The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-01-06
Fanny Fern in the J ombs.

Fanny Fern has visi, ed the Tumbs. Hear
what she says about it, in the N. Y. Musical
World g. Times:
81 am weary Of this hollow show and gilt
ter-weary Of Fashions stereotyped lay-hg-
ures,-weary OF smirking tops and brainess
bellies, exchanging their small coin of fat
terry and their endless gene1uxions: Let US
90 out of mewhere--anywhere
Turn round the wheel, Dame Fortune, and
show up the other side.
"The Tombs!" we never thought to be
there! nevertheless, We are not to be fright
ened by grated door or stone wall, SO We
passed in leaving behind the soft wind of this
Indian summer day, to lift the Autumn leaves
as gently as does II loving nurse her dropping
child.
We gaze into the narrow cells and draw a
long breath. Poor creatures, tempted and
tried. How many to whom the world now
pay its homage, who sit in high places, should
be in their stead. God knowest. See them
with their pale faces pressed against the
grated windows, or pacing up and down theiI
stone floors, like chained beasts. There is a
little boy not more than len years old; what
has he done!
"Stolen pair of shoes!"
Poor child! he never heard of "Swartwout. F"
How should he kr ow that he was put in
there not for stealing, but for doing ii on so
small q scale!
Hist! Do you see that figure seated in the
farther corner of the cell, with his hands
crossed on his knees! His whole air and
dress are those of gentleman. How came
such man as that here!
"For MURDER" how sad! Somewhere in
the length and breadth ri the land mothers
heart is aching becaasashe spared the rod to
spoil the child.
There is coffin, untenanted as yet, but
kept on hand; for death laughs at bolts and
fetters, and many a poor wretch is born strug-
Cling within these gloomy walls, only to be
carried to his last hume-while none but Goo
NAV ever know ut whose fireside stands his
vacant chair.
And here is a woman's cell. There are
two ur three faded dresses hanging agains
the walls, and bonnet for which she has lit
tie use. Her friends have brought her somt
| little bits of carpeting, which she has spreat
over the stone floor, with her wUmanly love
of order, (poor thing) to make the place lool
home lie And there is a cruclhx in the cor
nor. See she kneels before it. NJ y the
Holy Virgins blessed Son, who said to the
SHINING one, "nether do | condemn thee
SEND into her heart the bam oI holy peace
Who is that! o it cannot be,-but yes, i
| is he--and what wreck See, he shrlnk'
away and bright flush chases the marble
oaleness FROM his cheek. God bless me! rha
R should comSto this Sill lntemPer
ance with her thousand voices crleth, 'Glv'
piyer and still, alas! it is the gifted, am
generous, and warm hearted, who oil
times answered the summons.
More cells! but there is no bed in them
onIy a wooden platform raised over the ston
floor. 1t is for gutter drunkards-too fou
! too loathsome TO be placed upon bed-turr
. ed in here like swine, to wallow in the sam
: slough. Oh, how few who are slipping ID
! rosy wine, say, "my mountain stands strohg
t e'er dreamed OF such an end as this
y Look there! tread softly, angels are me-
k us. Through the grated window the l'g
o streams fall family upon little pa'et wher
II sweet as dream Of heaven, lies a sieePil
lbaYei Over its chesub fuHe . sn'Iie Is fifsia