True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-09-16
For the True american.
UPS AND DOWNS.
BY YsEN1o s R.
CHAPTER.I.

have lived many years. can al
most reakon up the allotted "three score
and ten." l have seen many strange
things for ! have been a close observer
Of men, and have been constantly placed
in circumstances which enabled me 10
observe closely. Many strange things
have seen, | said ; but Of all, the strang-
est are the up.risings and down-fallings
which have occurred among those around
me, during the last half century. have
seen the humble-born, the poverty pinch
ed. the unaccomplished, gradually meta
morphosed into the grandees, the mill.
onaires the elite of the country. have
seen the maiden, whose grandam wrought
out the weary day amid the dank steam
to the wash-tub, to gain an evening por-
ridge for the ragged urchins who rolled
upon the moist floor, stroIling in elegant
idleness through her own luxurious halls
I have seen him, whose father had of.
times dropped his busy hammer, to wipe
the honest sweat fnom his brazen trimmed
spectacles, dashing in his punished carri-
age through the streets in which he had
u
played hatless, shoeless, ragged boy
And have seen those, too, who were
rejoicing in the privileges of the rich
and fashionable, brought down to the
humblest walks of life deemed "vulgar"
and lou" even by those, who, two score
years before felt themselves amost too
"poor to do them reverence. Such are
the changes of a wise Providence. Slowly
and steadily reyolves the wheel of Desti-
ny; and as ore man and one family
gradually mounts to riches and power,
another man, and another family in like
proportion descends to poverty and OBJ
scurity.
But to my story.
1t was bleak day in December. The
wind gusts drove the drifting snow with a
sharp patel against the window panes, as
it flew, whirling, down The street. |
wen. 10 the window, and looked out up
on the effects of. the winter blast, and the
snow columns that were sweeping by.
How queer that fat old gentleman
looked, who was chasing broad brimm-
ed hat, that was provof ingly scampering,
at no near rate. along the sidewalk !
And that tattered little lad who has Just
checked its career, and awaits the arrival
Of its owner, hut IN hand how pleased
he looks as the putting pursuer forces his
recreant beaver, with vengeful blow
half way over his head, and then drops in
to the outreached dirty hand a shining
sixpence And how vexed is that nice
looking young fellow whose coat.lails
won't stay behind, and whose new tile
exhibits decided inclinations to "follow in
the wake" Of the more sober looking
head covering Of the fat gentleman -
Perhaps the laughing countenance of
brace Of merry girls, who are watching
his rather undandyish attitudes from
window opposite, have something to do
with his mortified looks. The drays
rumbled past, their drivers, half hidden
by the drifts, equally intent upon keeping
their horses and their hats in the right
place. The few who were abroad, hur-
rled by at a brisk pace; occasionally
Withdrawing their hands from the depths
'ot their great coat pockets to jerk up their
monstrous collars, and simultaneously
jerking down their chins more deeply in
to the folds Of their comfortable woolen
comforts.
A CHEEKY scene, thought l, to look up.
on, but cherries to those without; and
with an audible "thank Heaven I" for my
own pleasant lot, | settled myself again
in my easy chair, and stretching out my
feet toward the genial fire, returned TO
the perusal of the evening newspaper.
"William,' said my wife, entering the
room, there's poor half frozen creature
seeking employment. Come and see
her"
followed 10 the kitchen. Before the
fire sat a girl--abOut twenty, l supposed
"a "poor creature indeed a picture Of
poverty. A battered straw bopne. pro-
teCted her hsad--I should have said sur-
mounted, lOrpTotectiOp il was none,as the
wind and snow could have whislled