The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1854-05-11

'assxof eisioe ~tich r.natursl TO our fan
ily, | firpIy resolved 20 go forward
Darker and narrower, and more sutfoca-
ting the water dripped from the top, and
The sliminess Of the stones benea,h made il
inconvenient to hold them long enough to
drag my body along ,--but just asI sank ex-
hausted with my last struggle, I became
sensible OF fseshef current OF air, and my
eurapiured eyes perceived light ahead
With that iDdomilable firfnness which, un-
der tryiag circumstances, has never been
known 10 forsake rs, / scrambled on, and
len miauies later was rewarded With The
sight of day; should say evening for the
setting sun was sfan,ing broadly down a
street, reddeuing The chimneys, bronzing the
tress, putting fame IN every seperale win.
dow pane, and performing other miracles,
such as setting the river on Ere, and turning
the peaceful figure of farmer with sc yth .
on the wea,hercock, into an avenging angel,
100 dazzling for the eye to behold.
lhadsbecn 50 long inlhs darkness of the
cavern, that the transform aiions made by the
setting sun appeared 10 me as il beheld
for he tifsl time, aud so held my attention
thai bad walked several squares before il
struck me as strange that The cavernous path
should have led directly back TO The city -
The street itself, moreover, I had never no.
ticed before, although familiar, as thought l.,
with every part OF my native b. l
looked up at the eorner-Squash Street ;
stranger turned to email and rather
soldering boy, who sat on the curb-stone,
chewing a leather khoe-stripg, and asked
him 10 direct me TO Washington sireet, al
which he first Stared disfespectfully, and
thep said there wasn't nore,' Gfieved, but
rot surprised, at this illustration of the nat
ura deprayny of ihe lowest classes, next
addtssed myself 10 quite majestic looking
Pe4goii, WHO walked with sy ss pefif tnougnt.
fully on the pavement Pefceiving il 10 be
a female, instantly assumed tina. digui6ed
GOODNESS OF manner which invariably adopt,
as being calculated TO repel advances, aud
imputed the way 10 Washington street.
The person raised her ewes, and with .
benignant expression of countenance, re-
piled:
"You'se lost your way, my dear; there's
no Washington Street in this neighbor-
Sood.n ~
Ny dear
Recovering from my first recoil, directed
toward her a glance of severe reproof, which
she received with perfect self.possessiou -
in TACT, with a sort of benignant interest,
which was really astounding.
MADAM began, and a'frown Of wi,her-
ing indignation aarkened my acouh,epauce.
'Icraye your PARDON interrupted The sin.
gular person, 10 deferential tone 4 assure
you mus, sincerelyI meant no disrespec,
lar be il from me, she added seriously, to
take advantage of any one, much less an
unprotected mals.' ~
'Madamp .hrieked again, indignation
almost overcoming my natural dignity.
Come, come, my dear, said the woman.
with SORT Of amused impotence this is
all very well--l'm sure no one sdmires pru-
deuce more than | do, but 10 the mother OF
family, and a person as well known in the
city as myself, il is really unnecessary II
you still wish to find the street you men.
tioned, and win accept of mY protection, I
shall be most happy--if not, I must wish
you good evening"
Heavens what speech
Then, probably mistaking the muteness
OF amazemenl for acquiescence, she tuck.
ed my arsns within hers in q sentlemaniy
manner, and thus accompanied, | sailed
forth in search of my native street.
Fns, 10 the west, block after block OF
houses, so like The ones was accustomed
to see in my daily walks, that nothing but
minute inspec!loa ofissperaie door.plaies
could persuade me iha. was not passing
the mansion Of some wealthy aud valued
friend. w
Then to the south through the localily o.
that class Of society which eats boiled cab
bage and ohions and goldfish, and lives IN
houses where The front door opens immedi-
a,ely into the parlor.
Lower still amid a ciacking Of looms,
aud whizzing OF wheels, through whole
tracts OF lean weavers and cats and unhealthy
babies, past forest Of golden balls and
tavern signs, inio an ever-ihickening atmos-
pbere OF old clothes, and hogs, and beer,
and oysier-shells, and stale ioaiers, and rot
ten vegetables, and old tish, and sesmins
hucksler women, and swearing schildrsn,--
in shon, we were evidently IN the mids, ni
that degrading and offensive class unusally