The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-03-08
W Glorious News 20
present.

aGLoR1oUs News .'-" Great news glori-
Gus news I" was the shout of the news-vender
in the old war time; and at the sound Of his
trumpet the lady looked anxiously from her
window, while the maid stood with ready coin
at 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 flutterring prize-"Great news! glo-
rious news. But the tin trumpet is heard no
longer, nor does the hoarse voice Of the news
vender resound in our public streets yet the
War Gazette finds its way as quickly to our
tables, and myriad readers eagerly devOur its
contents of Joy and sorrow, US they are set
forth in the columns of the Times.
Here it lies in the bOudOir of a countess. -
The paper has been carefully aired, untOlded
and refolded, lest the stain of vulgar fingers
should have profaned its whiteneSs to desecrate
INV ladys touch. Here lies, bathcd in the de-
licious fragrance of freshly gathered flowers,
among gaudy volumes of romance and costly
works Of art, this daily record of the worlds
lfe-this chronicler of its evil deeds and vast
cd hours. Hush the owner OF the room has
entered. There is pride in her step and glance,
as she "trcads the crimson carpet" and "breathes
the perfumed air )" there is pride IN each grace
full movement, rs she seats herself upon the lux
in that trembling hand as she draws the paper
quickly towards her. One glance Of that fash
ing eve upon the printed page, and the color
has fled her cheeks-her lips--and with an as
pect of marble, terrible in its quietude, my
lady" lies lifeless amid the cushions.
In q 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 piecemeal to the ground,
that paper has made its way - not carefully
folded, or brought by powdered lackey with
reverential and catlke tread, but fragrant with
tap-room smells, and stained with tap-rOom
beer. 1t was thrust in by kindly pot-boy,
and with .'here, missus," deposited upon the
little table. Removing from the frothing tub
her snow-f faxed arms the washerwoman-for
such is her condition-wipes her hands hur-
riedly upon her apron, and grasps the paper.
Eagerly her eve follows that water shrivelled
finger, as line after line, she spells down the
column of names, till suddenly she stops at one
Again she spells it - this time aloud - then,
dashing the paper down, she darts madly across
the room to the humble bed where rests her
sleeping child, and, falling on her knees, pours
out her heart in lamentation and prayer.
Here are two women whom the g great news
had made equal in grief, if nought else. The
lady and the poor serf link hands at last. Their
tears flow from like cause-for the pride OF
the one and the hope of the other, both lie
stretched helpless, shot shattered, upon that
CHASTITY battlefield.
GLORIOUS news !'-and Fame puts the bra
zen trumpet to her lips, sending the echo OF
her triumph through every town and hamlet
till each patriotic heart is lightened by the
news, and all join in the song of JOY. This we
read in the papers but another sound strikes
upon the ears of philosopher - a sound Of
..lamentation and weeping, and great mourn
ing"-Diogenes.