Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-12-06
THE LOST HALF-DOLLAR;
THE DANGER OF BEING TOO POSITIVE.
CHATTER l

CHAPTER l.
In one Of those narrow, gutter-like lanes,
for which the city of New York has long
been notorious, but which the hand of archi-
tectural Improvement and sanitary reform is
fast sweeping from existence there stood,
about sixteen years ago, a house of somewhat
antique structure. Its bow-fronted windows,
quaint gables, and roof running 4 g sharp
edge, told tales of generation or two passed
away. A time-eaten iron railing, surmounted
by torch-extinguisher assisted the aged or
infrm to mount the half-dozen steps by which
the threshold was gained, leading to long,
dark passage, where a brass plate announced
the important fact that this queer looking
establishment was in the occupancy Of "Mes-
sieurs Fleecem q Nalor, Solicitors;" while a
peculiarly described human hand pointed out
the direct line of journey. to be pursued by
all desiring the way to the Office.
In truth, it was a most unfriendly looking
hand; it appeared for all the world as though
the engrayer had perfected his task in par
oxism Of despair; all the fingers save one were
clenched tightly into the palm, and that stuck
out as rigid as though i. belonged to a glove
cleaners wooden hand "Ah!p we muttered
to ourselves, without doubt you have di-
rected many a poor object Of humanity to
distress, perhaps to ruin;" and then, turning
round and gazing upon the stone steps, foot
worn as they were we administered to them
some severe rebukes for having lent them
selves to the employment in which we found
them engaged. eyes, we broke forth; Eyes !;
if you had but tongues, many a sorrowful
tale you would be able to relate of those
whose footmarks are so indelibly impressed
upon your surface"
But to the immediate subject of our nara
tive Within the clerks Office, upon the oc-
casion we desire to commemorate, sat two
individuals upon fearfully tall stools, which
appeared--if the incessant moaning which
they INDUCED in at the most trihing movement
of their animate burdens could be received
as anything like true index-to have out
grown their strength The one was a mar
row, lath-like object with thin, lank hair, rea-
ching almost to his shoulders. His acuuain-
tance with the desk had evidently been long
and intimate, as his bowed back hollow cheek,
and asthmatic cough in the most unmistake-
able language declared. His every action
was as mechanical as that of an automaton.
His companion presented a striking contrast
boy of from fourteen to fifteen, with bright
blue eyes, haXen hair, and cheek so round
and ruddy that he appeared the very embodi-
ment of good health For some time the
pair continued tracing line after line upon the
brief sheets they were respectively engaged
copying, without taking their eyes once from
their tasks. At length, breaking the silence
which nothing but the rickety stools had in
the least presumed to do for full an hour, the
boy, rubbing his eyes, exclaimed
"Swiyel, | wish it was eight O'clock | feel
as tired as dog. Thank goodness, no work
tomorrow
even so" returned the old man, dropping
his pen-hand listlessly at his side; "and it is
great shame to keep you here night after
night till eight o'clock you ought to leave an
hour earlier than the rest of us Your friends
must have been precious lot of simpletons
ever to have let you come here, to spend your
health and strength for the paltry,Sum of two
dollars a week; it's worse than slavery.
But said the boy, there's a pPspcct--p .
"a grandmother shar4g srfipted the