True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-01-11
2BIJiiseella,pg
From the Olive Branch.
THE TWO PURSES.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE sMUaGLER' S
CHILD" "HIGHwAYMAN," &C..

CHILD" "H1eHwAYMAN," &C.,
Boston, the Athens Of America, the
Yankee city, the city Of Notions most of
my readers doubtless know from personal
observation, to be thus appropriately ma
med. The first title, she well merits in
consideration of the liberal encouragement
Of literature and the fine arts, the second
too, for the peculiar genius and character
Of her population, and though we may
look upon the backwoodsman of New Eng.
land as the real specimen Of the Yankee,
the native Bostonian is the acknowledged
representative of the tribe (if I may so
speak, abroad and the third title is mer-
tied from the fact of the never-tiring in
yentive genius Of its inhabitants. Pos
sessing population of nearly an hundred
and twenty thousand, she is yet free in a
great measure, compared with her sister
cities in the Union, from the horde of vices
and evil customs that prevail at the South
and West. The gambler here accomplish
es his purpose in secret; there are no pub
lie billiard rooms, no masquerade balls, or
resorts of infamy, and though all these
evils exist in a greater Or less degree as in
all largely populated places, yet are they
30 hidden as not to come before the eye Of
innocence, or tempt those who do not take
the preliminary steps to vice.
Boston, courteous reader, the Yankee
city Of Massachusetts, Bay, shall be the
locale of our tale. There is portion of
the West part of the town here as in Lon
don, occupied by the more opulent of the
inhabitants, being in the immediate neigh
borhood of the noble park, Or Common as
\ it is called, which is unsurpassed in extent
and beauty by any grounds of similar
character in the country. Within its iron
enclosure, there is room for the famed
park Of New York city, and the battery
attached, and you might throw in a few of
the largest squares that ornament the Qua
ker city Of brotherly love, and yet find
room for the silvery lake that now orna-
ments its centre, and plenty of space for
promenading. The vicinity is the aristo-
cratic section of the city. You will not
find this spirit Of pride or aristocracy to
consist Of the same ingredients as consti-
tutes that grade of society in the old coun-
try; there, birth almost alone establishes
the claim to distinction, while here, that
most potent agent, money, is all powerful
All, in this boasted free country, gold is
the leyeller of all ranks, forming for itself
Kingdom from out Republic, which it
rules with rod of iron, though in this
Yankee city, genius and intellect are far
more readily appreciated than in other
parts of the State.
It was a cold winters night, and the
wind whistled shrill through the bare
limbs Of the giant trees that lined the,
Mall The ground was covered with snow
upon whose sparkling surface the light of
the moon fell with dazzling splendor, stud
ding the encrusted ground with brilliant
diamonds. AS the old South clock struck
nine, young man close wrapped in his
cloak, sought the shade Of one Of the large
trees in the park, from whence he watched
the coming Of numerous carriage loads of
gaily dressed people Of both sexes, who en-
tered one of the princely houses in Beacon
street. Through the richly stained glass
windows, the gorgeous light issued in a
steady Hood, accompanied by the thrilling
tones of music from full band; the house
illuminated at every point seemed crowded
with gay and happy spirits. The stranger
still contemplated this scenc-his cloak,
which until now, had enveloped the lower
part Of his features bad fallen, discovering
face Of striking manly beauty; full dark
eye with arching brows, and short curling
hair as dark as the ravens plumrge, set off
TO great advantage his Grecian style of
feature becoming moustache curled'
about his mouth, giving decided and
classical appearance to the whole face
The Naval button upon his cap showed
him to belong to that branch Of our Ma
tional defence.
l'Shall enter said he thoughtfully to-
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