The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-05-10
Two Scenes of Life.

.
nor ifties, but by hundreds. You will
know their character and object at a
glance. You know that but one cause
can bring such group together, and yet
you are puzzled to know why they hap
pen to meet here, in this narrow street,
where the incessant hum of busy and nev-
er tiring machinery constantly greets the
ear-here, where the blessed sunlight can
not penetrate to drive away the miasma
of summer putridity or melt the SHOWS Of
of winter; yet here they stand, the poor,
the destitute-some with baskets, others,
with pans, more with nothing but a
wretched apology for dress, in which to
receive the relief which some bsnevo-
lent association has announced will be
afforded, and which, it would, dispensed
in such manner as to cause the receiv-
er to curse the giver!
Stop! do you not know that woe-strick.
en- face! 1t is one who lived close by your
own door, and in the sunshine of whose
face you we're wont to read the fond ex-
pressions of love and ioy-yet here, in
the midst of this destitute throng she
moves, thin and pale, worn and weary
Why! ah, first came death, then sorrow,
and now has fallen the blight of abject
poverty. Of course she had friends, but
they cannot recognize her now, because
well, you may easily divine that. But
see that dear cterub face peering from
beneath a ragged hood, whose protection
from the blast is more nominal than real.
How the eyes sparkle With anticipation!--
How the heart throbs with the thought
that food can be had here, which is cold
ly refused by the rich folk in the splen-
did mansion, way over yonderl Let US
follow her as she eagerly presses her way
up to the entrance of the Relief Office
her little bare feet have forgotten to ache,
and the half frozen limbs throb with new
life, as the thought of dear neither wait
ing humbly on her wretched bed crosses
her mind Oh! how your heart swells
with Indignation as the burly policeman
rudely thrusts her away with the. words,
Back, thou imp of Satan y and then you
speak kindly to her, as she slowly crosses
the street, and, sitting down on the cold
stone, awaits her turn!
All, this is one scene-perhaps of daily
occurrence which may be peculiar to this
great metropolis; and yet there are others
which contrast SO strongly that they in
duce US to place them in contrast.
| A bridal here, then, must he happi-
ness! so says the young heart, which has
not learned the old maxim about gold
that glitters.
Yes the happy ones stand at the altar;
and if the ceremonies of the law are all
that constitute marriage, then are these
two persons to become husband and wife
If all the gew-gaws and trappings which
wealth has placed about them will make
their lives happy, then will they glide a.
long the troubled current of life as DER a
smooth sea, and will dwell in perfect-hap-
piness
Let US endeavor to get peep at the
recipients of such felicity. A splendid
white satin dress, surmounted by q very
white neck and shoulders, uncovered
Certainly, although you do think it is the
coolest month in the yearD and snowy veil
depending from the head, which is tasteful
ly (O decked with orange blossoms, rep
resents the bride, who, you should have
noticed, holds boquet of flowers in her
gloved and jeweled hand. By her side
stands plain but richly dressed young
man who is soon to call her by the sacred
name of wife.
On either side, in great pomp, arrayed
the friends, most Of whom are dressed in
satins or silks, and appear to look upon
themselves with wonderful degree of
complacency.
With measured cadence the priest
solemnly pronounces the bond which is
to unite them forever; and then you hear
a hearty kiss which the happy man be-
slows upon his chosen one, and the cere-
mony is over. AS they pass through the
dimly lighted aisle, and the eager throng
press upon each other to get good look
at the bride you say to yourself that it
was certainly great sight! And so it
was, but you can not avoid the reflection,
as you emerge into the air, and witness
the crowd of carriages which block up the
street, that the cost OF these alone would
suffice to give all those miserable crea-
lures whom you saw in the morning a
first rate dinner; and when you reflect
upon the eating and drinking and riotous
living that generally follow such scenes,
the very heart sickens, and we'll it may!
For the poor, and miserable are crying
out from hunger, and necessarily knock
ing at your door, crying, "Give me bread,
or I perish!" Inevil timeslike the present,
when honest men and women are suffer
ing and starving, we have DO right to
waste our income in gratifying the
promptings of deceased taste or fool
ish pride
MATRIMONIAL SPECULATIoN.--Ag gen.