Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-01-20
MISCELLANEOUS
NJ !, i,
ff 81
BY FRANK LEE.

nj A Il / Il -
900 aaixsa Nv : - sdI -
. In a gafret, somewhere in The seventh
stage ola mis- srabIe dwelling, in one OF The
narrowestD darkest streets OF Paris, lived,
toiled and suffered poor. Marie ALenscaut.
Three hungry children sobbed at her
knees. wringing her maternal heart with
their cries for bread. The chill wind Of
midw inter aqwhistIed through the gleat
chinks in the wall. and down the chimney
where no fire blazed. futtering the thin
garments of the watchers as they crouched
in the last extremities Of misery and dcs-
pair-the mother and her starving brood.
After q time, the poor infants. wearied OF
their tears, slept at the feet OF their moth
er, pillowing their curly heads OIL her
Knee. Marie's arm fell motionless at bel.
side, her eyes gazed fixedIy upon the OPP
posite wall, but saw nought; her tired
soul had gone back the depths Of the
buried past, and was rowing amid the pale
phantoms OF an age comedy. Poor Ma
rie! &C.,. q {5z=.=z3
Six years before, no lighter feet trod
down the village dance, no lighter heart
responded to the mirth of Innocent reyel-
ry; aud then, almost child, she married
one who had wen her pure heart long be-.
fore. Jean Lenscaut was tall Muscular
fellow full of force and vigor, with u heart
tender as a woman's, the whole of whose
affections were heaped upon that fair
young girl. They were married, and a
short time after removed to Paris--betook
themselves to this moral whirlpool, where,
for the rich, life passes like the mazes Of
frenzy dream; whefe night is turned into
day; where all ideas serious are depressed
in the unceasing rush from one madness to
another, the last still the most insane, a
life in which the health is lost the intel
lert deacened the heart wearied, until the
moral being becomes SO thoroughly biase.
that the most terrible excitements are pow
erless to rouse il from its leaden ethargy !;
where, for the. poor, the day comes on
heavy and slony.eyed. bearing in no hope.
no relief, but toll, with no hand extended
to aid the exhausted pilgrims on their
weary way. s,s - .aaa sile 95s ag'
And into this vortex heedlessly plunged
those Young beings. The outside was
garianded with flowers, wreathed xith
festivals. The air heavy with perfumes,
but beneath, oh God the Mretchedness
aud desola,ioD, who shall have power TO
describe it' M. .zs',,t,,.. !,
They rented an humble bu. ,nea: cham
ber,l and while jean pursued his avocations,
Marie toiled IN her quiet apartment, blithe
and happy as a robin in midsummer. A
year passed, and their first child was born.
al
work for his baby boy, the angel Of his
hearth and Marie seemed to gain new
force from the sight Of the tiny creature
that slcptin her arms or crowed in infan
tile glee at her, feet. But'ere another was
gone, little sister,was given the boy for,
alas children in the habiations Of lhe
poor miserable spring up like woodland
flowers. While the favored OF rank grow
weary waiting for the blessings which are
denied them. .ssiS Na ~ .Aeas sAs
That year the sky grew darker, bu
hope had not wholly failed in their DO.
SONS. But when their third slckly infant
was born. when Maiie's health began t.
fail, anc she had no longer strength TO tot
as she had done, terrible fears erept into
the bosoms OF those patient creatures, ant
nearer aud nearer their hrarth stole gaun
form, With stony eyes aud relentless vi
sage-nearer and nearer-it was Jamiae
But when their wre:chedness had reached
ITS Climax, when Jean went forth fasting
to his labor, that he might leave u morse
Of bread for his iam,shing offspring. there
came relief-the great Father had not for.
saken them. A wealthy man. who had
known them in their early youth, gene
rously offered the means OF sustenance-
would send Jean to America, that land
where fortunes are accumulated as b,
magic-would guard Marie aud her babe,
during his ABSENCE, and when he wrot,
that he could support his dear ones in tina
blessed home OF the oppressed. would sen.
them to him in safety, How they thank
ed their deliveie,, clasping his knees wnl
broken prayers Of sraluianess, from whicl
he hurried away. ~
The day came the parting was terrible
but hope was buoyant in their bosoms,
supported them even in that hour of trial
Jean saw his wife and children establishe,
I in comfortable home, them. with wills
pered vows and repressed agony, they sal
| fare we'll. stis u 2 g
Courage, Jean" cried the wife, III
true woman, through her Tears God am
the Virgin 60 with you" So sse e4
They parted. full Of hope-oh! vaines
word that mocks these human hearts G
ours! They parted. full Of glowing vision
OF future which should be theirs, $
bright, 40. golden. as to more than repa
for all they had endured. When the sh
4 which bore Jean from the land Of his Dirt
was far out on the restless waters of til
ocean, came the generous man to the HON
oil Marie with his whisnerrd tale Of ~