Litchfield enquirer., 1856-07-17
LITCIIFIELD, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1856.

term, We may say lady one whose whole ap- pearance Was lady-like manners, countenance, language, ali indicating that she had been we'll educated, raised in luxury, and long accustom- ed to refined society. She was apparently about countenance, pale and delicate, and poorly but neatly clad She advanced slowly and timidly towards the old pawnbroker and yet with a. look of most honest, earnest purpose. He cast glance upon us, which we consid- cred equivalent to saying that we had been there long enough as spy upon his actions, and that he would thank us to leave the shop But we had some curiosity to learn the object of this woman's visit and, therefore, determin- cd to remain.
 Il have come," said the lady, address ing the pawnbrokcr, to redeem that miniature breast-pin l left with you, and have brought the six dollars and seventy-ive cents you ad- vanced on it, and fifty cents extra, to pay for retaining it beyond the time first agreed upon." | haven't your breast-pin, madam it is not here"
 Not here What do you mean sir? Did 1 not leave it with you? And did you not promise me you would keep it until l called for it,cven if should not come for several months ?"
 Don't remember any such promise-don't think made any ; but do know the breast fpn was sold last week.
 I "Sod ?'
 "Ies, sold. We have but one way of doing business here Why didn't you come in time to redeem 1t! You have the ticket, and you must know that it is nearly month behind the time you ought to have come for it." could not come sooner. Indeed, could not. l have been very sick and then 1 had to work for this money, ard, small as the sum is, 1t is the earnings of many a weary days la bor yet, worked gladly to redeem that which, though of little worth to others, is very valuable and precious to me. Besides sir, you told me yon would certainly retain it until 1 should come"
 Can't help that-you might have come soon- CT You're to late, now'
 "Too late On, do not say that. sir. You certainly know who bought it, and will pay you any amount you may require if you will rc- turn it to me-
 "Can't do it, madam. Don't krow who bought it-cau't find out Sorry you're dis appointed but, you see, its all your own fault, you didn't come in timc-you are too late." Too late Yes too late to look again upon the sweet image of my dear, darling, lost boy 1 That miniature was the likeness of my own dear child, and oh sir, if you had known what q comfort it was to mc-how much it lirhtened the misery of my lie to gaze upon that nno- cent, memories of joyous past, dissipatng. at times, the sad realities of the present, you would, sir, know you surely would have kept it for me-
 To this earnest appeal the pawnbrokcr made no reply but all tl!e willie stood there before that poor, hcart-dcsolatc. supplcatng woman, with no more expression of sympathy than could he excited in marble statue, or man of iron She spoke not a word, but her silence was more expressive of her great sorrow and yet her fearful eyes, trembling form and pleading couutcnance were all unhecdcd and in yan.- The breastpin containing the likeness of her once idolized tov was lost to her for evcr- Slowly she walked to the door, and before pass ing into the street, turned suddenly and be- slowed farewell glance upon the pawnbrokrr It was look most eloquent of meaning, full of contempt and rcproach so intense, so pcne- trating, that We supposed it would prove an et- fectua ccnSnrc to the hcartless man towards whom it was so justly directed But We were mistakcn-grcatly mistaken, in attributng any sensibility to a pawnbroker, for immediately upon her departure this automaton specimen of humanity exclaimed. Glad that's over with. Don't believe in such sentimental nonsense l. Won't encourage it. It's all humbug."
 And here. gentle reader, we close our relation of tie incidents which oc- cured during visit of an hour to a pawnbro- ker's shop. Such are the practical workings of a system which is maintained and legalized, by licensc, in all our large citics-a system which lives and thrives only by the contributions it cxtorts from the diSsolatc and the unfortunate poor-a system which aids vice and discoura- ges virtue which is strong ally of :he rum shop and the gambling saloon, and managed solely by selfish, miserly beings. who seem utterly destitute of human sympathcs We abhor this system. Viewed in the light of its only pre- tended justification. that of being established I for the poor. VIC alhor it. Law only exacts from the wealthy borrower of money six per cent. per annuu,, but at the same time nstitrl- tes and sustans system which extorts sixty per cent from the widows and orphans, the sick and unfortunate. So we say this system is blight and curse to the poor and its ex- istence a dishouor and disgrace to any Chris tian community.
 | TRr-r Pun osop,Iy Iy-One great secret of do-