The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-12-11
A broadway Incident,

II 10 only a month % Christmas. What d
short period 10 one that sAys "l am going "a
de" How melancholy those words fell up
On our ears last night They came from the
lipa Of Que born 10 such a0iuence that be
never felt the rigor Of Winter, nor the chill
Of such day a. yesterday, except 80 the wind
came modified by all the warm clothing that
money could buy Yst that man said, If am
going 20 die" Well he might soy II oT rAth'
er he had not have said Il for the words
Wefs paHtsd upGR every llneament OF hla
features, and told iH his tntlering step, Tot
tpdng t1 the grave, Not with age, for he
has scarcely reached the age Of the "prime Of
litr," hut he Ia the victim, or rather one Of
the many victims, oithe pestilenoe that walks,
runs, flies, through this city. in cold or hot,
flir or foul weather, hweeping lla victims a.
iresisiibly a. the dust was swept yesterday
before the strong west wind, down "a miser-
ahe death. A suicidal death, iot the victims
rush voluntarily into the blast that sweeps
them away. lle that said, III am going 10
die" II an illustration. -Four years ago he
walked these streets 40 strong Hnd1robust o
man 40 ans, one that breatbed, and Nba inVig-
GRATED by theNuyember weather Of Yesterday.
lie would have secuted the idea that he
should dread the little cold wind Of such a
day, as though he was facing death, lie was
not SCI thirty yuars of age, aud Was foil Of
mnnhoudA early health aud strength, and
walked with a iirm step and erect form. lie
wore handsome face and spoke in full,
toned maRly voice. Hut what Of nll these
ia prstilruce-strioken Ctyt the streets of
Whirh,if they do not run blood ARE fairly over
flowing with q miasmalo poison that destroys
wherever it falls upon a victim, This man,
who spoke those mournful words, was a vic
lim.
Last night as NC were hugging into q cor
ner Of broadway stage, wrapped In weather
dcHlng ghrinrutst Watching the e,er-won-
druus crowd upon that street, we notice up.
on the sidewalk u toltering form Of a man
that seemed scarcely able 10 withstand the
cold wind. Bent, too, he was like one on the
verge of time allotted 10 man. inyolnntafily
the words,
PITY the sorrows ofA posr old man"
were upon our tongue, Ns the stage stopped
To- take up "the poor old mtn." Heavens (,
that face! II was moi an old mans unless
old IN sin had made II ~. IL was the face Of
one Who did not totter four years ago. But
ia that four years what lie be had led. II
was not life of coniugal ancction--of do.
mrstic quiet aud comfort, such as one In his
position might have enjoyed. No. IL was y
life that the "iaSt men" OF this age live, One
tina, had given him u pale, cadAyorons face
with suuken eyes, and foul bf,nth-iuul fot
his very bones we're rotten, and his imhs
rrail aud barely able TO support his cmaeiat
ed hodyr Weak too, hr was. aud his hands
aud voice trembling, lie did not greet
friend that he met ia the stage With his old
word, and manner Of cxultation at "this glo.
duus iiud hncing weather. STOPPING for
ward he said IN a husky voice, IL am going
to dir.'
Yes, surely, he Is goirg 10 die. Not by
Al oil Il N.N.u.l.F haF 10 4 Ia.
pvslilrEcc that walkcth ia darkness.
ii, a cold November night. and children
ia room, warmed with glowing aulhrocitc
fires, ar, piaAing around the knees OF fond
parents, Who hrr building air ea.ll-a for them
10 occupy IN future years, when they shalt
feel old age, and these children shall be IN
the ,igor of manhood and their stay aud
support. So did the fond parents ur that
Nnung man. rs right well We know, but they
built their castle upon the sand, and it viii
soon fall for in a cold November night he
has said, 81 am going to die" In April they
will say, "Our son is dchd."--Nep York 7ri.
biiiie.