Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-03-26
spy ....WEDNEsDAY, MARCH 26. 1856

ga NIGHT SCENE IN LoNDoN''-
this heading Mr.. Dickens describes, in House.
hold Words, what he witnessed one night out.
side the Whitechapel workhouse:
''On the 9th OF last November, I, the con-
duetor of this journal, accompanied by friend
well known to the public, accidentally strayed
into Whitechapel. Il was miserable even
ing !; very dark, very muddy, and raining
hard. There are many woful sights in that
par of London, and it has been well known
to me in most of its aspects for many years.
WeAad forgotten the mud and rain in slowly
walking along and looking about us, when we
found ourselves, at eight O'Clock, before the
workhouse. Crouched against the wall of the
workhouse, in the dark street, on the muddy
pavement stones, with the rain beating upon
them. were five bundles of rags. They were
motonless, and had no resemblance to the
human form. Five great beehives covered
with rags."lve deadbodies taken out of graves,
tied neck and heels, and covered with rags
would have looked like those five bundles
upon which the rain rained down in the pub
lie street.
What is this? said my companion; what
is this y Some miserable people shut out Of
the casual ward, think, said 1. (Mr. Dick
ems then describes his inquiries in the work
house. He found that the women were slut
out simply because the house was full.) We
went TO the ragged bundle nearest the work.
house door, and touched it. No movement
replying, 1 gently shook it. The rags began
tc be slowly stirred within, and by little and
little head was unshrouded-the head of a
young woman of three or four and twenty, as
should Judge, gaunt with want, and foul
with dirt. but not naturally ugly. Tell u.s.
said l, STOPPING down, why are you lying
I sos ~,
house, She spoke in a faint, dull way, and
had no curiosity or interest left. She looked
dreamily at the black sky and the falling rain,
bnt never looked Mt me or my companion.
'WereSou here last nightF 'Yes all last
night, and the night afore too DO you know
any of these others ? i know her next but
one; she was here last night, and she told me
she came. out of Essex. l don't know no
more of her. You were here all last night,
but you have mot been here all day p
No; not all day Where have YOU been all
day. About the Streets What have YOU
had to eat? Nothing Come said l,
think little. You are tired and have been
asleep, and do not quite consider what YOU
are saying to us. You have had something TO
eat today. Come! think of No, haven't;
nothing but such bits as could pick up about
the market Why, look at me 2 She barred
her neck, and covered it up again. If you.
had shilling to get some supper and lodg-
ing, should you know where to get itf Yes
l could do that For Gods sake, get it,
them
I put the money into her hand, and she fee
bly, rose and went away. She never thanked
me, never looked at me, melted away into the
miserable night in the strangest manner I
ever saw. 1 have seen many strange things,
but not one that has left deeper impression
on my memory, than the dull, impassiye way
I in which that worn-out heap of misery took
that piece Of money and was lost. One by
one, l spoke to all the FIVE, In every one in
terest and curiosity were as extinct as in the
first. They were all dull ana languid No
one made any profession or com plant, no one
cared to look at me, no one thanked me-
When | came to the third, suppose she saw
that my companion and glanced, with new
horror upon Us. at the last two. who had drop
ped against each other in their sleep, and were
lying like broken images. She said she be-
lieved they were young sisters. They were
the only words that were originated among
the five .