighted by two un
curtained windows, the bright and JOYOUS
light OF the sun, wildly contrasting with
the dreary and chee. less appearance Of th.
chamber. There is no ca"pet on the floor:
a small pine table occupies the centre Of
the room, and two hal broken chairs ar.
standing near it a small cupboard stand,
In one corner. and contains few articles
OF crockery, but none of the sus enance nf
life; not even the crumbIy fia.mclt, a.
list meal; So! tiry led in the opposite
corner with few articles of covering, COM
plete the furniture Of this desolate cham
Der. Not an article Of comfort, nor n sin.
gle cheerful object meets your eye; every
thing about IL, both animate and man.
mate tells you mournful story--it .eIIs
You OF better days passed in case and Iuxu.
ry-of disappointed hopes, wrecked hap
Pln"ss and bitter trials, and of the last sad
drama now being enacted amids. desoIa-
hon and woe, OF the deepest dye.
Near the hearth on the bare floor. i
e'ted little girl perhaps seven wears of
age; whose surprising beauty fills you
with admiration, while you drop tear of
sympathy for the hard fate which her
present o'ition, and roeagre bu, cleanly
apparel, evidently implies is hers. With
needle IN her hand she is engaged in
manding the rents in redsgarment.
81 miar 10 the one that covers her little
psrson, and as she bends over her work
' p"'O"t WiuStfS, HeF hTnOOtn AMI
wtyy chestnut curls flow around neck
and shoulders, that are as clean and white
as though she had been reared with all
the tenderness and care that ease and
luxury coald bestow. Her features are
oeaut'ful, but pale and thin, and wear
none OF that happy and careless expression
INA. we are accustomed to see in the faces
OF little children. But in ia stead. ON
eerery hneanient yon read thought. suffer.
ing, ana care; melancholy 70 And in old
ana time tried people, but terrible to trace
on the brows and eheeks Of ji,,le onss
scarce entered on liE's journey.
Lying on the bed tina, we have a,a do
mentioned, is y slight aud wasted form
that seems but the shadow Of a living per.
son. The face is pale aud wan. anil an.
snail mouth has lines Of deep and a tul
suffering grs ei, aroand IL; The nose s
Pinci,cd. and the broad brow, calm and
wldtened by the sweep Of sorrows finger
the eyes are fall Of silent agony, aud die
whoss face wesrs au expression OF aaspo-
Ken. longendured anguish. Beauty, rare
and pure IN style had been hers; suffering
mr. poverty could not destroy i,s trsees.--
lt poered out through the wavy hair now
Hill'''g around : neck and bosom It'll