Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-09-11
A NIGHTLY SCENE IN LONDON.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.


dy, and raining very hard. There are many
woful scenes in that part of London, and it
has been we'll known to me, in most of its
aspects, Tor many years: We had forgotten
the mud and rain in slowly walking along
and looking about US, when We found our
selves, at o'clock, before the workhOuse.-
Crouched against the wall of the workhouse,
in the dark street, on the muddy pavement
stOneS,with the rain pouring upon them, were
five bundles of rags. They were motiOnless,
and had no resemblance to the human form.
Five great bee-hlves, covered with rags-five
dead bodies taken out of graveS-wOuld have
looked like those five bundles upon which
the rain came rafting down upon the public
street.
what is this % said my companion.-
"What is this ?"
|" Some miserable people shut out of the
casual ward, think" said I.
We stopped before the five ragged mounds
and were rooted to the spot by their horff-
BILE appearance. Five awful Sphinxes by the
wayside, crying to every passer-by, "Stop
and guess What is to be the end of a state
of society that leaves US here % AS we stood
looking at them, decent workingman, having
the appearance OF stone mason, touched me
on the shoulder.
This is an awful sight, sir" said he, Sin
Christian countryn'
" God knows it is, my friend" said l.
have often seen it much worse than
this, as have been going home from my
work. l have counted fifteen and twenty,
many time. It's very shocking thing to
see."
a shocking thing, indeed" said l and my
companion together. The man fingered near
Us little while, wished us good night, and
went on. We should have felt it brutal in
us who had better chance of being heard
than the working-man, to leave the thing as it
was so we knocked at the workhouse gate.
| undertook to be spokes man. The moment
the gate was opened by an old pauper, went
in, followed close by my companion. l lost
no time in passing the old po ter, for 1 saw
in his watery eye disposition to shut us
out.
Be so kind as to give that card to the
master of the workhouse, and say should
be very glad to speak to him for few mo-
ments"
We were in kind of covered gatewayand
the old porter went across it with the card.
Before he had got to the door on the lett
man in cloak and hat bounced out of it very
sharply, AS if he were in the ghtly habit OF
be ng bulled and of returning the compli-
ment.
"Now, gentlemen" said he, in loud voice.
''what do you want here?"
First" said l. will you do me favor to
look at that card in your hand Perhaps
you may know my name"
"Yes," said he, looking at it. 81 know
this name."
Good. | only want to ask you a plain
question in civil manner, and there is not
the least occasion ior either of us to be an
cry. 1t would be very foolish in me to blame
you, and don't blame you. l may find fault
with the system you administer, but pray
understand that know you are here to do
duty pointed out to you, and that have no
doubt you do it. Now, hope you won't OBJ .,
ject to tell me what want to know"
No. said he, quite Modified, and very
reasonable, met at ALL What is it p
Do you know that there are five wretch
ed creatures outside ?'
Il haven't seen them but dare say there
are"
Do you doubt that there are ?'
"No, not at all. There might be many
more"
Are they men or women %
Women, l suppose. Very likely one or
night before last"
There all night, do you mean %
g 'Very likely"
My companion and I looked at one anoth.
er, and tie master % the wOrkhouse added
quickly, "Why, Lord bless my soul what
am to do What could do L? The place
is always full-every night. | must give the
preference to women with children, musl't
[? You would not have Inc not to do
that q
Surely rot, said l. at is a very hu-
name principle, and quite right and am
glad to hear OK it. Don't forget that l do
not blame you"
"Well,o said he. And then subdued him
self again.
What want to ask YOU" went on "is
whether you know anything against those five
miserable beings outside p
"Don't know anything about them," said
he, with wave of his arm.
81 ask, for this reason that we mean to
give trifle to get lodging-if they are not
shelterless because they are thieves, for
instance. You don't know them to be
theves?"
al don't know anything about them,' he
repeated, cmphatcally-'that is to say, they
are shut out solely because the ward is
full"
"And if they got in, they would only have
a roof for the night, and bit of bread in the
morning suppose
"That's L" all. You'll use your own discre-
ton about what you give them. Only under
stand that l don't know anything about them
beyond what | have told YOU
"Just So [ wanted to know more. You
have answered my question civilly and read-
iy, and | am much obliged to you. | have
nothing to so say against you, but quite the
contrary. Good night"
Goodnight, gentlemen y and out we
came again. We went to the ragged bundle
nearest to the workhouse door, and touched
it. No movement replying, gently shook it,
The rags began to be slow y stirred within,
and by little and little head was unshrOud-
! ed-the head OF young woman Of three or
fOur-and-twenty, as should juge, gaunt with
want, and foul with dirt, but not naturally
ugly.
Tell u.s. said I. STOPPING down, "why
are you lying here p
Because 1 can't get into the work
house
She spoke in faint, dull way aud had no
curiosity or interest left. She looked dream,ly
at the black sky and the falling rain, but never
looked at me my companion.
Were you here last night ?"
Yes. All last night. And the night
before, too"
"Do ysu know any of these others ?"
81 know her next but one. She was here
last night, and she told me she came out of
Essex. don't know no more of her."
"Tkp were here all last night, but you have
net Eska here all day ?"
~, not all day."
Where have you been all day 2"
About the Streets"
What have you to eat ?"
Nothing"
'Come !" said I, ''think little. You are
tired and have been asleep, and don't quite
consider what you are saying to us. You