The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-23

81 EDWARD SPENCER.
have been, until lately, a clerk in lot
terry office in the city of B., and durin,
my attendance there have met some experien
ces which deem worthy of being chronicled
In the present paper intend to relate a,
incident in which was, in some sort, an actor
though by no means principal. must be.
the readers patience for few moments befor,
begin my story, while say word concern
ing the place of business in which effieiated
Messrs. Morgiston l. Co., the firm who pal,
me my quarterly salary, had an Office on
corner, fronting on B. street, but with
door and window upon the intersecting stree
Also. The shop was rather unprepossessing il
ITS facial presentations, if one had considered
IL with reference to architectural canons, bu
~as most admirably adapted to the require
ments OF our business. The whole front o
the establishment was lined with rows of figures
arranged in perpendicular columns, said figures
comprising expressions of round sums from 5Ot
TO 100000, with the fascinating 5 in front o
each, like an epauletted officer at the flank O
his cohor:. The doors were painted over will
notices to the effect that this was The Ever
Lucky Office" "The General Prize Agency
+" Fortunes Temple" &c. The windows has
numerous small printed " Schemes " tackled t.
the sashes, and, lying on the stills in careles.
profnsion, we're mingled heaps of gold ant
silver, ingots piled like cord. wood or pig.pens
eagles and double eagles standing in tall sym
metrical columns, bank bills of large figure.
tossed caralessly about, and prize tickets il
numbers conveying the idea of wealth uu
heard-of. r'..
In the front window was also painting O
the goddess Fortune, blindfold, and emptying
regardless of expense" ducats and dubloon,
innumerable from an altogether inexhaustibl,
cornucopeis. Opening the door, you cam,
upon canvas screen, also adorned with an OF
painting of very ford species of art, repre-
senting hod-carrier who has paid successful
devoirs to the tickle goddess, since he bears il
bis hand plethoric bag that looks as plum
and wAeezy as q turtlefed alderman. and i
very gracefully endorsed, 10000 5. The arts
had made great hit in giving lively expires
sion TO the extravagant citation of the favoret
one. The walls of the Office, papered with
re,e-P imitation of fresco, were hung Will
French and Germen Autographs framed in wal
nut. Pehind the counter one could usual,
find Mr.. Morgiston, the head of the firm. bus,
with cigar, or newspaper, or customer. The
nf he Al Z,
were more usually at high desk, writing, while
l was employed about the various duties as
signed the junior clerk
We did good business there, in ourlittle Office
and were kept pretty we'll occupied with Gus
toners, from the lottery gambler in his fine
black clothes, who came in furtively by the
private entrance, to the jolly sailor who would
not buy on Friday, and the poor expec, an,
negro who did without his breakfast in order t.
lose his last "quarter." An excellent, profit
able, legal business, with State officers to super
intend rs, and managers to grow rich on VIVA,
we took in-we ourselves II mean the firm
not by any means losing money, to Judge from
the balance sheet. A very profitable invest
ment is the lottery, provided one is behind the
scenes. 1t does not pay 81 we'll to outside
speculators,. however, should say, to Judge
from the great disproportion between our re
ceipts and disbursements. But this is a score
of the trade, and / must not elbow" upor
them, albeit am out"
As did not commence this paper with an,
purpose of morslizing about lotteries, bu
simply to relate something which is included
in my experiences, will proceed with my mar
rative without further preface:
1t was bitter cold day in winter, and wal
keeping shop ell to myself, the rest of the firm
being out on business. Very sharp and cut
ting was the wind, as it hurtled down the street
and around the corners, swinging sign-board
and slamming shutters in very vicious man
ner. People rushed by, wrapped up warm, bu
with extremely blue noses and watery ewes.
was cosy by the stove, Illuminating over a segar
when the door opened suddenly, and King Lea
came in. If he was not King Lear, he Was Ger
tainly his best possible representative amons
created beings. He had Lear's brow, 60 lofty
so pale, 30 wrinkled, with the grizzled hair Law
ing back from it in reckless confusion. He hss
Lear's eye-but no-Lears eye was faded, ans
this was black as midnight, and piercing be
yond metaphor, but bloodshot withal, and speak
ing of infinite anxiety and infinite wretched
ness. His lip had once been finely marked
but was now twisted, and hung q little, as if it
muscles had ceased to control it. He wa,
dressed in that painful style of thread. bare gen
rlity 80 eloquent of adversely, and his Who'll,
manner bespoke him a character, a man O
eventful life-one who had had harsh experien
ces, who had abused himself, who hated him
self for it, and hated the whole world becaus.
he had lost caste with it.
He uttered only q word, glancing over tn,
scheme which l handed him, "Tickets, quar-
ters," and he took out wellworn purse from
hfn bot md r. n.
hoarse, harsh, and in the highest degree I'M
pleasant. Securing his ticket, he buttoned hi,
thread bare coat over his breast With his long
meager, trembling fingers, and left the cfice.
watched him 60 out, and saw him seize upon {
little boy, who seemed heeitating whether o.
not to come in and try his luck, seized him b,
both shoulders, and bent his worn, anxious fea
lures close down to the boys face.
Anxious to hear what he would cav, opened
the door, and stood there. He was talking il
his harsh tones, the words coming out dry
sharp, angular, yet forcible, from the vehemenc,
of his accent and expression.
"Boy do you hear2 Never 20 into lot
terry Office. It's worse than hell. Do you hear
Then mind what l say !" and he shook the
trembling little fellow, as if to make his words
more impressive. "Run away from one al
ways. Cross the street from them. They'll
poison you. Hyou have money, spend it, give
it away, throw it into the gutter, bat let lottery
tickets alone. Do you see me? was rich,
vas happy. am poor, / am wretched and
the cursed lottery alone has made me So Nos
go-go-and remember what tell you"
The boy, released, ran away in prodigious
flight, and the old man marched impetuously
up the street sgainst the wind.
He did not make his appearance again for
some days, but when he did, came bursting in
in the same impetuous manner. As be came
towards the counter, he said, apparently to him.
self:
II dreamed it sgaiu-so, once more"
"What did you say, sir?"