The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-24
NUMBER 9--VOLUME l..
"clorious News. -

Great news! glorious newsi was the
shout of the vendor in the old war time
and at the sound of the tin trumpet The
lady looked anxiously from the window
while the maid stood with ready coin Al
the door; the workman hurried down
from his garret; and the serving maid,
from the area depths, thrust forth her
plump red arm to grasp the fiuttering
prize-'.-Great news! glorious news! -
But the tin trumpet is heard no longer.
nor does the hoarse voice of the news
vendor resound in our public streets; We;
the War Gazette finds its way as quickly
to our tables, and myriad of readers
eagerly devour its contents of Joy and
sorrow, as they are set forth in the col
umns of the Times.
Here it lies in the boudoir of coun-
tess. The paper has been carefully air
ed, folded, and refolded, lest the stain oi
vulgar fingers should have profaned its
whiteness to desecrate my lady's touch.
Here lies, bathed in the delicious fra
GRANGE of freshly gathered flowers, among
gaudy volumes of romance, and costly
works of art, this daily record of the
worlds life-this chronicler of its evil
deeds and wasted hours. Hushi the
owner of the room has entered. There is
pride in herstep and glance, as she 'treads
the crimson carpet" and "breathes per-
fumed air." there is pride in each grace
f,rt -hn 81 harcnlf
the luxurious ottoman: but there is a
fearful anxiety in that trembling hand as
she draws the paper quietly towards her.
One glance of that flashing eye upon the
printed page and the color fed her cheeks
her lips-and with an aspect of mar
bic, terrible in its quietude, my lady"
lies lifeless amid the cushions.
In small room, where a thick steam
lies heavy upon the windows, and the
damp vapor clings to the rotting walls,
from which the plaster is dropping piece
meal to the ground, that paper has made its
way-not carefully folded. or brought by
powderedlaekey. but wititap-room smells,
and stained with tap-room beer. 1t was
thrust in by kindly pot-boy, and with a
"here nissus," deposited upon the lit
tie table. Removing from the fronting
tub her snowflake arms, the washer-wo-
man-for such is her condition-wipes
her hands hurriedly upon her apron. and
grasps the paper. Eagerly her eyes fol-
low that water-shriyelled finger, as line
after line, she spells down the column oil
names, till suddenly she stops at ONE.
Again she spellsit-thistime aloud-then,
dashing the paper down, she darts madly
across the room to the humble bed where
rests her sleeping child, and, falling Oh
her knees, pours out her heart in lamen-
tations and prayer.
Here are two women whom tho "grea
news" has made equal in grief if naugh
else. The lady and the poor, serf linl
hands at last. Their tears flow from {
like causc-for the pride of the one and
the hope of the other both lie stretched,
helpless, shot-shattered, upon that ghast-
ly battlefield.
"Glorious news and Fame puts
the brazen trumpet to her lips, sending
the echo of her triumph through every
town and hamlet, till each patriotic heart
is lighted by news, and all join in the
song ofjoy. This we read in the papers !;
but another sound strikes upon the ears
of the philosopher sound of lamenta-
ton and weeping and great mourning
Diogenes.