Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-03-31
LIFE In NEW YORK.
THE DOOMED GIRL.
From the N. Y. Mirror.l

THE DOOMED GIRL.
From the N. Y. Mirror.]
A few weeks ago, when the distress of ou
community was but in its beginning, there wa.
a young, innocent and blooming girl sharing
| the poor lot of her companions, in Just such al
establishment as the boarding house for "youne
ladies'" She was then employed as "folder'
in downtown publishing house, and hat
been earning wages little more than sufficient
to pay her 81 board, indeed, but still enough
to keep her in that comparative degree of in
dependence felt by all who are able to defray
current expenses, however moderate they may
be. At length, however, as the fall work clos.
ed up, and times grew hard, work ceased, and
Minnie, with many of her companions, wa.
discharged. As fluctuations in business are
not uncommon, even in New York, and in the
best Of times, and as new place is speedily
obtained in return for the old, under anything
like favorable condition Of affairs, she did moi
lose heart, but unconscious, like two-thirds oi
our population of the mournful reality that
overshadowed the land, looked forward with
sanguine anticipations Of renewed, and per-
haps, even better employment
1A0oW WussVg ouC JVOuO m0Uy uttI0 MJUkS ~
do, in the leisure hours, At home, when she
had taken the regular morning round, looking
for work; there was an old apron or dress to
repair, her best pair Of Sundsy gloves whose
seams needed 4 little Strengthening, or tie to
fasten or cuff to bind. This sort Of life con.
tinued for few days, but length, the week
was drawing to close, with no funds to pay
the board bill that would inevitably fall due
and be demanded, and still no work. Then
commenced the snxiety that was, At last to
ruin her moral resolution, and leave her help.
less in the vortex Of sorrow and temptation.
How eagerly. then, the morning papers, when
she could get access to them. were scanned
for any advertisement Of wants, that might
hold ont . hope, and how readily the first SUI
perauous-no-not superduous, for that word
was not in her vocabulary-but the first dup
lcate garment was saci6ced at the pawnbro-
kers. for few shiIings to pay for the inser>
tion in the Herald, Of her prayer for anything
to do that would be decent and BETTING her
years and sex. Sometimes, but rarely, at that
moment her eye would catch : demand for
servant girl, companion, nurse, or waiting
maid; and how eagerly, oh, how eagerly, she
would hurry on her bonnet and shawl, and has.
ten to apply. offering to do any and every kind
oftoil for meagre wages. But, all proved in
vain; at one place, she was considered too de.
licate, at another too inexperienced, at third,
was regarded with suspicion, at fourth. had
come too late, and so on, to the end Of the list
had prepared.
Finally, she began to despair, aud - she
heard every days report Of increasing destitu-
ton, and was told that general ruin had set 10,
and saw the throngs Of unemployed girls, as
i'll of as herself crowding the doors Of every
intelligence office, and filing up the sidewalks
Of Beekman. Franklin, William and Nassau
streets, in the vain expectation of something
to do, the gloom and terror Of want began to
settle down upon every faculty. Although
treated with kindness BY those upon whose
benevolent forbearance she was living, she saw
that they. too, were driven to the wall. Other
boarders could not pay, and yet they had to BE-
housed and fed. Oflen and often, for cousci-
ence sake, did that poor girl deny herself two
meals day, and often remain shut mp, in her
room. ashamed Of her rags, or be.
.ause she had loaned her threadbare cloak and
only pair Of untorn shoes to room.mate.
while the latter, moro vigorous or more daring.
wsnt ont again and again, in search Of employ
nent What sobs and tears did that lonely
'oom then witness, what prayers for RELIEF.
what wild rawlings about an early home and
,nce kind ffiends, did the cold walls hear, for
he poor girl was 40 orphan, and far away
Rom those who had known Der ia her native
place, .A'tf3 49,
Bat winter drew on, with bitteres frost and
larkes prospects no rslisfcame from any quar-.
.sal~ a