Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-05-26
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
WINTER, winter every where; and
winter in the youthful poets bosom
cold, joyless, frozen winter On cal
NJ at Isabel's the next morning, he
found she was gone away, With her
mother, and no tidings Of them could be
gained. Dumb, crushed heart numbed,
he staggered forth. His dream was
over. Gone, gone, gone ! And the
Lampliehter, and the signed paper
=. Oh, 'powers of mercy! FIR ,chot
had he sold himself to the powers Of
darkness
4 ray Of hope fl shed across his mind
could a Iamplighter be considered
power of d rkncss
His only consolation was in song. He
ate hi, bread in sadness, or, to speak ac,
curately, he dipped his captains bis
cult in weak brandy and water, and
poured out his sorrows, once week, in
the "Hearthrug Excruciator. On such
a restricted diet, and with such small
means Of comfort, no wonder Edward
grew pale and thin. His youth was
blighted!
What could the Earl of Bradclife
want to say to him. There was the in
vitaiion as large as life-"The Earl of
Bradcllfe requests the pleasure of Mr..
Green's company at dinner on Tuesday
next, at seven O'Clock The Earl of
Bradcliffe has an important commuei-
cation to make" Wei; life was all
mockery to torn and bic ding heart,
and he would 90.
Reader, he went As his humble
cab-the humble cab he had enrag4d to
convey him to Eaton Place-drew up
before the door, he WIS abashed at the
string OF magnificent equipages in wait
lng' and found his way to Lord and La
dy Bradc.iffe, more dead than alive,
and the shadow of what he was. He
tnncled he had an instant .neous reccol-
lection of his Lordship's face, and IA
still stronger ore of her Ladyship's-
but help he swoons who, who is
that:
'Isabel.''
When he came TO, isabel was bathing
bis forehead with Eau-de Cologne.
"My dear Edward,' said the Earl,
II abel is yours she has been yours
fiom the hour when | allowed you to
mount my ladder. Know, my dear boy,
that love my species. As a man, as a
senator and hereditary legislator Of this
great realm, longed to learn somewhat
of the people-of their daily tolls and
trials, in fact, of their lives. l thought
ii beloved me TO acquire that knowledge,
and feigning a journey to Italy, and
bribing my servants to keep my secret, l
became a humble lamp lighter at the
East end Of London-and in that voca-
ton came to knolc the people of Eng>
land Yes, Edward, and mqxe than that
l determined that Lady Bradcliffe, and
this dear girl. too, should partake my
knowledge, and they hcroicaIly shared
my lot
You yourself hive seen them eat
Dutch cheese-drink threepenny ale
and you have accompanied Isabel when
she has gone out for her man ma, eve,
ming sayaloy You know it ALL But
the dear old lady acould have her finger
glass at meals, and retain the gold spec
tacles, and Isabel pleaded hard for a
colt ge-piano. In the sphere in which
we move she was surrounded by "hol-
ow hearts which wore a mask If
NAV use the language of popular poet !;
but | know that III you | have found a
comp Mon for her, whose heart is true
and fond-true for have | not tried it -
"The paper that signed in the
street - said Edward, interrogatively.
"Oh, ah I had mlslaid your caro-,
and determined to amuse myself at your
expense"
''Cruel papa ~ murmured Isabel, as
she hung fondly on the shoulder of the
young bard.
Isabel, my beloved, my own This
moment repays me for all -
GAS he imprinted rapturous kiss
upon her brow, amidst loud applause
from the ass mbled elite Of our nerabi &
aristocracy, richly-capansoned servi-
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